Getting fire exit doors right in Dartford
Our fire exit doors service covers Dartford and the wider Kent area. Every job starts with a survey of the openings, so the quote reflects your actual doors rather than a guess.
Dartford has a broad mix of buildings, including high-street shops, industrial estates and family homes after loft conversions, and the same fire door principles apply to all of them.
Shops, warehouses and schools in Dartford each need exit hardware matched to who will use the door in an emergency. Exit doors in Dartford 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:
- Outside access devices and alarmed options
- BS EN 1125 panic hardware or BS EN 179 emergency hardware
- Commissioning and handover
- Weather and threshold detailing
Which fire door rules apply in Dartford?
The rules that apply to fire doors in Dartford 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 Dartford 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 Dartford need fire exit doors?
Typical settings for fire exit doors include offices, shops and warehouses. In Dartford, 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
Guide prices in Dartford
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.
Nearby areas we cover from Dartford
We also cover towns near Dartford, including Bexley (4.6 km away), Swanley and Welling. If your building is in DA1 or a neighbouring district, the service and pricing are the same.
Common questions
Do you work in Dartford?
Yes, we take on fire exit doors in Dartford and the surrounding area, including Bexley and Swanley. Send your postcode and a few details and we'll come back with survey dates.
Do I need to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to give us access to the doors. For blocks and commercial buildings, a caretaker or site contact is fine; for HMOs and homes, we agree a time with you or your tenants.
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.
Which is better, a push bar or a push pad?
Push bars (panic hardware) suit public areas; push pads and levers (emergency exit hardware) suit areas used by trained staff. The choice depends on who will use the door in an emergency.