Project Overview:
A secondary school in the UK aimed to enhance fire safety by replacing outdated wooden doors with certified fire-resistant doors. The project was initiated to comply with fire safety regulations and improve overall student and staff protection.
Challenges Faced:
- Compliance Issues: The old doors did not meet modern fire resistance standards (FD30).
- Aging Infrastructure: Many door frames and surrounding structures needed reinforcement.
- Minimal Disruption: The school wanted work completed during holidays to avoid interrupting lessons.
- Budget Constraints: The project needed to balance cost-efficiency with high safety standards.
Implementation Process:
1. Assessment & Planning
- Conducted a fire risk assessment to identify priority areas.
- Selected FD30 fire doors based on location requirements.
- Chose doors with intumescent seals, fire-rated glass panels, and self-closing mechanisms.
2. Installation & Execution
- Removed old doors and reinforced door frames where necessary.
- Installed 20+ fire doors across classrooms, corridors, and fire exit routes.
- Applied smoke seals and checked compliance with British Standard BS 476 and EN 1634-1.
3. Testing & Certification
- Carried out safety inspections post-installation.
- Ensured doors closed automatically and maintained integrity under fire conditions.
- Obtained fire door certification and compliance approval.
Results & Benefits:
- Improved Fire Safety – Increased containment of fire and smoke, allowing more time for safe evacuation.
- Regulatory Compliance – Met legal fire door standards, reducing liability risks.
- Enhanced Security – Sturdier doors improved school security.
- Minimal Disruption – Project completed within summer holidays.
Conclusion:
By proactively replacing old doors with fire-rated alternatives, the school significantly improved safety for students and staff while ensuring compliance with modern fire regulations. The investment also extended the lifespan of infrastructure and enhanced overall security.
Before
After
