All internal fire doors need to adhere to the following regulations:
⁃ They must be heavier than normal internal doors.
⁃ Door closers must be fitted so that they close automatically.
⁃ Seals must be fitted around the edges of the doors so that they can expand to block gaps (and prevent smoke from spreading).
⁃ Fire-resistant glazing must be fitted into windows on the doors.
⁃ Handles and other fittings on the doors must be fire-resistant to ensure they can be opened safely in an emergency.

An internal fire door FD30 should resist fire for 30 minutes. A FD60 fire door should resist fire for 60 minutes. The amount of time it takes for a fire door to actually resist a fire depends on the circumstances, including where the fire is in relation to the door, the burn rate, and what is being burned at the time.

Internal fire doors from RES

If you require internal fire door installation, maintenance or repairs, RES can carry out a comprehensive service to meet your requirements. We cover the South of England including the counties of Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent including London, Aldershot, Basingstoke, Beaconsfield, Bracknell, Egham, Farnham, Guildford, Henley on Thames, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Slough, St Albans, Staines, Swindon, Watford, Windsor, Woking, Wokingham.

RES has highly experienced fire risk assessment officers, alongside well-trained fire door technicians and engineers. We provide practical and cost-effective fire risk assessment services and interior fire door installation for our clients to keep their business and staff protected in the event of an emergency.

All internal fire doors must be certified. Check for a label on the top or side of one of the doors to ensure this. You should also check that the gaps around the sides and top of the doors are less than 4mm when closed. You should just be able to fit a £1 coin in the gap (as a way to determine whether the gap is too big).

All seals around the fire doors should be in good condition, with no damage. If they are damaged, they will need repair, as the performance of the doors could be compromised as a result. A final check is to ensure that the doors close properly. You can do this by opening the doors halfway and then letting them go, to see if they close by themselves. If they stick onto the frame and do not close effectively by themselves, they will need further examination and repair.

If you require internal fire door installation, maintenance or repairs, RES can carry out a comprehensive service to meet your requirements. We cover the South of England including the counties of Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent including London, Aldershot, Basingstoke, Beaconsfield, Bracknell, Egham, Farnham, Guildford, Henley on Thames, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Slough, St Albans, Staines, Swindon, Watford, Windsor, Woking, Wokingham.

A fire risk assessment takes into consideration the current precautions being made regarding potential fires, and whether or not they are adequate enough. In a fire risk assessment, a simple drawing of a premises is drawn up that highlights a building’s general structure, storage areas, accommodation areas and how they are used. It should identify potential hazards such as combustible equipment/products and those people at risk, alongside action that should be taken. If a fire does occur, it is a good idea to have this drawing to hand to give to the fire service to help them understand a building’s layout. Combustibles are typically circled in red.

Causes of fire

A fire risk assessment will typically identify potential fire hazards and sources of ignition. For a fire to ignite and spread, it requires heat or a flame, and oxygen to fuel its reach. By keeping potential ignition sources and fuel apart, the risk of a fire can be significantly reduced, meaning that risks to people and building structure are also greatly decreased. It is important to identify heat sources and any sources of ignition that could create a fire in a workplace (such as a gas cooker in an office kitchen). Other less obvious risks can be from chemical sources or electrical. Potential fire sources are:

• Faulty electrics such as lighting, wiring, leads and adapters
• Lighters, candles, smoking equipment, and matches
• Sparks and flames from working processes within a workshop such as welding, grinding or cutting
• Heat caused by friction
• Static electricity
• Ovens, microwaves, deep fat fryers and other electrical cooking apparatus
• Equipment that burns oil
• Heaters
• Flammable materials such as paper, wood, cardboard and polyurethane foam
• Flammable liquids such as solvents/paint
• Arson
• Carelessness and lax health and safety procedures, such as employees smoking near flammable materials
• Poor housekeeping

The role of the ‘Responsible Person’

Regarding fire risk assessment, the ‘Responsible Person’ is required by the Fire Safety Order to ensure that appropriate action is taken to minimise fire risks. Typically, the ‘Responsible Person’ is an owner of the property being assessed, or someone in a position of power within the business with a degree of responsibility. The role of the ‘Responsible Person’ is to ensure, on a risk-assessment basis, that the building and its employees are safe at all times and that all fire risks are minimised as much as possible. Their duties also include:

• Identifying fire hazards and removing them
• To establish fire safety procedures to protect employees
• Taking steps to reduce the chances of a fire igniting
• To ensure that all people based within a building leave its premises safely and quickly in the event of a fire via a well-rehearsed fire drill
• Taking action to limit the spread of a fire, should this happen

A Responsible Person can also have an assistant who is well trained in fire hazard/risk-based situations. The Responsible Person does however remain responsible for fire risk assessment at the company and its related procedures at all times. All of the above should be straightforward procedures without additional expense to a company. If however a building does not comply with building regulations and fire hazard procedures are not in place, it is especially important to have a fire risk assessment and instruction from an authoritative body such as RES Fire Protection Engineers, who can advise on building occupancy and potential fire risks.

