Fire Door Closers

The Importance of Overhead Door Closers

The HSE Fire Safety guidance and Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 detail the legal obligations of employers and business owners regarding fire safety; and specify that fire doors should remain closed at all times. However, this is not always practical as people forget to close them or intentionally leave – or prop – them open. An open fire door significantly escalates the risks during a fire. All fire doors should therefore be fitted with a fire door closer, also known as an ‘overhead door closer’. These door closers automatically shut a door after it has been opened.

There are several reasons why a fire door should remain closed during a fire emergency. Here are some of the most important.

Closed fire doors do the following:

• Save lives. It is estimated that a closed fire door affords occupants of a building 30 minutes longer to evacuate and get to safety.


• Limit and contain the spread of the fire.


• Reduce fire damage by containing fires in specific areas.


• Decrease oxygen supply to the fire.


• Increase the time it takes for structures to collapse.


• Provide added security by preventing unauthorised access.

Fire door closer requirements

Door closers for fire doors in the UK need to comply with specific requirements to be functional and effective. The BS EN 1154:1997 Building Hardware – Controlled Door Closing Devices publication contains the requirements for fire door closers. An overhead door closer should:

• Securely close a door after opening. In the case of latched doors, for instance, proper closing would be signified when the door is latched – whereas unlatched doors are securely closed when back in their frames and aligned.


• Suit the fire door to which it is fitted. Not all fire doors are manufactured according to the same specifications. Different doors require different closing mechanisms.

Apart from regulatory requirements, you should also bear the following in mind when selecting your fire door closers:

• The amount of traffic through a door during a day greatly determines the durability of a door closer. Most overhead door closers for internal fire doors are durable and can handle medium to heavy traffic flows.


• Ensure that you obtain a door closer specifically made for fire doors. Building regulations require that all fire doors are fitted with door closers.

Fire door closer recommendations

We have taken care to ensure compliance with legal requirements and quality measures in our selection of fire door closers. Here are some helpful tips to bear in mind:

• Exterior doors are exposed to changing weather conditions and will require corrosion-resistant fittings.


• Interior doors can be fitted with quiet door closers to minimise noise.


• Our Acoustic Digital Fire Door Closer combines the function of a Fire Door Holder or retainer. These closers will allow fire doors to stay open – for example, during working hours – until triggered by a fire alarm. As soon as it is acoustically triggered, this fire door closer shuts the door.


• Investing in a Door Closer Kit is cost-effective as it comes with the required signage.