Fire and Smoke Doors Inspection: Important Safety Measures that Property Owners Need to Know

If you own commercial property or multi-purpose buildings in New South Wales, it is essential to ensure that your property complies will all NSW Fire Safety regulations. Your building services, measures and equipment for fire prevention and tenant safety must be inspected, maintained and certified annually to meet all qualifications for fire safety in NSW.

By engaging the services of a professional fire safety consultant and practitioner, you can have your property inspected, audited and certified as fire safety compliant. Your fire safety practitioner can connect you with reputable building maintenance and repair services for keeping your property in top-quality condition to meet fire safety compliance requirements every year. One of the most important issues for complying with fire safety regulations annually is maintaining optimal quality fire and smoke doors that meet all criteria for total fire safety.

Primary Safety Requirements of Fire and Smoke Doors in NSW

Major NSW fire safety requirements for fire and smoke door inspections in commercial and multi-purpose buildings include the following:

1. Damage-Free Doors and Frames. If your fire and smoke doors have hollow metal frames, check for rust, holes and missing fasteners. Doors must fit securely in their frames, without noticeable cracks between them. Any cracks or gaps can admit air drafts that can fan flames, sometimes causing small, controllable outbreaks of sparks and flames to erupt into major fires.

2. Secure and Aligned Doors, Frames, Hinges and Thresholds. Ensure that the face of each fire and smoke door is either flush or slightly inset with the door frame face. Both top and bottom flush bolts should project into the strike by one-half inch. Often, cleaning crews in buildings may brace a door in the open position with a mop or broom handle, damaging the frame or dislodging hinges and other hardware. Be sure to repair any damage and realign these doors and frames, replacing any faulty or broken latch bolts, hinges or strike plates.

3. Measure Door Perimeter Clearances. For paired doors without astragals that overlap, measure the distance between the meeting stiles. Examine the frames for any damage or deterioration. Check each door for misalignment or insufficient clearance, which can increase as doors and frames age. If necessary, adjust all doors to meet NSW fire safety compliance.

4. Check Signage Attachment. Make sure that all signage attached to your fire and smoke doors are affixed firmly with adhesive. Attaching signs to these doors with screws or other metal hardware is not acceptable for complying with NSW fire safety requirements. Remember, also, that your signage cannot cover more than five percent of the door surface.

When you contact Key Compliance, the expert fire safety consultancy located in Kogarah, NSW, you will receive expert advice and full fire safety compliance services for your commercial or multi-purpose property. Principal consultant and fire safety practitioner, Dennis Lyons, and our highly qualified staff will assist you in taking all of the necessary steps to ensure that your property, including every fire and smoke door, meets all regulations for complete NSW fire safety compliance.