At a Glance

Fire exit regulations cover more than choosing the right fire door. Businesses must provide suitable escape routes, accessible exits, clear signage, sufficient capacity and regular maintenance. Following these measures is central to workplace fire safety laws. When planning fire exits, businesses must also select the right fire doors, install them correctly and keep escape routes clear. 

Choosing and installing the right fire door is an important part of meeting these requirements. To explore your options, contact Doorway Services today and discuss your fire door installation requirements.

What Are the Key Fire Exit Regulations for Businesses?

You may have seen fire doors in many offices, but fire exits involve more than simply installing a fire door. Businesses need to consider escape-route layouts, door swing direction, emergency access, signage and the number of people using the premises. Knowing the fire exits and laws that apply to your premises is an important part of meeting your responsibilities and keeping people safe. At Doorway Services, our professional door installers have put together a list of key fire exit regulations and practical fire safety tips to help you understand how escape routes and exit doors should work in commercial buildings. Our team installs, repairs and maintains fire exits properly. 

Below are seven key requirements businesses should consider when planning and maintaining fire exits.

1. Your Fire Exits Should Offer a Direct Escape Route

One of the first fire exit regulations is to ensure your escape route lets people move away from a fire and reach safety as directly as possible. Escape routes should suit the people using the building, remain available when needed and be kept clear of obstructions. The level of protection provided along the escape route is also important. This is where the distinction between protected and unprotected routes becomes relevant. Protected routes are designed to provide greater protection from fire and smoke, helping people reach a final exit or another safe place. An unprotected route does not provide the same level of fire resistance, so the suitability of the escape route depends on factors such as the building layout, travel distance and the findings of the fire risk assessment. The number and arrangement of escape routes will also depend on the premises and the number of people who may need to use them. 

2. You Shouldn’t Rely on Revolving or Sliding Doors for Fire Exits

Do not use doors that are difficult to push or open during an emergency as fire exits. Not only is it against fire safety laws, but it can also make it harder for people to save themselves. Sliding doors or revolving doors should not normally be used as escape doors unless they are designed to provide a suitable escape opening or a separate exit of the required width is provided. 

Sliding doors are also not normally suitable for escape routes unless they are for staff-only use. Also ensure the fire door isn’t locked and can be easily accessed and opened by anyone in the building in an emergency.

3. You Shouldn’t Lock Fire Doors When the Building Is Being Used

You must not lock fire doors with a padlock or key. If you use security devices, those responsible for opening the premises should know which device to remove before the building is occupied. Regular checks should also be carried out to ensure the fire exits are not locked when people are inside.

While you’re at it, use the right panic bars, as they provide additional security and enable people to escape quickly when required. The type of panic hardware requried will depend on the premises and the people using the exit. Doorway Services can advise on such requirements, including the installation, servicing and repair of fire and emergency doors.

 4. The Number and Width of Fire Exits Depend on How Many People Use Your Premises

When installing fire doors in your premises, consider the number of employees, the size of the building and its use. These factors can also affect the number and width of required escape routes. No single number or width of fire exits applies to every workplace. The requried capacity depends on factors such as the number of people using the premises, the layout of the building and the findings of the fire assessment.

When installing or replacing commercial fire doors, consider these requirements alongside the building’s existing escape arrangement. At Doorway Services, we provide commercial door installation and support businesses with their door requirements, so contact our door installers for the right measurements and other technical details. 

5. Your Fire Exits and Emergency Routes Should Be Marked With Signs

To ensure your employees go in the right direction, mark all fire exits and escape routes with emergency signs where required. Signs should be clearly visible and make the escape route easy to understand, particularly where the route to the nearest exit is not obvious.

Escape routes should also have sufficient lighting to allow people to evacuate safely. Emergency escape lighting may be required where normal lighting could fail. 

6. You Shouldn’t Obstruct the Path of Your Fire Door

You never know when a fire emergency may occur, so it’s crucial to keep internal escape routes clear and usable. Ensure no combustible products are placed near the door, as they can easily add fuel and increase fire spread. Also avoid keeping gas cylinders or portable heaters in stairways, circulation spaces or corridors.

Keeping these areas free of combustible materials and other hazards helps prevent obstructions that delay evacuation. Items such as portable heaters, gas cylinders and cooking appliances should also not normally be stored in corridors, stairways or other circulation spaces used as escape routes.

7. Fire Doors Should Be Maintained Regularly

Fire doors must remain in good working order to perform their intended function during an emergency. Regular checks should identify issues such as damage, problems with door closers, faulty hinges or other defects that could affect the door’s operation. A competent professional should promptly address faults that could affect the safe use of a fire exit. Regular maintenance also helps businesses identify wear and damage before it affects the door’s performance. Doorway Services can help keep fire doors maintained on time.

Doorway Services provides commercial door maintenance and repair services, including fire door repairs and ongoing maintenance contracts. This helps businesses address faults and wear while keeping commercial doors operational at all times.

Contact Doorway Services for Professional Fire Door Installation

Understanding fire safety laws and fire exit regulations is crucial when managing commercial premises and putting these requirements into practice means choosing the right fire doors and having them professionally installed.

If you are planning to install or replace fire doors, Doorway Services can help you find a suitable door for your building. We cover Northamptonshire, Leicester and Warwick and offer a 24/7 emergency callout service. 

Now that you understand the importance of fire safety and fire exit regulations, contact our team at Doorway Services today to get your fire doors installed. Call us on 03337727784 or email us at service@doorwayservices.org.