What Should You Do In A Workplace Fire?

firesafedoors on March 24, 2022

Hopefully, you’ll never find yourself caught in a workplace fire, but it’s important to know what to do in case of an emergency.

In the unlikely event that you are in an office fire, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm. If you can avoid panic, everything else becomes easier.

Fire NSW have developed an acronym that is easy to remember in the event of a workplace fire, RACE.

Fire extinguishers
Credit: Marcelo Moreira

Rescue

If it is safe to do so, rescue anyone in the building who may struggle to exit the building. Prioritise those in immediate danger, or anyone who may have trouble escaping e.g. the elderly, anyone with a disability.

Alarm

If fire alarms have not properly sounded, or there are parts of the building that have not been notified, it is important to ensure the entire building is aware of the fire.

The best way to do this is by notifying the staff member in charge and manually setting off any accessible alarms. Once that has been done, call the fire brigade as soon as possible on ‘000’.

Contain

If it is safe to do so, try to contain the fire as much as possible by closing the doors and windows that will stop it from spreading. It is important to know which doors in your workplace are fire safe, so you can prioritise closing them.

Extinguish

If you know how to use a fire extinguisher, and it won’t put you in unnecessary danger, use your workplace’s firefighting equipment to extinguish as much of the fire as possible.

Once you have rescued, alarmed, contained, and extinguished, you should:

  • Follow instructions given by your Fire Warden
  • Prepare to evacuate the building
  • Leave the lights on for visibility
  • Save any company records if it is safe to do so

Have a fire door related enquiry? We’re happy to help. Contact Fire Safe Doors at [email protected] or call (02) 9070 0732, and we’ll work through a plan for your needs. 

The Dos and Don’ts Of Fire Doors

firesafedoors on March 2, 2022

If the fire door in your building leaves you with more questions than answers, you’ve come to the right place.

A fire door isn’t a device to be installed and forgotten. A fire door can only function to the fullest of potential if you understand its purpose, application and upkeep. That’s why we’re counting down the dos and don’ts of the crucial safety device.

Dos

Before installing a fire door, it’s important to read the relevant Building Codes of Australia. These codes will mandate the type and location of your fire door, in order to uphold the legal safety requirements.

Do hire a qualified installer to install and set up your fire door. Don’t be afraid to ask for credentials from your installer to ensure your door is installed correctly and legally.

Get your fire doors inspected regularly, as per the recommendation advice of your installer. This will ensure that your building will be up to scratch with the latest codes for when federal, state or local inspections are conducted.

It’s wise to keep all of your fire door documentation. They will be useful to your installers for when maintenance checks or repairs need to be made.

Don’ts

Under no circumstance should a fire door be locked. Fire Doors are designed to be easily opened and closed to prevent wasting precious time during an emergency. Even if everyone in your building has access to a key, the fire door should still remain unlocked at all times.

Never wedge open a fire door – this is actually illegal. Leaving a gap between the door and the building space immediately negates the functionality of a fire door. A wedged open fire door will provide minimal protection to you in an emergency, as the fire can spread rapidly past the fire door into the proceeding area.

Don’t leave anything in front of a fire door. One of the most important aspects of a fire escape plan is having a clear path to safety. If the path to your fire door is obstructed in any way, it’s important to remove these objects immediately. This is because they will pose as potential tripping hazards during an emergency, as well as increase the time it takes to evacuate.

Have a fire door related enquiry? We’re happy to help. Contact Fire Safe Doors at [email protected] or call (02) 9070 0732, and we’ll work through a plan for your needs. 

Learning The World Of Fire Doors

firesafedoors on December 21, 2021

Fire Doors are a quintessential aspect of building design and construction. They protect establishments, and more importantly, the people inside them.

Fire Doors have become a safety staple for workplaces, eateries, halls, schools, and establishments everywhere. In the case of a fire, these doors are your ultimate protection until help arrives.

In short, fire doors save lives. Let’s run through the basics of fire doors, from application to aesthetics, to regulations.

What are Fire Doors?

Fire Door is short for a fire-rated door set. The door leaf, door frame, locks, handles and other elements all function together to create the most effective fire-resistant door possible. Fire Doors are also known as passive fire protection devices, meaning that they will serve their purpose without the need for human assistance if installed correctly.

Fire Doors have a range of classifications, depending on their strength. They can range from 30 minutes of withholding fire and smoke all the way to up to 2 hours of prevention. The most common types are the 

  • Sale Occupancy Unit Fire Rating Level -/60/30 (one hour of prevention)
  • Common Property Fire Door -/120/30 (two hours of prevention)

Installation

Fire doors can’t be installed by anyone with a toolbox and a good attitude. The stakes are too high. For fire doors to meet government compliance standards and ensure maximum safety, they must be installed by qualified individuals. This includes qualified fire-door installers (us), and some carpenters and buildings. Always double check your installer has the credentials for the job so you don’t have to overspend on a redo.

Image: Dasco Maroubra

Fire Door Materials

While fire doors are there to keep people safe, they are also widely customisable for aesthetic purposes. Heritage buildings, modern workplaces and more all require fire doors with unique materials to match the aesthetic qualities of the buildings. With the right installer, it’s possible to match the fire door to the building without sacrificing functionality. Common types of fire doors include

  • Glass (with fire-rated glazing)
  • Metal Sheeting
  • Wood Veneer

Maintenance and Regulations

You’ll need to have your fire doors inspected half-yearly or annually, depending on the door type. This is a must-do to comply with the strict Building Code of Australia. If your fire doors were installed before the 1990s, it’s definitely worth checking that they weren’t constructed with thermal insulation (aka, asbestos). If so, they’ll need to be removed by a qualified asbestos remover, then replaced. It is the role of the building manager to ensure all fire doors and inspections are up to scratch.

Have a fire door related enquiry? We’re happy to help. Contact Fire Safe Doors at [email protected] or call (02) 9070 0732, and we’ll work through a plan for your needs.