Fire safety in multi-occupancy buildings is crucial, and an important yet often overlooked element is fire doors. Far more than a mere entryway, fire doors play a vital role in slowing the spread of fire and smoke, protecting lives and providing safe evacuation routes.

However, improper installation, damage and neglected maintenance can render these doors ineffective, putting residents at increased risk.

In Queensland, strict regulations govern fire doors, and compliance with these standards is critical to ensuring the safety of everyone in the building.

In this blog, we’ll explore the critical role fire doors play in fire safety, outline the main compliance requirements and identify the common mistakes that compromise fire door functionality.

A fire door is designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, creating a barrier that prevents flames from moving freely through hallways and escape routes.

In a fire emergency, these doors contain the fire to one area, protecting other parts of the building and allowing more time for residents to evacuate safely. They also provide a buffer for emergency personnel, making it easier to navigate and respond to the situation.

No. Fire doors have specific fire resistance levels, typically rated from 30 minutes to 120 minutes, depending on the needs of the building. In Queensland, multi-occupancy buildings are required to have fire doors installed in strategic locations, especially in corridors and stairwells, to ensure safe evacuation paths.

If you want to check your fire door rating, look on the inside edge next to the hinges. You will find a sticker with this information. It should also show when it was last checked or serviced.

Ensuring fire doors are compliant with Queensland’s fire safety standards (AS1851-2012 Section 12) is essential for maintaining a safe building environment. Here are some of the main compliance requirements:

• Fire door ratings
  Fire doors must be rated based on the level of fire resistance needed for the building. In Queensland, higher ratings are often required in buildings with a larger number of occupants, as these structures need longer evacuation windows.
• Proper installation
  Fire door installation must be done by qualified professionals. Fire auditors check that fire doors are correctly installed and meet all necessary standards.
• Self-closing mechanisms
  Queensland regulations require all fire doors to be equipped with a functional self-closing mechanism. During a fire, these mechanisms ensure that doors close automatically, preventing fire from spreading to adjacent areas.
• Final exit door hardware

The main exit door must be fitted with a lever-action handle or panic bar for ease of evacuation.

• Annual Inspections
  Queensland law requires annual inspections of all fire safety measures, including fire doors. These inspections verify that doors meet current standards and are free of damage or other issues that could impair their functionality.

Many buildings fail fire audits because of fire door compliance issues. Here are some of the most frequent problems auditors encounter:

• Propped-open doors
  Fire doors that are propped open are a serious fire safety violation. Residents with security screens often do this to allow for airflow through their property but when a fire door is held open, it cannot perform its role as a protective barrier. The same is true for communal doors that are propped open as they allow smoke and flames to move freely, compromising evacuation routes. A solution for communal doors is to use electromagnetic door holders that release when the fire alarm is triggered.
• Locked doors

Fire doors that are locked manually or automatically on closure can slow the evacuation process. Auditors will recommend an override mechanism that operates at the touch of a button.

• Blocked doors

As with evacuation pathways, fire doors must be kept clear of obstructions at all times.

• Damaged or altered doors
  Fire doors must remain in their original state to comply with fire safety standards. Damage, such as cracks or warping, can reduce the door’s effectiveness. Adding unapproved locks or decorations can also compromise the door’s fire resistance. Annual inspections are necessary to identify and address these issues.
• Faulty self-closing mechanisms
  Self-closing mechanisms are critical to fire door compliance. However, these mechanisms can degrade over time or become blocked. A non-functional self-closing mechanism renders the fire door ineffective, leaving residents at risk. It’s essential to regularly test these mechanisms to confirm they will work reliably in an emergency.
• Improper installation

Improper installation is a common compliance failure and can completely undermine the door’s effectiveness in an emergency. For example, if the door does not fit tightly in its frame, smoke and fire may leak through the gaps, compromising the safety barrier.

Non-compliance with fire door regulations can have severe consequences, both for building safety and legally. Here are a few critical risks:

• Increased fire and smoke spread
  Fire doors that don’t comply with regulations can lead to faster spread of fire and smoke, making it harder for occupants to escape and increasing the risk of injury or fatality.
• Legal penalties and liability
  Failing to meet fire door compliance requirements can result in significant fines for body corporates, as well as liability in the event of an incident. In Queensland, building owners and managers have a duty to ensure all fire safety measures are up to code, and non-compliance can lead to costly legal repercussions.

Regular fire audits are invaluable for identifying compliance gaps and ensuring all fire doors meet Queensland’s standards. By prioritising fire door compliance, body corporates and strata managers can create a safer living environment and protect themselves from the risks associated with non-compliance.