Fire door safety in schools: why the summer holidays is the best time for maintenance

Sue Corrick of Allegion UK on why the summer break is ideal time to test fire door safety in educational settings

For most UK schools, colleges and universities the extended summer break is seen as a time to reset. Yet, it also provides decision makers with a prime period to assess and attend to their facilities ahead of the new term. Educational spaces are often prone to wear and damage, as a result of their high footfall (and naturally well-trodden environments). Door hardware for example, plays an integral role in the security, traversal and fire safety of academic settings and can be operated 100’s to 1000’s of times each day, becoming tired in the process. As such, when door hardware is left to deteriorate it can lead to inadequate operation and thus compromise fire safety and security.

Over periods of closure vulnerability to fire can increase: many fires are started deliberately with arson accounting for up to 70% of fire safety incidents. And with the UK Fire Service called out to extinguish fires in approximately 1,500 UK schools per year, the necessity of maintenance periods is more evident than ever. Fortunately, making positive change over the summer break can make an instant impact, but where does the responsibility lie?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all educational establishments must designate a Responsible Person (RP) for matters associated with fire safety. In some cases, responsibility can be shared between a single person and the local authority or building owner, but the RP must have a robust knowledge of fire safety and manage ongoing risk assessments, designed to help identify potential fire hazards within the premises. As part of their responsibilities, the designated RP must:

In the event of a fire, if an educational establishment is considered unsafe or breaches the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is in danger of heavy penalties, fines and a damaged reputation. 

Research from the BWF Alliance has revealed that almost a third of those responsible for fire doors do not understand fire door responsibility under the Building Safety Act 2022. Passed in April, the new Building Safety Bill is designed to raise fire safety standards in multi-occupancy buildings, by giving residents more power to hold responsible persons to account. The change is applicable for those residing in halls of accommodation at universities. In the past year, London firefighters attended 1,262 incidents in student halls in the capital alone. Under new guidance the RP is required to present residents with annual information covering the importance of fire doors and self-closing devices. Furthermore, residents are encouraged to raise any faults or damage to door sets immediately, helping to ensure maintenance is addressed quickly and professionally.

Equipped with newly released budgets, reduced building footfall and blessed with time, the summer break presents responsible persons with a six-week period to review fire safety and assess the operation of fire doors and their hardware. All education settings are legally bound under British and European law to possess operational fire door sets, which consist of:

Above all else, fire doors must operate as intended. In the circumstance of a fire, it’s critical that fire doors close independently and all the way, and that hardware – including hinges, handles, door closers, locks and signage – is correctly installed and maintained. When it comes to inspections, it is common practice to follow a stringent five-point check, where upon examination, a responsible person must review the certification, gaps, seals, hinges and the closing elements of a fire door, ensuring each element is functioning correctly. 

Fires are extremely unpredictable and can begin in and out of learning hours. Something as rudimental as an incorrect hinge can produce a life-threatening gap between the door and its frame, so the need for regular maintenance is clear. The fleeting British summertime leaves a small – but manageable – window for the education sector to act, adding fire safety to its own curriculum before students return in September.