Getting fire exit doors right in Bedford
Our fire exit doors service covers Bedford and the wider Bedfordshire area. Every job starts with a survey of the openings, so the quote reflects your actual doors rather than a guess.
Around Bedford, offices, purpose-built flats and HMOs all depend on fire doors that close, latch and seal. We survey each opening and tell you plainly which doors need work and which don't.
Shops, warehouses and schools in Bedford each need exit hardware matched to who will use the door in an emergency. Exit doors in Bedford can be fitted with outside access and alarm options that never stop people getting out.
Panic bars or emergency hardware?
Panic hardware to BS EN 1125, such as push bars, is designed for places where members of the public may be present and may not know the building. Emergency exit hardware to BS EN 179, such as push pads or levers, is for areas used by trained staff who know how the exit works. The right choice depends on who will be using the door in an emergency.
What you get:
- Commissioning and handover
- Assessment of whether fire resistance is required
- BS EN 1125 panic hardware or BS EN 179 emergency hardware
- Weather and threshold detailing
Fire door law for Bedford properties
The rules that apply to fire doors in Bedford are England's. The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 must keep fire doors in non-domestic premises and the common parts of flats in working order; the Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that this includes flat entrance doors onto common parts.
Where a Bedford block is above 11 metres, regulation 10 of the 2022 regulations means communal doors are checked every three months and flat entrance doors annually on a best-endeavours basis. Replacement doors must also satisfy the Building Regulations, with Approved Document B as the guidance most building control bodies work from.
Which buildings in Bedford need fire exit doors?
Typical settings for fire exit doors include schools, shops and offices. In Bedford, as anywhere, the duty holder varies: a responsible person for a workplace, a landlord or managing agent for a block or HMO, or a homeowner after building work. We adjust access, timing and paperwork to suit whoever commissions the work.
The steps on a Bedford installation
- Check the fire strategy and who uses the exit
- Select door type, rating and exit hardware
- Order doorset and hardware set
- Remove the existing door and prepare the opening
- Install, seal and weather the doorset
- Test exit operation, closers and security features
Budgeting for fire exit doors in Bedford
Budget around £1,100–£2,600 per exit doorset with hardware, supplied and fitted, ex VAT for fire exit doors. Our guide prices are the same in Bedford as elsewhere; what changes the cost is the doors themselves. Use our guide-price tool for a quick estimate.
Bedford and neighbouring towns
Nearby towns we cover include Ampthill, St Neots and Rushden. Distance from Bedford does not change our guide prices, and the survey and quote are free.
Questions
Do you cover MK40 and nearby postcodes?
Yes. We cover Bedford including MK40, and nearby towns such as Ampthill and St Neots. The survey and written quote are free.
How quickly can you survey in Bedford?
It depends on the number of doors and access, but we offer survey dates as soon as we reply to your enquiry. If an inspection has found urgent safety issues, tell us and we'll prioritise.
Can a fire exit door be locked?
It can be secured against entry from outside, but it must open from inside without a key whenever the building is occupied. Panic and emergency exit hardware are designed for exactly this.
Do fire exit doors have to open outwards?
Exit doors generally open in the direction of escape, especially where many people use them. Your fire strategy or risk assessment sets the requirement for each door.