Helen Hewitt of the British Woodworking Federation explains the main goals of Fire Door Safety Week 2026 and highlights the growing risks for the industry.
The British Woodworking Federation’s Fire Door Safety Week (21-25 September 2026) returns to champion and raise awareness of the vital role that fire doors play in the event of a fire by holding back the spread of fire and smoke to help save lives and protect property.
As the campaign enters its 13th year, the need for greater awareness remains urgent. From the growing risks associated with lithium-ion battery fires to reports of inspections where fire doors do not meet the required standards, recent incidents show why education, regular checks and proactive maintenance are essential.
Fire Door Safety Week 2026
From our previous Fire Door Safety Week campaigns, we know that fire door maintenance issues are not always reported. In fact, our 2025 research found that only 29% of people had reported faulty fire doors.
This reporting gap matters because fire door safety depends on people recognising problems and acting on them. While those responsible for a building have clear legal duties over fire safety, everyone can play an important role by recognising and reporting obvious fire door defects – from missing door closers to gaps around doors, as well as taking proactive steps to encourage fire door safety, such as closing a fire door that has been propped open.
To help understand the existing perceptions of fire doors, this year Fire Door Safety Week will explore how aware people are of fire safety measures in the different buildings they visit and if building type influences their awareness.
As part of the campaign owned, managed and funded by the BWF, we will publish new research exploring how different generations understand fire door safety and where they obtain their information. The findings will help identify gaps in awareness and the channels and sources that people turn to for fire safety education.
Fire door check in five steps
For all awareness campaigns, the ultimate aim is to translate awareness into action. For fire doors within housing association properties, formal inspection and maintenance should always be carried out by competent people. However, building users can help by recognising obvious signs that a fire door may not be operating correctly and reporting them for further inspection.
That’s why we developed the Five Step Check – to empower all individuals with the knowledge they need to check whether a fire door requires immediate attention:
- Check for certification – look for a label, plug or marking to show that the fire door is certified and follow the instructions. Also check that all ironmongery (locks, hinges, etc) are CE and UKCA marked
- Look for gaps – check the gap around the door frame is consistent – it should be 3-4 mm – with the gap under the door able to be up to 8 mm. If there are gaps bigger than these, smoke and fire could travel through, so it’s important to report them
- Check the seals – look for intumescent seals around the door and frame to check they’re intact with no signs of damage. These seals expand when in contact with heat to help prevent fire and smoke travelling through gaps – if these are damaged, the fire door requires maintenance
- Are the hinges secure – check the door’s hinges are firmly fixed and that there are no broken or missing screws. If the hinges are loose, the fire door may not perform as it should in the event of a fire
- Confirm the door closes correctly – let the door shut to check that the closer shuts the door onto the latch from any position without sticking on the floor or the frame. A fire door can only perform its life-saving role if it’s shut, so while this step of the check is the simplest, it’s the most important.
When checking the condition of the fire door, if anything appears damaged, missing or not working correctly, report it to the person responsible for the building.
A proactive approach to fire door safety
Fire doors are used every day, and their condition can change through damage, wear, poor maintenance and in some cases, misuse. Those responsible for buildings must ensure fire doors are correctly specified, regularly inspected and maintained by competent people. But building users can also play an important supporting role by keeping fire doors closed, recognising obvious defects and reporting maintenance concerns.
A fire door can only protect lives and property if it is able to perform as intended. By improving knowledge and understanding and encouraging a proactive approach to reporting, together we can ensure these vital fire safety systems can fulfil their life-saving role.
Helen Hewitt is CEO of the British Woodworking Federation