Fire Door Propped Open

If the door is not equipped with an automatic closing device do not prop it open.

Fire door propped open. Firstly where a fire door has been wedged open against the instructions given by the the employer or resp person the person wedging the door and anyone who doesn t do anything about it ie walks through the door and does not remove the wedge may be contravening article 32 2 a of the fso which states it is an offence for any person to. Fire doors form an integral part of the fire strategy for shared or multi storey accommodations. Should i still be carrying out fire drills in my commercial premises. Propped open fire doors.

Wedged or propped open fire doors are a common problem. While it can be convenient to put a wedge in to keep a fire door open creating. The only safe way for fire doors to be held open is with special devices that release them to close automatic ally when the fire alarm is activated. Don t pay the price of the door wedge.

1 1 1 with the exception of fabric fire safety curtain assemblies this standard addresses assemblies that have. If propped open occupants can be in danger using stairs to evacuate and lab research can be threatened by fire spread. Some companies have interior fire doors that typically remain open between departments during the normal business hours but they will automatically close in the event of an emergency. So any fire rated door assembly may not be wedged open.

When fire doors are wedged or propped open businesses are at risk of fines but more seriously it puts people s lives in danger. These doors protect stairs labs etc. And to finally address fire rated door assemblies section 8 3 3 1 requires all doors required to have a fire protection rating to comply with nfpa 80 which requires self closing devices on the doors. Despite this they re still regularly found propped open preventing them from working as they should.

It is also against the law. Fire doors can only be held open by automatic releasing hold open devices specifically designed and installed for this purpose. A 1 1 see annex k for general information about fire doors. Fire doors can be heavy restrict access through buildings and prevent a free flow of air which is why people prop them open.

To contain fire and smoke. Occupants may be tempted to prop open fire doors to preclude the need to touch handles. This standard regulates the installation and maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect openings in walls floors and ceilings against the spread of fire and smoke within into or out of buildings. However fire doors have a very important purpose preventing the spread of fire so wedging one open is dangerous and illegal.

This short post seeks to explain why they shouldn t be propped open whilst it also covers a range of other frequently asked questions on the subject.