Fire door closers: what they must do
A fire door can only hold back fire and smoke when it is shut. The closer makes sure it shuts every time, whoever went through it last, so it is worth checking every time you look at the door.
Which fire doors need a closer
Building guidance for England says every fire door should have a self closing device, including flat front doors and the door between a house and an integral garage. The exceptions are cupboards and service ducts kept locked shut, along with doors inside a flat or house.
In an existing building, your fire risk assessment says which doors need one. Government guidance on blocks of flats calls an effective self closer on flat front doors and communal fire doors very important, because a door that does not close fully into its frame will not hold back fire and smoke properly.
Shut from any angle
The building guidance defines a self closing device as one that closes the door against its frame when it is open at any angle. Rising butt hinges are not treated as a self closer, apart from one narrow case in the guidance. A door that only shuts from fully open, or only from halfway, is not doing the job.
Overhead, concealed and held open
An overhead closer is fixed to the face of the door or frame and closes the door from fully open. A concealed closer is set into the door, so it cannot be seen when the door is shut. Government guidance shows both, and says that whatever device is fitted has to pass the closing check.
The closer is part of the fire door, not an extra. The British Woodworking Federation lists closers as essential hardware, and says a fire door should have the hardware listed on its certificate and supporting documents. A replacement closer should be one that the door’s paperwork allows.
Where a closer would get in the way of how a building is normally used, the building guidance allows a self closing fire door to be held open by an automatic release worked by the fire alarm and detection system, or by a door closer delay device. A magnetic hold open needs smoke detection that lets the door go. A wedge or a hook is not one of the accepted methods.
When a closer is too strong to open
A closer turned up hard enough to slam the door onto its latch can make the door hard to open, particularly for people with limited strength in their arms. Access guidance for buildings other than homes sets a limit for internal doors opened by hand: no more than 30N at the leading edge from closed to 30 degrees open, and no more than 22.5N from 30 to 60 degrees. The same guidance says that where a closer is needed for fire safety, an electrically powered hold open device or a swing free closer should be used as appropriate.
Measuring the force needs a gauge, so for a self check, note any fire door that people struggle to open. Adjusting it is a job for someone competent, and the door must still close and latch from any angle afterwards.
Checking a closer in a minute
- Open the door fully and let it go. It should close fully into the frame on its own and the latch should catch
- Open the door to around 15 degrees and let it go. It should close and latch in the same way
- Look at the closer and its arm. They should be firmly fixed, with nothing loose or missing
- Check the hinges for missing or loose screws
- If the door is held open on a magnet, use the test button where there is one, rather than pulling the door off the magnet
- On a pair of doors fitted with a selector, check the doors close in the right order
- Note any door that is hard to push open, and photograph any fault with the date showing
If the door fails either push test, our guide to a fire door not closing covers the usual causes.
What people ask about closers
Can I take the closer off my flat front door?
No. In England, the person responsible for a block of flats must tell residents not to tamper with self closing devices. Any change to a flat front door should be agreed with them first.
Is a fire door closer different from an ordinary closer?
It should be one that the fire door’s certificate and paperwork allow. The British Woodworking Federation says door closers should be tested to BS EN 1154, electromagnetic hold open devices to BS EN 1155, and the selectors that close a pair of doors in order to BS EN 1158.
Do fire door hinges need to be fire rated?
Building guidance for England says the essential parts of a fire door hinge should be made of materials with a melting point of at least 800°C, unless the hinge was tested as part of that door. The British Woodworking Federation says fire door hinges must be tested to BS EN 1935.
My fire door is too hard to open. What can be done?
The closer can often be adjusted, or a hold open device or swing free closer fitted, so long as the door still closes and latches on its own. Ask someone competent to do it, and run both push tests afterwards.
A plain summary, not legal advice
This guide follows the rules in England. Wales shares the Fire Safety Order but not the 2022 England regulations, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety law. Your fire risk assessment is the place that says what applies to your building, and a self check never replaces a fire door inspection by a competent person.
We put fire doors right across County Durham, Teesside and Tyne and Wear. If you are further away, a dated report from Door by Door is exactly what a local fire door specialist will want to see.
Tell us where to start
Ring Wayne Cator, our Managing Director, or send us the details and we will come back to you.