A recent survey has revealed that 34 percent of UK office workers are unaware of how fire doors should be kept when not in use.
Fire doors, critical for protecting people and property in the event of a fire, must remain closed unless fitted with an automatic mechanism that releases and closes them during a fire alarm.
The survey, conducted by health and safety training provider CE Safety, highlights significant knowledge gaps around fire door safety, raising concerns about workplace preparedness in the event of a fire.
Gary Ellis, spokesperson for CE Safety, expressed alarm at the findings:
“We were worried to see the number of people unaware of basic fire door safety, information that could save lives. It is essential that fire doors are kept closed unless equipped with a self-closing mechanism or door release unit. While a designated person should be responsible for fire door checks, everyone in the building should be aware of how these doors function to ensure issues are reported and resolved quickly.”
Fire Door Safety Concerns
Fire doors play a vital role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke, but their effectiveness can be compromised by improper use or installation. The Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) reports that 75 percent of fire doors in the UK do not meet required safety standards, with 31% of doors improperly installed from the start.
CE Safety’s survey of 1,000 UK office workers revealed common misunderstandings about fire doors. While 80 percent knew that fire doors should not be wedged open, other key issues were less well understood. For example, only 57 percent recognised cracked glass as a problem, and just 22 percent identified gaps around the door frame as a fire risk. These faults can reduce the door’s ability to contain fire and smoke, potentially putting lives at risk.
Inadequate Fire Safety Training
The survey also uncovered gaps in fire safety training, with 35 percent of office workers reporting they had not been shown the fire exit route at their workplace. This figure was particularly high in London, where 47 percent of respondents said they had not been given proper guidance, compared to just 9 percent in Northern Ireland and 22 percent in Scotland.
A troubling 41 percent of respondents said they had seen fire doors propped open at work, which is only safe if a door release unit is installed to automatically close the door during a fire alarm. Additionally, 17 percent reported seeing fire doors locked, a situation that could pose a serious risk if the doors are not equipped with emergency release mechanisms.
Misconceptions About Fire Door Use
The survey revealed widespread confusion about how fire doors should be kept when not in use. While 66 percent of respondents correctly stated that fire doors must be closed but not locked, 34 percent provided incorrect answers. Notably, 8 percent believed fire doors should be kept completely open, and 7 percent thought they should be propped ajar.
The age group most likely to get this wrong was those aged 25-34, with 20 percent of them mistakenly believing that fire doors should remain open.
Importance of Fire Door Inspections
Fire doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and toxic smoke, buying critical time for evacuation. Features like intumescent strips, which expand under heat to seal the door, and self-closing mechanisms, are crucial to their function. Regular inspections, conducted at least every six months, are essential to ensure fire doors remain in good working order.
The findings from CE Safety underscore the importance of proper fire door use and maintenance in UK workplaces, as well as the need for comprehensive fire safety training for all employees.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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