New research from the British Woodworking Federation has identified gaps in fire door knowledge among younger adults, including misconceptions about whether doors can safely be wedged open.
The survey, released for Fire Door Safety Week, found that 38% of Gen Z respondents aged 18 to 29 feel safe when a fire door is wedged open. A further 29% believe fire doors can safely remain open when smoke alarms are installed.
Understanding fire door protection
Fire doors are designed to restrict the spread of fire and smoke, protect escape routes and provide occupants with additional time to evacuate.
The research found that 40% of Gen Z respondents understood this role, compared with 78% of Baby Boomers and 93% of the Silent Generation.
However, 63% of Gen Z respondents said they notice the location of fire doors when entering unfamiliar buildings, while 59% pay attention to their condition.
Misconceptions remain
The research also identified uncertainty about recognising fire doors. Some 21% of Gen Z and Millennials believed a fire door was simply a door painted red, while 22% of Gen Z respondents thought fire resistant paint identified a fire door.
Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation said: “The fact that more than one in three Gen Z adults feel safe when a fire door is wedged open is deeply concerning and creates a dangerous false sense of protection.
“A wedged-open fire door cannot fulfil its life-saving role. Fire doors are designed to hold back the spread of fire and smoke, protecting emergency escape routes to give people vital time to escape and emergency services time to enter a building.
“Fire doors are not ordinary doors and should never be held or wedged open for convenience, without using a correctly installed automatic door closer. Only a correctly installed, maintained and, importantly, closed, fire door can stop the spread of smoke and fire.
“It’s clear that greater awareness and education is needed so that people of all ages recognise that fire doors are a crucial part of the wider system of passive fire protection. By sharing accurate information and increasing visibility of the role of fire doors, we can turn recognition into understanding and action to improve fire door safety.”
“Building occupants and users should never assume that someone else will raise a concern about a fire door’s condition. Leaving a damaged, obstructed or poorly maintained fire door unreported could mean the difference between life and death in the event of a fire.
“If something looks wrong with a fire door – whether it’s damaged, wedged or obstructed – report it straightaway and follow up until it’s fixed.
“Building owners and responsible persons can help with encouraging a proactive fire safety reporting environment by making reporting processes for their properties clear, accessible and visible.
“Fire door safety depends on everyone playing their role – from building users spotting and reporting issues, to landlords, building owners and Responsible Persons ensuring competent individuals with the correct skills, knowledge and experience complete remediation work.”
Social media was cited as a source of fire door information by 33% of Gen Z respondents.
Reporting damaged fire doors
Almost half, 48%, of Gen Z respondents said damaged fire doors should be reported. However, barriers included not knowing how to identify problems, uncertainty about who should receive reports and assumptions that somebody else would take action.
Fire Door Safety Week aims to improve understanding of fire doors and promote appropriate installation, inspection and maintenance across buildings.
