The campaign, which is run by the British Woodworking Federation, serves as an important reminder of the crucial role fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property in the unfortunate event of a fire.
When installed, serviced, maintained and used correctly fire doors help restrict the spread of fire and smoke, protect escape routes and give people valuable extra time to escape safely.
As part of the campaign, Cleveland Fire Brigade wants to ask the public: would you be able to spot a faulty fire door and if so, would you report it?
Research conducted in 2023 by the British Woodworking Federation as part of their Fire Door Safety Week campaign ‘Recognise it, Report it’, found that over half (57%) of people in the UK would not be able to identify a problem with a fire door.
Worryingly, due to the lack of understanding around faulty fire doors, of the 2000 people interviewed, 29% would not report an issue. A further 21% would not report an issue as they believed nothing would be done about it. Almost half (49%) believed that it was not their responsibility to report a faulty fire door.
The campaign aims to raise awareness that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that a fire door performs as it should, from the manufacturers, installers, through to building owners and occupants. It also seeks to give people the confidence to recognise and report any potential issues correctly.
Fire door issues that should be reported include:
- Fire doors being propped or wedged open
- Damage to the door, door frame, hinges or seals
- Cracked or damaged glass
- Gaps between the door and the door frame
- Incorrect or no fire safety signage displayed
Michael Smith, Service Delivery Manager for the Protection Department at Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “As we know, fire can result in the loss of irreplaceable possessions, large property costs and worse still, loss of life.
We are urging people not to turn a blind eye to fire doors, check it, close it and if you do spot an issue please report it as soon as possible, it could save lives.”
How to report an issue
If you spot a faulty fire door, report it to the person responsible for the building, such as the landlord, managing agent, facilities manager or building owner as soon as possible. If concerns are not addressed, they can also be raised with the local authority or fire safety enforcing authority where appropriate. Reporting issues promptly can help ensure faults are repaired quickly and could save lives.
To watch a Fire Door Safety Week Video Cleveland Fire Brigade have produced please head to their social media pages; Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
For more information, please visit the Fire Door Safety Week website.
