Fire Door

A fire door is a system rather than an object. The leaf, the frame, the hinges, the intumescent and smoke seals, any glazing, the closer and the ironmongery all have to be compatible with one another and correctly installed, because the rating was tested on the assembly as a whole.

Why every component matters

Change one part and the tested assembly no longer exists. A replacement hinge of the wrong specification, a lock morticed into the leaf, a gap packed out with the wrong material, or a leaf undercut to clear new floor covering — each is a small, reasonable-looking decision that removes the door's ability to perform as intended.

Closing is not optional

A fire door that does not close fully into its frame, every time, provides nothing. Wedged-open doors are the most common single defect found on inspection, and they are usually a symptom rather than a cause: the door is heavy, the closer is over-specified, or the route is used constantly. Fixing the reason is more durable than removing the wedge.

Inspection

Inspection covers the whole assembly and the surrounding construction, records defects with locations and photographs, and separates what must be corrected immediately from what can be scheduled. Frequency depends on the building and its use, with doors on escape routes and in higher-traffic locations warranting closer attention.