Why Fire Doors Are Essential For HMO Fire Safety

Ensuring fire safety in a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) is of utmost importance. One crucial element that often goes overlooked, but plays a significant role in fire prevention in an HMO, is fire doors. These specially designed doors are not just any ordinary doors; they’re engineered to withstand fire and smoke, buying precious time for occupants to evacuate safely.

In this blog, we’ll explore why fire doors are indispensable for HMO fire safety. We’ll look specifically at the importance of complying with HMO fire door regulations, how to select the right fire doors for a HMO, as well as installation and maintenance best practices so you have a better understanding of the role they play in safeguarding tenants against fire.

Understanding HMO fire safety

HMOs have a higher risk of a fire occurring due to many people living in close proximity in one household. Common items in the home such as cooking appliances, electrical appliances, and heating systems are all potential fire risks and therefore, a comprehensive fire risk assessment is crucial for every HMO. This assessment will identify fire hazards and provide recommendations to mitigate these fire risks.

Such fire safety measures will often include installing fire doors in the building. This is because they play a crucial role in stopping the spread of fire and smoke, allowing more time for occupants to evacuate. They’re designed differently than normal internal doors and use strong fire resistant materials such as solid timber, special fire resistant core, intumescent strips, and smoke seals for example.

Fire doors have a FD rating assigned to them, which indicates how long they can withstand fire. For example FD30 means it offers 30 minutes of protection and FD60 will offer 60 minutes of protection. All of these elements, including the fire resistant materials within the doors, work together to block the spread of smoke and flames.

By ensuring that fire doors are properly installed and maintained, landlords can significantly enhance HMO fire safety within their property, protecting both lives and assets.

What are the current HMO fire door regulations?

In England and Wales, HMOs must comply with regulations set in the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The legislation states that the ‘responsible person’, usually the landlord or managing agent, is responsible for fire safety within the building, and this includes installing and maintaining HMO fire doors.

Fire doors for HMO must meet a specific standard to enhance the fire safety in the property including material composition, appropriate fire resistance ratings, and installation by a qualified professional, like Advanced Fire Protection (AFP) Wales.

It’s essential for landlords to stay informed about these HMO fire door regulations and ensure that their properties are equipped with the necessary fire safety measures to create a secure living environment for residents.

Failing to comply with the legislation can lead to serious consequences. Not only can it put the lives of tenants in danger, but it can also lead to legal consequences such as hefty fines, prosecution, and imprisonment for cases of serious neglect. All of this can lead to a damaged reputation as a landlord and may lead to difficulties renting out a property in the future.

HMO fire door installation and maintenance best practices

Having high-quality fire doors that meet the right standards is one thing. However, installing them and maintaining them is just as important. If your HMO fire doors are not installed correctly, you run the risk of them not working as they intended, putting your property and lives at risk.

Installing fire doors requires specialist knowledge and experience, and should only be performed by a qualified 3rd party accredited company who holds the appropriate accreditations, such as FIRAS, IFC, DBM, and Trada and has excellent knowledge about fire safety rules and building codes. It also requires careful and correct measuring and fitting of elements such as smoke seals and door closers and if these are not installed right, your fire door is ineffective.

As we’ve previously mentioned, maintaining your HMO fire doors are vital to ensure they’re working as they should be. Over time, parts can wear out, seals can break down, and door closers might not work properly. By regularly maintaining your fire doors, you can identify and quickly fix any issues. Here are some maintenance best practices:

• Monthly checks – this should include looking at doors and frames for any damage or gaps, as well as checking door closers to make sure they’re working properly.
• Every six months – you should inspect intumescent seals and smoke seals for damages or wear and tear. Check and see if hinges or door closers need lubricating.
• Annual checks – have a qualified fire safety technician to complete a full inspection of your fire doors.

Ultimately, when it comes to installing and maintaining your fire doors, it’s wise to consult a professional fire safety company, like AFP Wales, to ensure you’re not only compliant, but also protecting the lives of your tenants.

Speak to us for your HMO fire doors

It’s clear to see that fire doors play a significant role in HMO fire safety. They help protect your property and tenants against the spread of fire and they ensure you’re fully compliant with fire safety regulations.

Here at AFP Wales, as well as supplying high-quality fire doors, we provide a huge range of specialist fire door services including surveying, installation, maintenance, and more. If you’d like to learn more about HMO fire safety and how we can install fire doors to your property, don’t hesitate to contact our team today. We operate throughout the UK as well as our local areas of Cardiff, Pontypridd, and Newport, so we can offer a solution for you no matter where you’re located.

Fire doors for HMO FAQs

What makes a door a certified fire door?

A certified fire door is more than just a regular door as it undergoes rigorous testing for fire resistance. It must have key features like intumescent strips, smoke seals, fire rated hinges, and a strong door frame. All of these parts work together to help keep a fire contained and reduce the spread of smoke.

How often should fire doors be inspected and maintained in an HMO?

Fire door inspection and maintenance are ongoing tasks for HMO landlords. You should conduct a visual check every month and every six months, carry out a more detailed inspection. An expert should inspect your fire doors at least once a year to help keep escape routes safe and meet legal requirements.

Do HMO fire doors need to be self-closing?

Yes, fire doors in HMOs must be fitted with self-closing devices to ensure that they automatically close after being opened. This helps contain the spread of fire and smoke within the building.

Can I replace fire doors in an HMO myself?

If you need to replace a fire door, this should only be carried out by a certified fire safety company, like AFP Wales, to ensure they meet legal fire safety standards and pass building inspections.