What are the differences between fire doors and fire exits?
· Fire exits – Identified as the doors that take people from the inside of a building outside. They can remain open in times of an emergency to allow for the easier passage of occupants, and do not need to be fire-resistant.
· Fire doors – Identified as the doors inside a building that are specially designed to prevent the spread of any fires and accompanying smoke. They must be able to shut automatically, have a seal around the door edges that can block any gaps when a fire occurs, and need to remain closed at all times.
Fire doors are an essential part of any building’s safety design. They are vital in ensuring people remain safe in the event of a fire emergency.
Fire doors are crucial in higher density buildings so that flames do not travel into stairwells and corridors, where they could prevent the escape of residents.
WHS standards require that exit routes, fire doors and exits are always maintained, clear and safe at all times. The following measures we can take to always ensure this are:
· Adequate lighting, including emergency lighting.
· “EXIT” signs must be clear and easily identified.
· Be sure that fire exit signs and doors are never hidden or blocked by decorations or signs.
· All exit routes must remain unobstructed. Fire exits and doors must never be blocked, even temporarily. Exit routes should never be blocked by materials, equipment, locked doors, or have dead-end corridors. Obstructions in the way can cause people to trip and fall, adding the possibility of injuries.
Any door or passage that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked with a warning sign with wording such as “Not an Exit” or a sign that identifies the space on the other side of the door, such as a sign with the word “Closet”.
Fire doors are to never be wedged open, they are designed to protect escape routes and prevent the spread of toxic smoke and fumes.
The symbol for a fire exit is usually rectangular and consists of a white illustration of a person leaving through an open door. It often has the words ‘Fire Exit’ included in the design as well, and an arrow that indicates the direction of the exit. These signs are always identified as green in colour and are universally associated with the action ‘go’. It is a legal requirement that fire exit signs are always illuminated so that they can be seen even if it is dark, if you notice that the light is out then contact your manager immediately for it to be fixed.
If you notice any of the following points mentioned are non-compliant then it is your duty of care that you must take reasonable steps of action to ensure that it is safe. You MUST report all anomalies to your manager and remove any obstructions immediately.
It is important that you are able to identify any obstructions to be any objects that prevent the fire door, exit or passageway to be used at its full capacity without hinder, these also include any objects that are restricting the view of the fire door.
Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Act, individuals and the PCBU may be fined up to $1500 for each offence.