We’re supporting Fire Door Safety Week 2021

Fire doors save lives and protect homes. This Fire Door Safety Week we’re highlighting the crucial role they play in keeping you safe and our continued investment in them this year as part of our fire safety programme.

Steve Mather FCHO Director of Operations said: “Fire doors play a vital role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke around a building and all our homes have fires doors fitted where required. To perform as they should, i.e. to resist smoke and fire for a specified time, they must be to the correct standard and be properly installed and maintained.

“As part of our work to continually improve our customers’ homes and provide high quality, safe places, this year we’re investing £1.5m in brand new communal fire doors in our blocks of flats with three or more storeys.

"We’re also carrying out additional work to contain any fire should it occur in our homes, and to stop it from spreading. This work will continue into 2022 – we’ll keep you updated but if you want to check on our progress see the fire safety programme page on our website ."

Steve added: “Our team, and third-party fire consultants, also inspect fire doors as part of our regular checks to keep you and your families’ safe in your home. If you’re contacted by us or our contractors to arrange an inspection, please allow us access to your home – it will help us identify any issues that we need to address.

"It’s also important that you are aware of the critical role that you play by following our fire safety advice available on our website”

Throughout this week we’ll be sharing advice, tips and information about fire doors here on our website and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – join in the conversation.

Fire doors Frequently Asked Questions

What does a fire door do?

A fire door ensures that should a fire break out, it can be contained in a “compartment”. This keeps the fire and smoke trapped for a defined period, allowing time for people to follow the correct fire procedures for their building, which could be to evacuate or to stay put, and can help make the fire easier to tackle.

A fire door will be not work effectively if it’s damaged or propped open.

Where are fire doors installed?

In a block of flats fire doors should be on stairwells and in corridors, and flat front doors are fire doors. You will also find fire doors in places where there is a risk of fire, such as bin storage or mains electricity service cupboard. You may find fire doors inside some flats.

How to identify a fire door

Fire doors in communal and public areas will have a sign on to say it’s a fire door. Flat-front doors and doors inside the flat do not have to have fire door signs on them but you should be informed if they are.

Spot an issue with a fire safety door in your building?

Please report it to us – you could save a life. Get in touch with our Contact Centre on 0161 393 7117 or email servicecentre@fcho.co.uk.

Inspecting and maintaining fire doors

We are legally responsible for fire doors in all our blocks of flats.

Watch this video to see Alex, from our Property Safety team carrying out an inspection on a fire door.