What fire door hold-open devices in Berkshire should include
Whether your building is in Reading, Slough or a smaller place in Berkshire, we can provide fire door hold-open devices with the same evidence-led approach.
Free-swing closers suit Berkshire settings where residents or pupils find doors hard to open. We coordinate with your fire alarm contractor in Berkshire so every hold-open releases when it should.
Wherever your building is in Berkshire, the fire safety duties come from national rules, and our installation standard is the same.
Types of hold-open
Electromagnetic door holders are wall or floor magnets wired to the fire alarm. Hold-open closers combine the closer and the hold-open in one unit. Free-swing closers let the door move freely and close it on alarm. Some battery units listen for the alarm sound; these must be suitable for the alarm system and the building. The right choice depends on the door, the alarm and how people use the space.
The regulations behind fire doors in Berkshire
England's framework applies in Berkshire. 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 Berkshire, 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.
What happens after you enquire
- Survey the doors and the fire alarm arrangement
- Choose device type for each door
- Agree interface work with the alarm contractor
- Fit and commission the devices
- Test release on alarm activation
- Record results and hand over
Budgeting for fire door hold-open devices in Berkshire
As a guide, budget £180–£450 per door for the device, excluding fire alarm interface work, ex VAT for fire door hold-open devices. The figure for your Berkshire 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 door hold-open devices across Berkshire?
Yes. We cover all of Berkshire, including Reading and Slough. Surveys and written quotes are free.
What is the difference between a hold-open and a free-swing closer?
A hold-open keeps the door at a fixed open position. A free-swing closer lets the door move freely, as if no closer were fitted, until the alarm sounds.
Is it legal to wedge open a fire door?
Wedging a fire door open defeats its purpose and is likely to breach the duties under fire safety law. A hold-open device that releases on alarm is the safe alternative.