Fire door hold-open devices in March: what's involved
If you need fire door hold-open devices in March, we can survey, supply and install, then leave you the evidence your fire risk assessor will ask for.
Buildings in and around March range from care homes to light industrial buildings and small blocks of flats. Whatever the building, the standard is the same: certified products, correct gaps, seals and closers, and a frame sealed to the wall.
Free-swing closers suit March settings where residents or pupils find doors hard to open. Where doors in March care homes, schools or offices are being wedged open, a hold-open device is the safe fix.
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.
On a typical job that means:
- Release testing with the alarm
- Record of devices and test results
- Electromagnetic holders to BS EN 1155
- Assessment of door use and alarm system
Rules and responsibilities in March
England's framework applies in March. 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 March, 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.
Who needs fire door hold-open devices in March?
Typical settings for fire door hold-open devices include offices, clinics and care homes. 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.
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
Prices for fire door hold-open devices in March
Budget around £180–£450 per door for the device, excluding fire alarm interface work, ex VAT for fire door hold-open devices. Our guide prices are the same in March as elsewhere; what changes the cost is the doors themselves. Use our guide-price tool for a quick estimate.
Nearby areas we cover from March
Neighbouring towns such as Wisbech, Ely, Peterborough and King's Lynn are covered too, so clients with several buildings can use one installer and one evidence format.
Common 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.
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 hold-open devices need the fire alarm?
Hard-wired devices are released by the fire alarm system. Some battery units detect the alarm sound instead; they must be suitable for the building and its alarm.
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.