Preparing safety case reports fire doors not closing

Help to prepare safety case reports

This information is for Accountable Persons (APs) of high-rise buildings to assist them in preparing safety case reports that include fire doors for Building Assessment Certificates.

The safety case report must demonstrate that all reasonable steps have been taken to prevent building safety risks happening from fire doors not closing and reduce the seriousness if they do.

Fire doors in high-rise buildings

Fire doors are an important safety measure in higher-risk buildings. They can help prevent the spread of fire and smoke from the compartment where it starts and provide a barrier between people and the fire during any evacuation.

Fire doors is a shorthand for fire-resisting door sets or fire-resisting door assemblies. A door set or door assembly is made up of not only the door itself but also the frame and door furniture such as locks and handles.

Some fire doors – such as to cupboards or rarely used rooms may be kept locked when not in use.

Other fire doors are usually unlocked and need help to make sure they close after use – often by using a self-closing device.

If one of these types of fire doors does not close after use, and there is a fire in that compartment, there is a risk that the fire could spread.

This example relates to a self-closing fire door not closing. There are also other issues that can happen with fire doors.

Similarly, the possible responses listed are not exhaustive. The key thing is to investigate any problems and fix them.

The example also assumes that the door is a fire door (of the correct type) and needs to be one based on the relevant standards and fire risk assessment.

Scenario: Fire door does not self-close

Background and possible reasons

There are several reasons why a self-closing fire door does not self-close.

Examples include the:

self-closing device may be missing, broken or need adjusting
door may have been deliberately propped open
door may be binding on its hinges
door or frame may be damaged, preventing it from closing
bottom of the door may be binding on the carpet or flooring

Short term responses

The first thing to do is investigate why the door is not closing.

You may be able to do this yourself, but if the reason is not obvious you may need a fire door specialist to help you. Whoever does any work on your fire doors should be competent to do so.

If the problem(s) can be fixed straightaway (for example by adjusting the door or replacing the self-closing device) then action should be taken there and then.

If the problem(s) cannot be fixed straightaway (for example because a part or a new door is needed), then you should do a combination of things:

Arrange for the necessary action to be taken as soon as possible

Raise awareness of the need to close the door manually in the meantime. This may include telling the residents of the flat/corridor affected or considering signage or a notice.

Although signs or a notice would not be acceptable as a long-term solution, they may be helpful as an interim measure

Consider whether any other measures are needed to manage the risk until the problem has been fixed.

Additional responses

The additional measures that you should take will depend on why the fire door was not self-closing.

Measures could include if the:

self-closing device had been removed or disabled, or if the door has been propped open, educate residents on the importance of fire doors and how they help keep people safe
self-closing device had failed, investigate why and whether other similar devices may need to be replaced
issue had been seen but not reported, educate residents, staff and contractors on the importance of defect reporting
issue had been reported but not actioned, review the systems in place for dealing with defects that are reported
problem was caused by a change to the building. For example new carpeting – review how change is managed