Having an evacuation plan and fire extinguishers to hand is a good first step, but it’s not enough to keep people safe if there’s a fire on your business premises. It’s important to have as many fire safety precautions in place as possible – and certain measures are actually compulsory by law.
For example, you should have fire doors installed in appropriate areas, which will help to seal off passages that would otherwise allow flames and smoke to spread further. It’s important to keep fire doors and fire shutters in good condition, to make sure they’ll work correctly in an emergency.
Without the proper maintenance, fire shutters could become damaged, causing them to fail in a fire – which could have disastrous consequences. This blog will explain the regulations for maintaining fire safety shutters, so you’ll know how to comply with the law and keep your building safe.
Why do fire shutters need servicing?
It should be common sense that equipment like fire shutters needs regular testing to make sure it’s still in working order. Some people might think that just because they were working as usual last time means they’ll still be in the same condition some time later, but this isn’t always the case.
There are lots of components within fire shutters and wider fire safety systems that can become faulty without anyone realising until it’s too late, causing the entire system to fail at the crucial moment. If anything has been damaged since the previous test, the fire shutters could essentially become useless in an emergency, allowing the fire to spread instead of sealing it off as they should.
As the owner of a building and/or business, it’s your responsibility to follow the government’s guidelines for fire risk assessments. This means regularly evaluating potential fire hazards and people at risk, and reviewing what you can do to minimise these risks – like servicing fire shutters.
How often should you test fire shutters?
As with any mechanical roller shutters, you should regularly service fire shutter doors in line with Regulation 5 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. This states that:
- equipment, devices, and systems must be maintained ‘in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair’.
However, while these regulations apply more generally to many kinds of workplace equipment, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 specifies how often emergency doors should be tested.
While most doors and shutters can be serviced once a year, fire shutters should be serviced at least once every six months to ensure they’re completely legally compliant. These regulations enforce:
- checks for powered doors ‘at regular intervals, as appropriate, by inspection, testing, adjustment, lubrication, repair and cleaning’.
You should hire a qualified and accredited inspector to check your emergency shutters, who will provide a certificate confirming the outcome of the checks. If there’s a problem with your fire shutters, you’ll need an engineer to repair them – ideally, from the company who installed them.
Failure to comply with these regulations for servicing fire shutters can not only lead to possible injuries or deaths and destruction of property, but can also result in financial penalties and even prison sentences for the responsible parties (or, more accurately, the irresponsible parties).
How are fire shutters tested?
Of course, fire shutters have to pass multiple tests during the manufacturing process, before they’re purchased and installed. They undergo mechanical cycle testing and furnace testing to measure their functionality and heat integrity, then further fire resistance tests for additional scenarios, including possible smoke testing. This is all done according to British Standards, including but not limited to:
- BS EN 1634-1: 2014
- BS EN 1634-3: 2004
- BS EN 1363-1: 2012
- BS EN 1363-2: 1999
- BS 476-22: 1987
When it comes to servicing an installed and operative fire shutter, the inspection will follow a certain process to identify any problems, and whether maintenance or repairs are needed.
The fire shutter inspector will check the suitability of the system in line with local building regulations and national standards for smoke and fire resistance. After carrying out the compliance checks, the inspector must write up a Declaration of Performance explaining which tests were followed and how the fire shutter door complies with the relevant regulations (or doesn’t).
Are your fire shutters up to standard?
If you currently have fire shutters in your building, when was the last time you tested them? Are they overdue for a professional inspection? Have you already noticed a problem by yourself that could indicate a possible fault in need of repair?
Whatever the case may be for you currently, it’s undeniable that you need to have your fire shutters serviced regularly, and unavoidable that you legally must follow maintenance instructions for them. Keeping up with fire shutter servicing and maintenance will ensure their integrity and extend their lifespan, giving you peace of mind in the event of an emergency.
One of the simplest ways to ensure you never overlook your legal obligations for fire shutter maintenance is to set up an ongoing contract for six-monthly check-ups. To find a company offering such a service, you should look for a shutter supplier and fitter in your area – for example, one selling roller shutters in Liverpool – and contact them to discuss your fire shutter requirements.
