Fire Door Propped Open

A 1 1 see annex k for general information about fire doors.

Fire door propped open.

Fire doors can only be held open by automatic releasing hold open devices specifically designed and installed for this purpose. 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. To contain fire and smoke. Occupants may be tempted to prop open fire doors to preclude the need to touch handles.

These doors protect stairs labs etc. When fire doors are wedged or propped open businesses are at risk of fines but more seriously it puts people s lives in danger. Wedged or propped open fire doors are a common problem. 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.

If propped open occupants can be in danger using stairs to evacuate and lab research can be threatened by fire spread. 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. 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. While it can be convenient to put a wedge in to keep a fire door open creating. It is also against the law. 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.

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. Despite this they re still regularly found propped open preventing them from working as they should. If the door is not equipped with an automatic closing device do not prop it open. Fire doors can be heavy restrict access through buildings and prevent a free flow of air which is why people prop them open.

Fire drills are an important part of any successful emergency evacuation procedure and can assist in a safe evacuation in event of. However fire doors have a very important purpose preventing the spread of fire so wedging one open is dangerous and illegal. But there are some doors that you could. Don t pay the price of the door wedge.

That applies to nearly all doors in a hospital.