As with any life-saving products or system, it should be regularly checked to ensure that it is in good working order. Just as you would check the batter of the smoke alarms in the housing association, fire door maintenance is just as important.
It is essential that your fire doors perform in case of a fire. In fact, fire doors are just as important as any other passive fire protection system. This is why fire door maintenance is so important in housing associations. Any slight alternation or damage to the fire door can affect its performance in the case of a fire. Regular fire door maintenance in housing associations can ensure that the fire door is functioning correctly. This will also ensure that it will be able to perform to the best standard if a fire was to break out.
Periodic fire door maintenance checks should be completed in housing associations every six months. However, if your housing association is newly occupied, then more frequent checks should be completed. This is recommended for the first year. In addition to this, where a fire door is more frequently used, or damaged, fire door checks should be completed more regularly.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require that all buildings over 11 metres in height have fire door checks. They must be completed at least every 12 months. These checks must be completed on all fire doors at the entrance of individual domestic premises.
Checks of fire doors in communal areas must also be completed every 3 months. These will include doors to the laundry rooms, main exits and entrances and doors in the hallways and stairwells. Self-closing devices on fire doors must be checked at these times too.
Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes it a legal requirement to ensure that all fire resisting doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained. This is done to ensure that they are in good working order and fir for purpose. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is also known as the RRO/FSO.
The authorities have the power to enforce this RRO/FSO or Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. They do have the power to prosecute or event close down buildings where breaches are discovered.
When was the last time your fire doors were maintenance checked? Why not book your housing association property in for a fire door maintenance service now. This way you will have the peace of mind that your property and residents are safe if a fire was to break out and your fore doors are in good working order.
