I recently received through the post my Free Fire Door checker from a link on an earlier thread on this forum, it came with a proper check list and DVD on how to check the Fire Doors properly, I am quite impressed. I started to inspect the fire doors in my building and am amazed how many faults I have found just on one floor of a five story building, I am also amazed that I have missed such obvious faults on my building inspections, it is amazing what you cannot see especially when it is straight in front of you! The main question I have is can there be any circumstances where a fire door can have a lock on it? In each corner of my building we have double fire doors leading to the fire exit, there is also fire doors leading to the lift lobby and main exits in the centre of the building, so there are six different routes of escape. The double sets of doors are causing me concern, on the inside (office side) there is a "tumble lock" anyone could in theory lock the door from the inside which in theory could stop staff escaping through the doors if there was a fire below them and above them, I know the chances of that scenario are slim, but there is a very slim chance it could happen. On one set of doors only the lock has been removed and a metal hand plate put over the hole on both sides of the door, because of this I feel the same should be done to all the other doors, any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome, I would hate to go to the landlord with a big list of faults and be told I am wrong!

Hi Chris, thanks for your reply, I have read through the FRA but it doesn't mention having locks on the fire doors apart from the final doors which are locked but able to open from a push bar. I know that you know where I work, so I am unable to take photo's etc.. Which could easily explain the situation much better then my written explanation. I am not sure what to do next??

All, Here is the link for the free fire door checker and DVD. You will need to register with them,but it is very helpful. http://www.bwf.org.uk/firedoors/ Cheers HB

Good point MB1, it is a government building so in theory could have been used in the past for security reasons, that would also explain why only one set of doors has had the lock removed and covered by a metal plate to cover the hole. I will wait until the full building inspection has finished and consider my position of whether to pursue this matter or not. Thanks for your replies, and its well worth while sending off for your checker.