Fire Doors – What is a Fire Door?

The most basic question we’ve been asked is simply – ‘what is a fire door?’. To some people, this may seem like an easy question. However, fire doors are complex product systems, made up of many different parts. Everyone encounters fire doors almost everyday, but seeing isn’t knowing. That’s why, even though it may seem simplistic, we want to answer the question of ‘what is a fire door’?

Fire doors are an essential line of defence in the event of a fire. A fire door can prove the difference between life and death for anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in that situation. Fire doors are specially constructed so that they are especially resistant to flames and heat and the gaps are sealed in such a way as to prevent flames – and often smoke – from penetrating for a prescribed period of time.

Fire Doors – Passive Fire Protection

As passive fire safety elements, fire doors defend against fire passively, unlike a sprinkler system. Passive Fire Protection makes use of something called compartmentation within a building. This compartmentation slows and restricts the spread of smoke and fire. By slowing the spread from room to room, it gives the people inside the building time to escape, and gives the firefighters time to bring the fire under control.

Passive Fire Protection saves lives and saves buildings from greater destruction than is necessary. Fire Doors are a crucial part of this fire safety strategy. If any single part of your passive fire protection fails then the whole strategy could follow suit. This could potentially result in loss of life and irreparable property damage.

Who uses fire doors?

By law, all non-domestic premises are required to have a responsible person. The ‘responsible person’ could be the landlord, leaseholder, employer, building owner or facilities manager – anyone with an element of control over a premises. These people are not required to be experts in fire safety, but it does expect them to use competent professionals to ensure fire safety equipment is maintained and fit for purpose.

Do I need to get my fire doors checked?

Yes, absolutely!

Fire doors are engineered products and need correct installation and regular maintenance. Any failing, no matter how small, could mean that your fire doors will not perform to the required standard, should they ever need to in the event of a fire. Failure to maintain them attracts the same penalties as any other fire safety equipment, such as alarms or sprinklers. These penalties can be hefty, with a school recently being fined over £200,000.

Hopefully we’ve managed to answer the question of ‘what is a fire door’ in this blog. 

If you would to get in touch about a Fire Door Inspection or to find out more, please contact Mark McQuade at [email protected] or call 01563 53 55 11

In the meantime, feel free to browse our website.

You can find us on Twitter and LinkedIn with the following hashtags: ProtectingLivesPreventingLoss #Worksmartworksafe #Firedoormaster #MakeItWorksmart

 

Fire Door Maintenance on Listed Buildings

Situated in one of Ayrshire’s most enchanting beauty spots lies the historic Glenapp Castle. Dating back to the late 1800s, the castle was designed by the celebrated Edinburgh architect David Bryce. The property was built as a home for the future Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, James Hunter.

Built in the Scottish Baronial style, the castle combines elements of both the Gothic and Renaissance periods. The result is a castle of enduring beauty and grandeur. Fast forward to modern times, and after several owners and eventually falling into an unfortunate state of disrepair, Glenapp underwent years of laborious renovation and care to restore it to its luxurious best. Having been transformed into a hotel after its refurbishment, it has won a string of awards and been recognised as one of the finest luxury castle hotels in the UK.

The current owners have continued the improvements to the fabric of the building as well as the hotel. Glenapp Castle Hotel is now one of the finest examples of its kind to be found anywhere. Winner of “Independent Hotel of the Year” at the CIS Excellence Awards in 2019, it also holds the AA’s supreme accolade for hotels, regardless of size or type of operation – five red stars.

Glenapp Castle is also a member of two exclusive groups: The Relais & Château Group and the Pride of Britain Hotels. Needless to say, membership of these groups is dependent on the highest levels of service, exceptional cuisine, and unique, luxurious settings. Glenapp Castle offers these in abundance.

Heritage Scotland and Fire Protection

The most recent development involves upgrading a substantial part of the castle’s guest accommodation. The owners are at the forefront of ensuring the safety of both the guests and the castle itself. To do this, the fire protection had to be upgraded to modern standards.

Worksmart were approached by Glenapp Castle due to our specialist fire door and passive fire protection credentials and experience. Protected as a listed building, Glenapp Castle’s owners needed to ensure that all works had to be conducted with the utmost sympathy for the existing, historic fabric.

Worksmart were the ideal people to fulfil this brief. As accredited and experienced fire door and passive fire protection specialists; with a team of highly skilled, time-served tradespeople; while being sympathetic to the conservation aims and historic nature of the project.

Maintaining 19th Century Architecture on Listed Buildings

The ongoing project involves both the installation of new fire doors that are in keeping with the style and architecture of the late 19th century and the sympathetic upgrading and conservation of historically valuable doors to provide the required level of fire resistance. This in itself is a big challenge, and exactly the reason why Worksmart were appointed as contractor for the job.

The entirety of the castle’s fifth floor is also being upgraded to guest accommodation. It first had to be ‘compartmentalised’ to provide 60 minutes fire resistance. This included removal of the original floorboards, stripping out of obsolete services and deadening material and installation of new services before the painstaking construction of a bespoke fire barrier in the void to the latest passive fire standards. The original flooring, which had been carefully stored, was then replaced.

Fire Door Inspection Services for Historical Buildings

We are working closely with the owners of Glenapp Castle, their interior designers, conservation surveyors, architects and services consultants to ensure the refurbishment is carried out to the standards expected of one of the country’s leading luxury hotels and we look forward to sharing updates on this beautiful project in our following blogs!

Glenapp Castle’s owners are determined to apply the same level of attention to the conservation of this jewel of a castle as they do to their hospitality, whilst sympathetically refurbishing and upgrading to keep it alive and offer their guests an unrivalled experience in one of Scotland’s finest listed buildings. Collaborating with specialist conservation surveyors and Historic Scotland, we, at Worksmart, are delighted that our skills and expertise will play a part in delivering this prestigious and sensitive project

If you would to get in touch to find out more, please contact Mark McQuade at [email protected] or call 01563 53 55 11

In the meantime, feel free to browse our website.

You can find us on Twitter and LinkedIn with the following hashtags: ProtectingLivesPreventingLoss #Worksmartworksafe #Firedoormaster #MakeItWorksmart