To mark Fire Door Safety Week (September 21-27) organisers shared research into the current state of fire door maintenance, inspection and replacement programmes across local authority owned and managed housing in the UK.
One of the key findings was that 60% of local authorities reported delays to planned fire door maintenance, replacement and inspection programmes.
Fire Door Safety Week exists to stamp out the legacy of fire door neglect and to educate on the importance of fire door safety.
Launched in 2013 in response to a legacy of fire door neglect, Fire Door Safety Week is a ‘mass market’ awareness campaign to increase public understanding of the vital role that fire doors play in protecting life and property. The campaign is managed by the British Woodworking Federation and is supported by a number of partners, including the Home Office’s National Fire Safety campaign, the National Fire Chief’s Council and London Fire Brigade.
It’s crucial to understand the factors that ensure a fire door performs as intended – product manufacture, quality, installation and maintenance all play a part. Their correct specification, maintenance and management can be the difference between life and death for building occupants, as can their use. Propping a fire door open means that they won’t perform as they should in the event of a fire.
Everyone plays their part in ensuring a fire door performs as it should, from the manufacturer through to the building users, and this is why the annual Fire Door Safety Week campaign exists.
