Thirteen gets behind national fire door safety campaign

Run by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), Fire Door Safety Week (31 October – 4 November) highlights the importance of fire doors, the role they play in protecting people and good fire safety practice.

Working as part of Thirteen’s building safety team, joinery specialists began carrying out additional checks two years ago, to over 6,000 flat doors and communal fire doors, ahead of the introduction of the Government’s Fire Safety Bill. Since this began, the team schedule over 2,000 inspections and carry out any necessary actions, each year.

Demonstrating our commitment to the safety of its customers, as part of an ongoing programme, Thirteen’s building safety team regularly carry out a range of fire safety checks and work with customers to help them understand what to do in the event of a fire and how to keep themselves safe in their home.

Thirteen’s building safety operations manager Steph Kelley said: “The safety of our customers is a priority and we’ve continued to invest in fire safety measures to enhance those already in place and give customers peace of mind. Education is very important when it comes to fire safety.

“Fire doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke from one room to the next for between 30 and 60 minutes. This protects lives.

“Residents living in a flat must always think about the impact a fire could have on others living in the same building.

“That’s why we have fire doors. People should not make adjustments or remove to the door closer which affects the integrity of the door in the event of a fire. 

“We have different solutions available. So those adjustments should always be left to us, and we’ll make sure they are done safely to meet the fire safety regulations.

“We’re frequently raising awareness of fire safety with our customers and how steps can be taken to prevent accidental fires in the home. 

“We want customers to stay safe in their homes. When it comes to fire safety, we all have a part to play.”

To report any issues, customers and leaseholders should contact the building safety team on 0300 111 1000 or email buildingcompliance@thirteengroup.co.uk

Fire safety tips

• Never leave a fire door open. A fire door will not stop the spread of fire if it’s left open and it can cause a huge risk to themselves and others. 
• Never tamper with a fire door. If you make changes to a fire door, you are putting everyone at risk. Adapting a fire door makes them dangerous.
• If you see a fault, please report it. Fire doors should close fully at all times, so if something is preventing the door closing, please report it immediately to Thirteen’s building safety team.