Fire door advice for tenants.

What are fire doors?

Fire doors create a barrier from fire and toxic smoke. They prevent them from travelling around a building during a fire. This keeps the damage to a small area, allowing for evacuation, stay put and safe access for the emergency services.

In a block of flats you will find fire and smoke doors on the stairwells, the corridors and on the flat front doors. You will also see them protecting areas where there's a risk of combustion, such as bin storage or mains electricity service cupboard. Sometimes you will find fire doors inside flats, but this depends on the specific design and layout of the individual flat.

Who is responsible for the fire doors in my building?

Your landlord or building owner will have legal responsibility for the fire doors in the common areas of the building and many will publish information in the tenants or residents handbook. You should seek fire safety information from your landlord or building owner regarding the specific fire plan for your building to ensure you are prepared in an emergency.

What about my front door?

If your front door faces onto a common area in the building, it needs to be a fire door. It's vital that it works properly when a fire breaks out, so it's important that your flat front door is a fire door, it is fit for purpose and can be regularly inspected and maintained.

If you are a leasehold tenant, you should examine the details of you lease contract and consult the landlord. You may find that you have responsibility to ensure that a suitable fire rated door with all of its compatible components is fitted.

Checking your fire door

If you suspect a fire door is faulty, there are 5 checks you can make. If you suspect the door is faulty, report it to the building owner.

• Look for a label or plug on top (or occasionally on the side) of the door. Without a certification mark, you cannot be sure this really is a fire door
• Check the gaps around the top and sides of the door are consistently less than 4mm when the door’s closed. The gap under the door can be slightly larger (up to 8mm), but it does depend on the door. Ideally, you should not see light under the door
• Look for any seals around the door or frame. Check they’re intact with no sign of damage
• Check all hinges are firmly fixed (three or more of them), with no missing or broken screws
• Check the door closes firmly onto the latch without sticking on the floor or the frame. A fire door only works when it’s closed. A fire door is completely useless if it’s wedged open or can’t close fully

Don't alter your fire door

Never carry out any repairs or work on your fire door. This can damage it and make it less likely to work properly in an emergency.

• Don't drill into your fire door or cut it in any way
• Don't paint over the seals on a fire door
• Replace the handles, hinges or any hardware. Always have repairs carried out by a qualified individual