Fire doors
Fire doors propped open — the compliant way to keep them open
Staff or residents keep wedging fire doors open and management wants a lawful solution.
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Short answer
Wedges, hooks and extinguishers used as door stops are never acceptable. Where a door genuinely needs to stay open, fit a device that releases it automatically on fire alarm activation — an electromagnetic hold-open, a free-swing closer, or an acoustically triggered release.
Why it keeps happening
People wedge doors for practical reasons: heavy closers, moving stock or laundry, ventilation in summer, or residents who struggle with door weight. Telling staff to stop rarely works for long, because the underlying problem is unchanged. The durable fix is to remove the reason.
The three compliant options
- Electromagnetic hold-open — the door is held by a magnet wired to the fire alarm, releasing instantly on activation. Best where a wired interface already exists.
- Free-swing closer — the door swings freely like a normal door until the alarm sounds, at which point the closer engages and shuts it. Widely used in care homes and schools.
- Acoustic release device — battery-powered, listens for the alarm sounder and releases. Useful in retrofit situations where cabling is impractical.
What to check before choosing
The device needs to suit the door mass, the alarm system's ability to provide a signal or a suitably loud sounder nearby, and the room's use. It should also fail safe: on loss of power the door must close. We check all three before recommending anything, and we confirm the change against your fire risk assessment.
Testing and records
Hold-open devices are tested at each alarm test — the doors should release when the system is activated. Add them to the weekly test routine and note them in the log book so you can show they work.
Questions we get asked about this
Are the plastic wedges sold in DIY shops ever allowed on a fire door?
No. Regardless of the product, holding a fire door open by any means that does not release on alarm activation defeats the door.
Can hold-open devices be fitted to flat entrance doors?
Generally no. Flat entrance doors in residential blocks are expected to be self-closing and kept shut.
Do these devices need servicing?
Yes, they are fire safety equipment. We include them in alarm servicing and fire door inspections where they are present.
Tell us how many doors and what they are used for — we will price the right device for each opening.
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Compliance & enforcement
Asked for a fire alarm certificate and you haven't got one
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