We’re supporting Fire Door Safety Week 21-27 September

This week we’re supporting Fire Door Safety Week to raise awareness about how fire doors save lives and protect homes – and handily, it coincides with the start of our fire safety investment programme. We couldn’t have planned it better ourselves!

Heidi Thompson, our Executive Director of Home and Investment said: “Many of us don’t give fire doors a second thought until we need them that is, when a fire breaks out.

“All our homes have fires doors fitted where required. They play a vital role preventing the spread of fire and smoke around a building. To perform as they should (i.e. to resist smoke and fire for a specified time), they must be 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 for them to live, we’re investing in brand new fire doors in our larger blocks over the next two years.

"Starting in the autumn, we are planning to spend £1.7m on new communal corridor fire doors in our homes with three or more storeys. We’re also carrying out additional work to contain any fire, should it occur in our homes and stop it from spreading. This work will continue into 2022 – we’ll keep you updated on our progress so check the investment section of our website regularly."

Watch our video to see Project Manager, Alex explain more about our fire safety investment programme.

Heidi 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 spot any issues that we need to address.

"It’s also important that you play your part by following our fire safety advice available on our website”

Throughout this week we’ll be sharing advice, tips and information about fire doors for our customers here on our website and on Facebook and Twitter – 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 safe, and can help make the fire easier to tackle.

A fire door will be useless 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 in 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.

Inspecting and maintaining fire doors

First Choice Homes Oldham is legally responsible for fire doors in our blocks of flats.

Watch this video to see Alex, one of our Project Managers in our Buildings, Contracts and Compliance Team, carrying out an inspection on a fire door.

Reporting an issue

If you 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.

More fire safety advice

For more fire safety advice, visit the safety in my home section of our website.