SAFETY ALERT: Are Your Fire Doors Letting You Down?

Mark Ardron
3 days ago
2 min read

Fire doors are one of the most important safeguards in any school building — but they are also one of the most common areas of failure. Recent UK cases show that even small defects such as blocked exits, missing seals or doors that don’t close properly can lead to enforcement action, costly fines, and increased risk to pupils and staff.

This Safety Alert highlights what’s going wrong, what it’s costing schools, and the essential checks your premises team must be carrying out now.

🚨 What Went Wrong? Real UK School Case Studies

Case Study 1 — £39,000 in fines

A UK school and its external risk assessor were fined a combined £39k after fire doors were found obstructed, poorly closing and not functioning as intended.

Case Study 2 — Grammar school fined £10,000

Inspectors discovered fire doors removed from cloakrooms, a blocked fire exit, and compromised means of escape — resulting in significant penalties.

👉 These cases show that even minor fire door failures can result in legal action, enforcement notices or prosecution.

💸 The Hidden Cost of Fire Door Failures

Fire door issues don’t just lead to fines — they severely increase fire damage and recovery costs.

Average cost of a school fire claim (RPA 2022–23): £426,365
Large-loss school fires (historic data): £150m+ total impact
Replacement of non-compliant fire doors: £600–£1,200+ per door
Possible outcomes: insurance claim denial, increased premiums, operational disruption, reputational damage

Proactive maintenance is far cheaper — and far safer — than reacting after a failure or incident.

✔️ Fire Door Compliance Checklist for School Premises Teams

Correct Specification & Certification

Ensure door leaf, frame, seals, hardware and rating (FD30/FD60) match and are certified.

Regular Inspections

Door must close fully.
Self-closers working.
Gaps correct and seals intact.
No propping or wedging open.

Competent Person + Record Keeping

Inspections and remediation must be logged.
Work completed by a competent fire door professional.

Clear Escape Routes

No blocked routes, removed doors, stored equipment or furniture in doorway zones.

Prompt Repairs

Fix small defects early — misalignment, hinge issues, damaged seals.

Budget for Upgrades

Many older fire doors no longer meet standards — include replacement costs in planned maintenance budgets.

Staff & Pupil Awareness

Remind users not to wedge doors open or store items in corridor pinch points or by fire exits.

📘 Why This Matters for Schools

Fire door non-compliance is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.Failure puts:

Pupils
Staff
Visitors
School assets
Operational continuity

at risk.

A single fire door failure can change the outcome of an incident — and the consequences for schools can be severe.

👩‍🏫 How The School Safety People Can Support You

The School Safety People help schools stay safe and compliant by providing:

Fire Door Compliance Checks (standalone or as part of your FRA)
Full Fire Risk Assessments by qualified assessors
Tailored action plans for estates and premises teams
Support for Heads, Business Managers and Site Teams
Practical guidance to reduce risk and plan maintenance budgets effectively

🌐 Website: www.theschoolsafetypeople.co.uk

We specialise in helping schools stay compliant, confident, and fully protected.