How Poorly Maintained Fire Doors Compromise Emergency Evacuation Plans

 Properly installed and maintained fire doors give occupants valuable time to escape safely

Fire doors are one of the most critical components of a building’s fire safety strategy. They are designed to contain fire and smoke, protect evacuation routes, and give occupants valuable time to escape safely.

However, if fire doors are poorly maintained or neglected, they can fail when needed most, putting lives at serious risk.

This article explores how poorly maintained fire doors can compromise emergency evacuation plans, the risks involved, and the steps needed to maintain effective fire door performance.

1. The Critical Role of Fire Doors in Emergency Evacuation

A fire door’s primary function is compartmentation, preventing fire and smoke from spreading unchecked throughout a building. This is essential for:

• Protecting escape routes – Ensuring corridors and stairwells remain smoke-free for safe evacuation.

• Containing fire in designated zones – Slowing fire progression, reducing structural damage, and aiding firefighter intervention.

• Minimising smoke inhalation risks – Smoke spreads faster than fire and is the leading cause of fatalities in building fires.

A fully operational fire door allows occupants precious minutes to escape and emergency responders the opportunity to control the fire before it escalates.

2. How Poorly Maintained Fire Doors Jeopardise Evacuation Plans

If a fire door is compromised due to poor maintenance, it fails to perform its role effectively. Here’s how this impacts emergency evacuation:

Fire and Smoke Spread Uncontrollably

Fire doors are designed to withstand flames and smoke for 30, 60, or even 120 minutes. However, missing or damaged seals, misaligned doors, or broken self-closing mechanisms allow smoke and fire to spread rapidly through escape routes.

The Impact:

·       Escape routes can become unusable within minutes, trapping occupants inside.

·       Smoke infiltration increases the risk of asphyxiation, reducing survival chances.

·       Firefighters face greater difficulty in containing the fire and rescuing occupants.

Escape Routes Become Blocked or Obstructed

If fire doors are not regularly checked, they may not function properly when needed. Common issues include:

·       Doors that fail to close fully due to misalignment, worn hinges, or latch failures.

·       Blocked fire doors due to improper storage or furniture or propping them open for convenience.

·       Doors swell or stick, making them difficult to open during an evacuation.

The Impact:

• Occupants may struggle to exit quickly in a panic.

• Alternative routes may be required, causing confusion and delay.

• In larger buildings, poor fire door function may extend evacuation times beyond safe limits.

Modern fire safety strategies rely on multiple layers of protection

3. Increased Smoke Inhalation Risks

Smoke inhalation causes more fire-related fatalities than burns. Well-maintained fire doors slow smoke spread, giving people time to evacuate safely. However, issues such as:

• Missing or damaged intumescent seals

• Excessive door gaps (more than 3mm at the top or sides, 8mm at the threshold)

• Cracks or warping in fire doors

…allow smoke to leak through, turning escape routes into hazardous zones.

The Impact:

• Even if a fire is contained, smoke can quickly overwhelm stairwells and corridors, making escape impossible.

• Occupants may suffer from reduced visibility, causing panic and slowing evacuation.

• Smoke inhalation can lead to loss of consciousness within minutes, putting lives in immediate danger.

  
  

Fire Alarm and Suppression Systems Become Less Effective

Modern fire safety strategies rely on multiple layers of protection, including alarms, sprinklers, and smoke ventilation systems. However, when fire doors fail:

• Smoke and fire spread beyond the containment zone, overwhelming suppression systems.

• Alarms may not activate in unaffected areas, delaying evacuations.

• Firefighters struggle to navigate the building safely, slowing down rescue operations.

The Impact:

• More areas of the building become compromised.

• Greater risk of structural collapse and higher casualty rates.

• Delayed emergency response times, making fire control more difficult.

The Most Common Fire Door Maintenance Failures

To prevent fire doors from compromising emergency evacuation plans, facilities managers must address these common maintenance failures:

·       Failure to Conduct Regular Inspections – Fire doors should be inspected at least every 6 months in low-risk areas and every 3 months in high-risk areas like corridors and stairwells.

·       Damaged or Missing Seals and Strips – Intumescent seals and smoke strips should be intact and free from wear, gaps, or peeling.

·       Faulty Door Closers and Latches – Fire doors must self-close and latch properly to contain fire and smoke.

·       Excessive Gaps or Misalignment—Gaps between the door and frame must be no larger than 3mm to prevent smoke leakage.

·       Doors Propped Open or Blocked – Fire doors should never be wedged open unless fitted with approved hold-open devices that release in the event of a fire.

Gaps between the door and frame must be no larger than 3mm to prevent smoke leakage.

4. How to Maintain Fire Doors for a Safer Evacuation Plan

Ensuring fire doors perform as intended requires a proactive maintenance strategy. Here’s what facilities managers can do:

Implement Regular Fire Door Inspections

• Quarterly checks for high-traffic areas.

• Annual inspections conducted by a certified fire door inspector (e.g., BM TRADA, FIRAS, or IFC accredited).

• Routine visual checks by staff and maintenance teams to identify obvious issues.

Train Staff and Occupants on Fire Door Use

• Educate occupants and employees about the dangers of propping open fire doors.

• Provide training on how to identify signs of damage and report issues.

• Display clear signage emphasising "Fire Door – Keep Shut" policies.

Keep Detailed Maintenance Records

• Log all fire door inspections, repairs, and replacements.

• Use a digital fire safety tracking system for easy compliance management.

• Ensure fire safety audits include fire door performance assessments.

Invest in Certified Fire Door Installations

• Ensure new fire doors meet BS 476-22 or EN 1634-1 fire resistance standards.

• Hire certified professionals for installation, repairs, and replacements.

• Use only approved fire door components and hardware.

Let's wrap this up

A building’s emergency evacuation plan is only as strong as its weakest fire door. Poorly maintained fire doors increase fire and smoke risks, block escape routes, and reduce survival chances in an emergency.

By conducting regular inspections, prioritising repairs, and educating occupants, you can ensure fire doors function as they should when every second counts.

Is your fire door maintenance plan up to standard? If you’re unsure, now is the time to act.

#FireSafety #FacilitiesManagement #BuildingCompliance #RiskPrevention #FireDoorMaintenance