Identifying hazards

When you have identified fire hazards within a building, you need to take steps to remove them in order to reduce the chance of a fire occurring and spreading. You can do this by:

• Completely removing the hazard (in certain situations)
• Reducing a hazard to the point where risk is minimal
• Replacing the hazard with a safer alternative or moving it to a different location within the premises
• Adhering to a fire safety policy to prevent hazards in future

Areas containing fire hazards are generally low, medium or high risk. Low risk areas often give those nearby enough time to react to them, with minimal risk of ignition. Medium risk areas are most parts of a general building, and high risk areas often carry a great chance of ignition where a fire could spread quickly.

It is important to ensure that a building complies with health and safety regulations and that fire exits and routes of escape are clearly pointed out to those in a building in case of a fire. Consider whether you have enough fire exits and whether they are well lit and unobstructed. Fire fighting equipment such as extinguishers should also be positioned within easy reach and wall mounted close to fire exits. Fire alarms should also be heard by all those within the building, and all staff should be trained in what to do in the event of a fire.

The term ‘fire hazard’ has two important components – the first is the possible instance of a fire occurring, and the second relates to the consequences and effects of a fire if it happens. It is always important to consider the environment and equipment stored in a place of work to ensure that there are no combustible substances that are present in a manner that could ignite and cause a fire to spread.

What is a fire hazard?

For example, if flammable liquids are in storage in a building, there is a high risk of a ‘fire hazard’ due to the liquids being flammable and potentially exacerbating the spread of a fire in their combustibility. In another example, a workshop may have equipment that could cause a fire, but this fire could potentially be contained if there are no other flammable items or liquids present, ensuring that the fire does not spread to other areas of a building. Many risks can be reduced to low levels with careful storage and good housekeeping.

RES provide a comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment service for areas including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas in accordance with the RRFSO.

Fire exit signs are not required if the fire escape route is very obvious, for instance, if the main door is the sole entrance and exit out of a small shop. Fire exit signs are necessary and required by law for more complex and larger buildings. You need to consider how easily your staff and building occupants can make their way out of the building if a fire were to start. Consider that some visitors for example may not be familiar with the building layout, making fire exit signs crucial for their safety. Directional signs can lead people to their nearest fire escape route.

Fire exit signs with RES

RES offer an extensive range of JALITE fire safety signs and fire safety signage solutions that are designed to conform to British and international standards.

We are proud to be an authorised distributor of Jalite signs and provide safety signs for the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.

RES also offers fire risk assessment services, with well-trained officers, technicians and engineers, as well as a number of specialist consultants who are all qualified as a competent person. We provide practical and cost-effective fire risk assessment services for our clients to keep their business and staff safe and protected.

Read more about our Fire Safety Signage 

Mandatory signs

These are circular blue signs with a white pictogram that must be obeyed in accordance with the law. These safety signs give indications on actions that must be followed, such as wearing a hard hat in a workshop. These signs should be displayed near entry points to a site and near fire doors that must be kept shut.

Fire action notices indicate actions that must be carried out in the event of a fire by building occupants. These are typically displayed as white text on a blue background. These are typically not in a circular format, but the blue and white colours used reflect the mandatory nature of the signs. A general mandatory sign is a white exclamation mark on a blue circle, which is often used alongside a fire action notice.

Safe condition signs  

These are displayed in the form of green rectangular signs with a white pictogram and text centrally positioned, indicating fire exits, escape routes, an emergency exits, first aid kits and equipment. Such signs should comply with fire risk assessment and in some cases the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

Fire fighting signs

These red signs indicate where fire safety equipment such as extinguishers can be located. They can also indicate fire alarm activation points. The signs take the form of a red rectangle with white writing and a pictogram.

Warning signs

These take the form of triangular yellow signs, which warn those in the building of potential nearby dangers, such as a combustible liquid or a workshop where radioactive materials are used. These signs are required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and in specific cases by the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990.

Prohibition signs

These signs take the form of a circular red shape with crossbars running through them, prohibiting actions that could be dangerous. For example, a sign may indicate when smoking is not permitted due to a fire risk. These signs should also be a part of employee training to reduce the potential risk of a fire.

