Fire Door Safety Week

Fire doors can save lives and prevent fire, which can have devastating consequences, from spreading. That's the message from Fire Chiefs who are highlighting a national campaign.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting Fire Door Safety Week (26th September to October 2nd), which is held in collaboration with the British Woodworking Federation, by raising awareness around the critical protection the specialist doors provide.

Fire Protection staff will be visiting businesses and auditing premises around the county as part of the week. During these visits they will be offering safety advice and information about fire doors in commercial and public properties.

Firefighters and advocates will also be raising awareness of the role fire doors play in the home when they do home safety visits.

Simon Gibbins, Head of Protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Fire doors play a critical role in saving lives and property and should never be propped open. They are extremely effective at preventing fire spreading from the room of origin and we have seen cases in the past where buildings have been saved as a result of fire doors being fitted and used correctly. We would advise people to also get into the habit of closing all doors as a matter of course to prevent fire spreading and at the first sign of fire get out and call 999."

Fire doors save lives, but must work correctly. A fire door is an engineered safety device so:

• never prop open a fire door
• never disconnect a fire door closer
• ensure all fire doors are tested and have a third-party certificated to BS 476 Part 22 or BS EN 1634 Part 1

Fire Door Safety Week was created by The British Woodworking Federation and is supported by Fire Kills and local fire and rescue services.

For more information about fire doors please visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk

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