Fire exit doors for March buildings
When you book fire exit doors in March, the aim is simple: doors that close, latch and seal as tested, with records that prove it.
Around March, small offices, care homes and houses with integral garages 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.
Exit doors in March can be fitted with outside access and alarm options that never stop people getting out. Shops, warehouses and schools in March each need exit hardware matched to who will use the door in an emergency.
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.
On a typical job that means:
- BS EN 1125 panic hardware or BS EN 179 emergency hardware
- Commissioning and handover
- Single and double exit doors in steel or timber
- Outside access devices and alarmed options
The regulations behind fire doors in March
Fire doors in March 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 March 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.
Buildings and duty holders in March
Typical settings for fire exit doors include schools, warehouses and shops. In March, 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.
From enquiry to handover in March
- 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
Guide prices in March
As a guide, budget £1,100–£2,600 per exit doorset with hardware, supplied and fitted, ex VAT for fire exit doors. The figure for your March building depends on the number of doors, the rating, the condition of the frames, finishes, hardware and access. We confirm a fixed price after the free survey.
Nearby areas we cover from March
March is about 22.9 km from Peterborough, and we cover both, along with nearby Wisbech and Ely. Send us your postcode and we'll confirm survey dates.
Questions
Do you cover PE15 and nearby postcodes?
Yes. We cover March including PE15, and nearby towns such as Wisbech and Ely. The survey and written quote are free.
What happens on a survey in March?
We look at every door in scope: the leaf, frame, gaps, seals, hinges, closer, glazing and how the frame is fixed. You then get a written quote that prices each door separately.
Do fire exit doors need closers?
Final exit doors often have closers for security and weather reasons. If the exit door is also a fire door, a closer is normally required to keep it shut.
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.