When To Replace Fire Doors: Is It Always Necessary?

As a business owner, or estates or property manager, ensuring compliance with fire safety legislation is maintained is now a legal obligation. Fire doors play a key part in keeping occupants safe and preserving property in buildings – but when should fire door replacement be considered?

Proactive scheduled maintenance such as conducting regular inspections, repairs and servicing, can prevent having to replace a door altogether.

So, when is the right time to replace fire doors and is it always necessary?

The Challenges Faced To Replace Fire Doors

An all too familiar story we hear from landlords and property owners is how crippling it can be when a fire inspector visits their building. Following a fire risk assessment, a fire door inspection can deem that most, if not all, of your fire doors are not suitable, condemning them.

For buildings that contain hundreds of internal fire doors, this can spell disaster for the landlords’ ,business and livelihood.

Replacing fire doors isn’t cheap. In fact, replacing an internal timber fire doorset can cost up to three times the amount of having an existing doorset repaired.

So, in this instance, is it always necessary to replace these fire doors? Whilst a definitive answer is hard to give, as every building is different, on many occasions the answer we would give is: NO.

Fire door approved repair techniques have been developed to restore most existing doorsets to their original full integrity, through certified repairs and formal documentation.

If you’re in the position we’ve discussed here, always reach out to a team of doorset maintenance specialists before making any commitments to replace fire doors. Following a visit from a fire door inspector, these experts can suggest the most efficient way of undertaking the works on your fire doors, Which might contradict the advise from your doorset inspector to replace them.

Conducting Regular Inspections And Repairs To Keep Fire Doors In Working Order

Fire doors play an essential role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and in preserving the effective compartmentation of buildings and often require special attention to keep them in working order. One of the best practices you can make in your building to avoid the need to replace fire doors when they become damaged, is to conduct regular inspections and repairs.

This is not only cost-effective but can reduce the need for complete replacement. By adhering to safety standards and conducting pre-planned inspections and repairs, it is possible to limit how often it's necessary to replace your fire doors, further preserving the stability of your facility's fire safety plan.

Partnering with a fire door maintenance team can offer you the opportunity to pre-plan regular maintenance on all your fire doors for a fixed-rate and term.

This pro-active approach to fire door maintenance can save your business from considerable costs down the line, as it mitigates the frequency of replacing fire doors tenfold.

The Benefits Of Repairing Existing Fire Doors Instead Of Replacing Them

Replacing fire doors can be costly, disruptive and time-consuming, making repairing existing ones a much better option. As we stated above, the cost of repairing existing fire doors, on average, is only a third of the costs to replace a doorset altogether. These savings begin to add up considerably for buildings that house hundreds of internal doorsets.

In most cases, repairs can extend the life of a fire door, restoring it to its full integrity. By avoiding the need for a replacement fire door, you are also avoiding wasting materials and thinking more sustainably for both your business and the planet. Also, by repairing rather than replacing your door the existing finish is maintained.

Regular inspection and repairs of all your fire doors also demonstrates your commitment to due diligence in light of legislation that puts responsibility back on responsible parties to maintain their fire doors. Ongoing pre-planned maintenance ensure your building is always fully compliant and each doorset is compliant.

When To Consider Total Replacement Of A Fire Door

Fire door replacement should not be a quick solution to any fault, instead it should be considered when other methods such as repair have failed or are not suitable.

In every case, we always recommend you reach out to a fire door maintenance expert, as they are in the best position to advise you on the best course of action on a door-by-door basis.

If a fire door is beyond repair or lacks any documentation to prove certification in the past, a doorset technician may advise fire door replacement as a last resort.

In this instance, your doorset technician can provide you with quality timber fire doors complete with a range of fire-rated, acoustic and security accreditations. Look out for third party accreditations such as BM TRADA Q MARK, as to ensure any repairs or installation work is certified under British standards.

Partner With A Specialist Team For Fire Door Repairs Or Replacement

Partnering with a specialist team for fire door repairs or replacement is the best solution to ensure proper safety and longevity of your property.

A skilled team of experts can ensure that all necessary work is completed accurately and promptly, while helping to minimize the need for costly replacements by fixing any existing damage or issues with the doors' systems.

RW Maintain provide bespoke service packages for your business or buildings, including the inspection, repair and replacement of all fire-rated doorsets. For a fixed-term, you are assured that all fire doors are maintained in accordance with British standards, keeping you and your occupants safe.

If you have a building or project that would benefit from a maintenance package for your fire doors, contact an expert at RW Maintain today.