What is a fire door?
A fire door is a door that is designed with specific features to keep you safe in the event of a fire. It works by withstanding the effects of fire and preventing the spread of smoke.
Fire doors can be made of a variety of materials such as wood, metal and glass. They should be sturdy, and fit the doorframe tightly. Any panels next to the door should also be built to the same standard as the door. There should be smoke strips and/or seals around the edge of the door to stop smoke and gas entering your home.
Why are fire doors so important?
Fire doors in good condition will stop fire and smoke from spreading. This will give you, and those you live with, more time to evacuate in the event of a fire.
- They are specifically designed to withstand fire for up to 30 minutes
- They ensure crucial escape routes are protected if a fire breaks out
- They are designed to automatically close behind you, holding flames back and stopping the spread of the fire and toxic smoke into escape routes, corridors and other flats.
What will happen if a fire door is found to be damaged or faulty?
If fire doors are found to be damaged or faulty in any way then we will either repair or replace these to ensure they are in full working order. There will be no cost to rented customers for this work as it is included under the terms of your tenancy (unless doors have been found to be deliberately damaged in any way and then we will apply our existing process with regards to recharging customers for any work that is required).
For leasehold customers, we will perform the additional safety checks and carry out permitted repairs. For anything over and above this we would need to discuss arrangements for a specialist contractor to carry out this work. Should this situation arise, we would also need to discuss more detailed requirements and costings as we may not automatically cover these under the terms of your agreement with us.
Why can’t I modify my door without checking first?
Fire doors are an important part of your building’s overall fire safety system, but they need to be working correctly in order to keep you safe. Modifications to fire doors can include changes such as the fitting of spy holes, letter boxes and additional locks. If these changes are not carried out correctly, it can affect the fire resistance of the door. If you want to make any changes to your door please check with us first by calling 0800 678 1221.
What do I do if I think a fire door is faulty or broken?
If you think a fire door in your building is damaged, broken, or faulty in any way, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements for a repair or replacement be made.
You can call us on 0800 678 1221 or email info@orbit.org.uk.