Supplementary signs

These are typically directional arrow signs in green, red and yellow colours, pointing out safety exits or fire safety equipment.

We are proud to be an authorised distributor of Jalite signs and provide safety signs for the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.

Fire exit signs are a crucial part of general fire safety within any premises, helping to ensure that all staff and visitors are able to be quickly and effectively directed to safety in the event of an emergency.

Regulations associated with fire exit signs state that it is an employer’s duty to make sure that there are adequate signs displayed where there could be a potential risk to an employee’s health and safety. There are several regulations in line with legislation that you must follow to display fire exit signs correctly.

Fire exit signs and the law

UK Building Regulation requirements state that fire exit signs should be placed on every fire escape door, escape window or other escape route from a fire. All fire exit signs should conform to BS 5499 Pt 4:2000 and Health & Safety 1996 Safety Signs & Signals Regulations. Wherever there is a potential fire risk to the health and safety of employees and staff, customers or general visitors within your building, fire exit signs must be displayed. If you have a fire risk assessment and it declares there is no significant risk, a fire exit sign may not be required. However, in most cases within a large building with a complex layout, all fire exit routes must be clearly signposted and marked, so that all people within the building can easily locate a safe exit if a fire were to happen.

The Building Regulations Act 1991 states that every exit or doorway that provides a means of escape in the event of a fire should display a fire exit sign that conforms to British Standard 5499 and the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) Act 1996.

Why use fire exit signs?

If you own a commercial building, safety and fire exit signs are vital to ensure the safety of your customers, visitors, clients and employees. Your signs should also conform to legislation which states that all safety signs require illumination and must remain illuminated in the event of a power cut. This requirement can be met by using JALITE AAA photoluminescent signs. It is very important that signs meet this requirement to ensure the safety of people within the building.

Fire exit signs must be clearly visible at all times, in the event of either a power failure or a room that has filled with smoke, decreasing visibility. If your building requires emergency lighting, your fire exit signs should be illuminated, too. You can do this in the following ways:

• External lamps
• Internal lamps
• Self Illuminating fire exit signs

We are proud to be an authorised distributor of Jalite signs and provide safety Fire Exit Signs for the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.

Read more about our Fire Safety Signage 

March 2019 – RES invest in state-of-the-art digital flow testing equipment

As part of our Dry Riser and Hydrant testing services,  flow tests must be carried out on premises every six months (in accordance with BS 9990:2006).

Our new TSI Digital Flowmaster 250 Hydrant Flow and Pressure test instrument will provide accurate measurements to ensure your hydrant is operating correctly.

The device helps to locate leaks and obstructions in the water main and provides a flow rate reading accuracy of 98%.

Our Fire Hydrant expert Mark Froude will be out on the road with the new device from March 2019 onwards.

Feb 2019 – RES team attend Fire Doors Explained Course

Engineers from our passive fire protection team, Ben, Rory and Mark recently undertook the Fire Doors Explained training course with BM TRADA at the Warrington Fire Test Laboratory.

The CPD (Continuing Professional Development ) certified course includes a live fire test demonstration and is designed to present an overview of fire door design, manufacture, testing, installation and certification.

Effective fire-resisting doors are vital to ensure occupants are able to evacuate to a safe place.
Correctly specified and installed doors will hold back fire and smoke, preventing escape routes becoming unusable as well as preventing the spread of fire.

During the day the team covered Current Fire Safety Legislation, Compartmentation,HM Gov Building Regulations, Anatomy of Fire Resistant Doorsets, Fire testing, Test reports, and the Role of Assessments, Installation of Fire Doors, Third party Certification, and a live one-hour fire resistance test in a full-scale 3m x 3m vertical fire test furnace.

The knowledge the course gave me was invaluable when it comes to site surveys!

Mark O’Halloran – RES Fire Risk Assessor

From Left to right, Ben – Our new Fire Door Carpenter, Rory – currently training as a multi-skilled engineer to cover Fire Stopping, Fire Doors and Fire Alarm Installations, Mark – Currently undertaking our Fire Risk Assessments.

RES are now members of the The Fire Protection Association (FPA) which is the UK’s national fire safety organisation.

This further demonstrates our commitment  to working towards protecting people, property, business and the environment.

Since the FPA’s formation in 1946 they have attained an unrivalled reputation for quality of work and expertise in all aspects of fire including research, consultancy, training, membership, publications, risk surveying and auditing. The FPA’s products and services are designed to assist fire, security and safety professionals achieve and maintain the very highest standards of fire safety management.