Time-served fire-protection experts such as SIV should carry out inspections on your fire doors at least twice a year.

In the case of newly occupied buildings, more-frequent inspections might be needed in their initial year of occupation. Doors that see high traffic will also be more prone to being damaged so should be subject to more-frequent checks. This could be once a month or even once a week, depending on traffic.

This isn’t just advice; it’s enshrined in law. Doors inspections are a legal requirement under Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order that fire-resisting doors and escape doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained.

Should anyone flout these laws, the police or fire service can enforce the Fire Safety Order. Where this is ignored, prosecution or building closures can follow.  Crucially, those doing the inspections must be ‘competent persons’ to comply with fire-door regulations.

If, on inspection, your building turns out to have misaligned fire doors or damaged metalwork, we at SIV can help. We’ll restore damaged doors or offer replacement fire doors and frames.

This is an obligation under The Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005 for a ‘responsible person’ within your business to make sure fire doors withstand fire and smoke as they should.

If you’re in any doubt about your obligations, call SIV’s experts today.