Getting double fire doors right in Colchester
From the CO1 postcode district outwards, we take on double fire doors across Colchester for homes, blocks and workplaces.
Colchester has a broad mix of buildings, including HMOs, care homes and converted period houses, and the same fire door principles apply to all of them.
Double doors on wards, school corridors and lobbies in Colchester take heavy use, so closing sequence and meeting-edge seals get extra attention. Leaf-and-a-half doors are a practical option for Colchester care homes and schools that need occasional wide access.
Hold-opens and escape
Pairs on corridors are often held open in daily use, with hold-open devices releasing both leaves when the alarm sounds. Where a pair is on an escape route used by the public, the escape hardware and the direction of opening also need to suit the fire strategy.
Each installation includes:
- Flush bolts and hold-opens within evidence
- Equal pair or leaf-and-a-half doorsets
- Meeting-stile intumescent and smoke seals
- Commissioning of closing sequence
The regulations behind fire doors in Colchester
Fire doors in Colchester fall under English rules. New and replacement doors are covered by the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document B. In workplaces and the common parts of blocks, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as clarified by the Fire Safety Act 2021, puts the duty on the responsible person to keep fire doors suitable and maintained.
For residential buildings in Colchester above 11 metres, regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 adds checks: communal fire doors at least every three months and best-endeavours checks of flat entrance doors at least every twelve months. Higher-risk buildings of at least 18 metres or seven storeys also come under the Building Safety Act 2022, where works may need approval from the Building Safety Regulator.
Who needs double fire doors in Colchester?
You are most likely to need double fire doors if you look after hospitals and clinics, office cores or care homes. Whatever the building in Colchester, we survey each opening and tell you which doors need work and which do not.
Our process in Colchester
- Survey opening width, use and traffic
- Select pair configuration and hardware set
- Order certified doorset with coordinator and bolts if needed
- Install frame and hang both leaves
- Set closing sequence, seals and latching
- Test hold-open release and record evidence
Budgeting for double fire doors in Colchester
If you need a budget figure first, the guide for double fire doors is £1,600–£3,400 per pair supplied and fitted, depending on glazing and hardware, ex VAT. We firm that up after a survey, pricing each door separately so you can see where the money goes.
Nearby areas we cover from Colchester
Neighbouring towns such as Sudbury, Clacton-on-Sea, Witham and Maldon are covered too, so clients with several buildings can use one installer and one evidence format.
Common questions
Do you cover CO1 and nearby postcodes?
Yes. We cover Colchester including CO1, and nearby towns such as Sudbury and Clacton-on-Sea. The survey and written quote are free.
Can you work from an existing inspection report for my Colchester building?
Yes. Send it over and we can often price straight from it, then confirm on site. We report back against the same door references so you can close actions off.
Can double fire doors be held open?
Yes, with hold-open devices that release on the fire alarm, or with free-swing closers. Wedges and hooks are not acceptable.
Do both leaves need closers?
Usually, yes. Each leaf of a fire door pair needs to close itself. The closers are sized to each leaf's width and weight.