Fire Door PPM – Checklist to be Included in PPM

 Fire doors are vital when it comes to keeping people safe in buildings. Be it residential or commercial buildings, having fire doors is a must. They are an inevitable part of any structured Fire Safety Plan. The effectiveness of fire doors depends entirely on their maintenance and repair. They should be maintained to the highest standards so that they can perform perfectly in case there is a fire breakout. Fire door PPM is something that can save you from any problem. Planned and Preventive Measures – also known as PPM, it is designed to check all parts of the fire door from time to time to ensure proper safety. Regular checks of fire doors must be performed. 

  

Here is a handy checklist of the main features that are included in the fire door PPM check. 

Labels – Every fire door has to display a BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door Scheme label – generally found on the top part of the door.

Glazing – Several fire doors come installed with glazing. If they are present, make sure the intumescent seals are attached to the glass and beading itself and are incessant. The beading should be in good condition and free from all kinds of damage. Glass panes should be damage-free without any cracks. Find out if any panes have been replaced. If yes, then replaced glass should meet the fire safety standards. Any type of glass paneling that should be below a height of 1500mm should be comprised of the approved safety glass standard.  

Frame – Make sure that the frame is attached to the wall. If any planted doorstop is present, it should be firmly attached too. Check that the gap for the door leaf is consistent that is 2-4mm.

Closers – This is one test that you should perform on a regular basis for the door closers – open the fire door to 5 degrees and carefully check that door closes and engages rightly with the latch. Make sure that the door closer is aptly installed and is attached to both the frame and the door. There should be neither leaking nor damage. In case doors are hung in pairs, make sure they close in line when opened as well as released together.

Seals – All types of fire doors should have seals – either acoustic, intumescent, or smoke, or any combination related to these. If not, then make sure they are installed without any delay. All seals should be attached inside the groove of the frame itself or door leaf. They should be continuous around the frame and should have no damage.

Hinges – Fire Doors should be affixed with a MINIMUM of 3 hinges with all screws that are firmly tightened in one place. The screws should be custom fitted for the hinges and be of the right size and be maintained free from oil leakage or metal fragments. If there is any wear and tear, it should be addressed right away. 

Leaf – The door leaf should aptly sit flush with the doorstop. This should happen without any kind of distortion. Make sure that the door is free from any holes, dents, or any damage that can hamper its function. Any veneer should also be solidly placed. 

Door Open Devices – Several fire doors come fitted with “hold open” devices – the electronically powered devices are approved. If such devices are present, make sure that they release the door accordingly as and when needed. 

Latch/Lock – Make sure that the latch holds the door firmly in the right place without any kind of excess movement or rattling.

When it comes to fire door PPM, you should hire a company having expertise in this area. PPM should include all these things to make sure that fire doors should function properly so that building occupants should get time to evacuate the building.