Getting fire exit doors right in Hitchin
Our fire exit doors service in Hitchin is simple: a survey, a fixed quote, certified products and an installation finished to the manufacturer's evidence.
Fire doors in Hitchin protect escape routes in schools, small blocks of flats and light industrial buildings alike. We adapt the programme to the building and its occupants, never the standard of the installation.
Shops, warehouses and schools in Hitchin each need exit hardware matched to who will use the door in an emergency. Exit doors in Hitchin 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.
On a typical job that means:
- Commissioning and handover
- BS EN 1125 panic hardware or BS EN 179 emergency hardware
- Outside access devices and alarmed options
- Assessment of whether fire resistance is required
The regulations behind fire doors in Hitchin
The rules that apply to fire doors in Hitchin 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 Hitchin 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.
Buildings and duty holders in Hitchin
Typical settings for fire exit doors include shops, hospitality venues and warehouses. In Hitchin, 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.
What happens after you enquire
- 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
What does fire exit doors cost in Hitchin?
If you need a budget figure first, the guide for fire exit doors is £1,100–£2,600 per exit doorset with hardware, supplied and fitted, ex VAT. We firm that up after a survey, pricing each door separately so you can see where the money goes.
Hitchin and neighbouring towns
Nearby towns we cover include Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Luton. Distance from Hitchin does not change our guide prices, and the survey and quote are free.
Common questions
Do you cover SG6 and nearby postcodes?
Yes. We cover Hitchin including SG6, and nearby towns such as Letchworth Garden City and Stevenage. The survey and written quote are free.
Can you work from an existing inspection report for my Hitchin 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 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.