A fire door looks like any other heavy door, and people treat it like one. They prop it open on a hot day, screw a hook into it or take the closer off because it slams.
A fire door is part of how a building holds back fire and smoke while people get out. It can only do that if it is shut, intact and able to close by itself.
How to spot one
Common clues:
- it is on a stairwell, a corridor, a plant room, a car park entry or the front of an apartment
- it is heavy and has a closer that pulls it shut
- it has a small metal tag, often on the hinge edge
- it carries a sign saying to keep it closed or clear
If you are not sure, assume it is a fire door and ask the building manager.
Don’t wedge it open
A fire door that is wedged, tied back or propped open does nothing. Smoke moves through an open doorway quickly, and the stairs or corridor behind it are usually the way out for everyone else.
If a door is a real nuisance because people push trolleys or carry stock through it all day, raise it with the building owner or manager. In some buildings a door can be held open by a device that lets go when the alarm sounds. That is a proper fix. A wedge, a bin or an extinguisher used as a doorstop is not.
Don’t modify or drill it
A fire door is built and tested as a complete set: the door, the frame, the hinges, the latch, the closer and any seals fitted around the edges. Changing one part can undo the rest.
So don’t:
- drill it for a peephole, a new lock, a pet flap or a cable
- screw hooks, signs or shelves onto it
- trim the bottom to clear new carpet or tiles
- swap the handle, lock or hinges for something from the hardware shop
- paint over the tag or any seals
In apartments, the front door of a unit is often a fire door. Before changing a lock or adding anything to it, ask the strata manager. Any work should be done by someone who works on fire doors.
Keep the closer working
The closer is the arm or mechanism that pulls the door shut. When you let go of a fire door, it should swing closed and latch without help.
Signs a closer needs attention:
- the door stops short and rests against the latch
- it slams hard
- it drags on the floor or catches on the frame
- the closer is leaking oil, hanging loose, disconnected or missing
A slamming door is a reason to have the closer adjusted, not disconnected.
Report damage
Fire doors take a beating from trolleys, deliveries and moving days. Tell the building manager, strata manager or landlord if you see:
- dents, holes or splits in the door
- a bent or loose frame
- large or uneven gaps around a closed door
- seals, where fitted, that are missing or painted over
- a latch that no longer catches
Don’t patch it yourself. Filler and a coat of paint make a door look right without making it right.
How fire doors are inspected, and by whom, depends on the building. Fire Protection Association Australia is a good general source, and the NSW Government sets the rules for fire safety in buildings.
If there is a fire, the job is to get out. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
V&H Fire Group can help owners and managers between the Central Coast and Newcastle work out what their building’s fire safety measures need, and will say so when a job belongs with a fire door specialist. Call Byron on 0483 371 134 to talk it through.
This article is general information, not advice for your building. For what applies to your premises, talk to us on site.
