Here are some common errors infire safety in buildings, and things you should NEVER do with fire doors specifically:
Never lock a fire door
Emergency fire doors must not be locked, or fastened in a way that they cannot easily, and immediately, be opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency.
Never leave a fire door wedged open
A fire door must NOT be left open in any circumstance. Apart from the obvious consequence of potential loss of life, or injury, and damage caused by a fire spreading throughout a building, it is actually illegal for a fire door to be propped open. As such, all fire doors MUST be fitted with an automatic closing system.
The consequences of wedging open a fire door can be catastrophic on a number of levels. Firstly, obviously, an open fire door is not fit for purpose as it will not prevent flames, or smoke, from entering other parts of the building, therefore endangering life. Secondly, legally, a wedged fire door can be deemed as knowingly putting life at risk, and those persons responsible, could be fined or even imprisoned. Thirdly, in the event of a fire, and there being evidence of a fire door being wedged open, then insurance policies can be invalidated, and insurance companies within their right to not pay out on any fire damage incurred.
Never allow a fire door to be blocked
A fire door not only acts as a deterrent to the spread of fire and smoke inside a building, but can also be a vital escape route. If access to the fire door is blocked, then this avenue to safety is severely compromised – so all passageways and corridors leading to a fire door should always be kept clear.