Getting fire exit doors right in Suffolk
Our fire exit doors service runs throughout Suffolk. Main towns include Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and we cover the smaller places in between.
Shops, warehouses and schools in Suffolk each need exit hardware matched to who will use the door in an emergency. Exit doors in Suffolk can be fitted with outside access and alarm options that never stop people getting out.
Wherever your building is in Suffolk, the fire safety duties come from national rules, and our installation standard is the same.
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 the rules say for Suffolk
England's framework applies in Suffolk. Approved Document B guides the fire performance of new and replacement doors under the Building Regulations 2010. Day-to-day duties sit with the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order 2005, and for multi-occupied residential buildings, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 add duties such as giving residents information about fire doors.
For blocks over 11 metres in Suffolk, those regulations require communal fire door checks at least every three months and best-endeavours flat entrance door checks each year. In higher-risk buildings, building work is overseen by the Building Safety Regulator, so we check whether approval is needed before starting.
The steps on a Suffolk 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
Prices for fire exit doors in Suffolk
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 Suffolk 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.
Common questions
Do you provide fire exit doors across Suffolk?
Yes. We cover all of Suffolk, including Ipswich and Lowestoft. Surveys and written quotes are free.
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.
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.