Any new building construction, or renovation, project requires careful planning and preparation with many different aspects to be considered. Amongst those deliberations is the vitally important aspect of the doors for your building – you obviously need to consider both the practicality and the aesthetic appearance, but you must also always be aware of the many safety and security issues to be considered.

All commercial and many residential buildings need to adhere to the stringent rules and regulations regarding fire safety, a major aspect of which are the doors installed within the buildings. All doors must be fire resistant to a specified standard and offer the protection and resistance required for all occupants to successfully evacuate a building in the event of a fire outbreak.

Many buildings and developments where people work, and in some residential environments, have a mandatory requirement for fire safety facilities. Integral to those fire safety arrangements are the fire doors – they form an important part of a building’s passive fire protection.

With regards to building fire safety, fire doors are the most visible and frequently used safety feature, so it is important to ensure that you choose the most effective and relevant fire doors for that environment and development.

Many buildings are subject to the legal, mandatory installation and presence of fire doors – and those responsible for the buildings’ fire safety need to be aware that regular inspection of the doors is required to ensure that they are always ‘fit for purpose’! Fire doors are essential in delaying the spread of smoke, heat, and flame, and in creating time for a safe evacuation of the building in the event of a fire emergency. These doors must always be in full working condition and must be maintained to the highest standard – there will, however, be times when these important safety features may need to be replaced. Here are some aspects of fire door maintenance to consider