Common Things Checked During a Fire Door Assembly Inspection

Fire can be devastating for buildings, especially if it is not extinguished right away. Once it reaches flammable materials, it can spread quickly to other rooms and spaces, trapping anyone left inside the affected properties.

Building fires can then leave substantial damage to property assets. Injuries and fatalities may also be present after the fires, especially if some occupants are trapped inside.

Proper Installation of Fire Doors 

To avoid these things from happening, property owners should make sure that their buildings are equipped with fire protection system elements. Fire doors are one of the most utilised fire protection system elements in buildings as they allow the egress of people from the space. They can also protect escape routes from gases, flames, and smoke. These doors even help limit the amount of oxygen available in key areas, slowing fire growth.

The functions of fire doors, fortunately, can be maximised by property owners once they are installed in the right places. Generally, these doors should be installed on exits, entrances to the staircases or the building, hallways, and emergency exits. They should also be integrated with fire and temperature-resistant walls to hold back the fire and its accompanying elements. The placement of fire doors can help firefighters carry out their jobs safely.

Fire Door Inspection is Essential

Aside from installing them properly, fire doors should also be inspected regularly. Numerous things should be checked during a fire door assembly inspection.

• Legible Labels: Legible labels should be present on fire doors to ensure that occupants can determine which doors are intended for a fire safety system. If the fire doors do not have any labels, they should be labelled by an authorised labelling service.

• Holes and Breaks: During a fire door assembly inspection, assessors have to know if the fire doors have holes and breaks. Once found, the openings should be filled and treated with appropriate and standard elements to make the doors functional.

• Hardware: The hardware found on fire doors should be working properly to make them accessible and useful during emergencies. They are often inspected visually from both sides. Acceptance testing must also be conducted. Some hardware found on fire doors are latches, locks, overhead door closers, and hinges.

• Sealing: Fire doors can often be integrated with gaskets and edge seals. Once these elements are present, they should be continuous and compatible with the fire doors. They should be installed if the fire doors will be placed in corridors and smoke barriers.

• Self-Latching: The self-latching capability of fire doors should be inspected properly so they can be relied on at times of fire emergencies. It can ensure that the doors will be closed during a fire, helping them minimise the spread of toxic gases, flames, and smoke.

• Clearances: Gaps around the perimeter of fire doors are needed to prevent fire and its elements from spreading. But if the fire doors have large gaps than what is acceptable by local codes, they should then be sealed to effectively close them.

To know more about fire door assembly inspections, you can contact us at Key Compliance.