By Kai Iris
Fire safety should always be a priority when it comes to the architecture and design of any building. As fire safety has increased in importance and regulations have been devised and implemented, the construction of buildings have been shaped by fire safety regulations and a big part of this has been the installation of quality fire doors to provide that extra layer of safety in the event of a fire. We’ve seen the devastation that a fire can cause to residential complexes, and since the Grenfell disaster more work must be done to make homes and businesses safer in the UK. There can be no room for error, which is why you see certain residential complexes evacuated over fire safety reasons, rather than risk lives.
Depending on the type of building, there is a need to ensure that the correct type of fire door and other fire safety equipment is chosen and installed correctly. Fire doors are designed to stop smoke and fire spreading and can be chosen at different levels of thickness, providing anything from 30 minutes of protection upwards. As well as that choice, the other thing to consider is whether or not fire doors should close and open automatically (which could be a requirement in certain types of care homes and medical settings but not necessarily in residential settings). There are different things to consider, but everything should be geared towards the safety of those who will reside or work in the buildings and whether or not the fire safety equipment being installed is up to scratch and will keep people safe in the event of a fire.
The testing of fire doors is also vital to the on-going safety of a building and its residents. There have been too many instances where residents have been misled over the safety of fire doors and this is not right (in fact it is extremely dangerous). Once the correct fire door has been installed at a property, it is important that it is regularly checked to see if it is working correctly. If there are any faults at all, these must be rectified immediately. If a fire is to break out in a building, fire doors play an integral part in stopping the spread of fire and smoke and allowing enough time for people to escape.
When new buildings or those undergoing refurbishment are being planned, fire safety is always at the heart of the matter. It is important that all aspects of fire safety and regulations are looked at, including all fire escape protocols and fire safety equipment. The highest quality of fire doors and other types of fire safety equipment goes a long way to helping residents feel safe in a building. The strongest foundation of fire safety should be provided wherever possible to ensure that in the worst-case scenario of a fire breaking out, that all people within the building know what to do, where to go, and have peace of mind that the fire doors will keep them safe, that the fire escape routes are clear, and that the equipment works.
