What is Fire Door Safety Week?
Fire Door Safety Week (FDSW) is an annual awareness campaign run by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), supported by the Fire Door Alliance, whose goal is to emphasise the vital role fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property. Originally launched in 2013 in response to a legacy of fire door neglect, this campaign seeks to educate everyone — manufacturers, installers, building owners, maintenance teams, and building users — about how fire doors should be specified, installed, used, inspected and maintained.
This year marks its 12th iteration, giving a particular focus is on emerging fire risks (for example, from lithium-ion batteries in homes and workplaces) and reinforcing that even new risks mustn’t mean forgetting the fundamentals of door performance. The campaign also stresses the upcoming shift in fire door testing standards — moving from the current British Standard (BS 476-22) to the European classification (EN 13501-2) by 2029.
Why It Matters
Fire doors are a critical part of passive fire protection. When fully functional and properly maintained, they:
prevent or delay the spread of fire and smoke,
protect escape routes, giving building occupants time to evacuate,
help ensure that firefighting or rescue services can access buildings safely,
reduce damage to the structure and contents.
Conversely, problems like damage to door edges, missing or degraded seals, incorrectly-fitted hardware, propping open, or gaps beyond tolerances can severely compromise performance. FDSW reminds us that safety is not just about the product, but also specification, installation, maintenance, and usage.
Merlin’s Role & Commitment
As fire door safety becomes more visible in public conversation, we are proud to play our part in ensuring high standards are met across the supply chain. Here’s what we do and stand for:
Offering Fully Certified Products
All our fire-door components (foams, sealants, packers, hardware etc.) are tested to relevant standards, with certifications and approvals that clients, installers and regulatory bodies can trust.Supporting Compliance from Specification to Maintenance
We understand that specifying the “right” product is only half the battle. Proper installation, sealing, maintenance of seals/intumescent materials and ongoing checks are just as vital. Our product portfolio is designed with those end-to-end needs in mind — whether supplying fire door foams, intumescent acrylic sealants, fire rated packers, or hardwood wedges for precision fitting.Raising Awareness & Sharing Knowledge
During Fire Door Safety Week, we’ll be helping spread the “Recognise it, Report it” message. This means giving clarity around:how to spot common fire door faults (damaged seals, unauthorised alterations, incorrect gaps etc.),
what to look for in certification labels or plugs,
how to ensure that required fire door hardware works properly (hinges, closers, locks),
encouraging users, building managers and installers to report issues and act before small problems become dangerous.
Preparing for the Future
With the testing standard transition in mind (BS 476-22 → EN 13501-2 by 2029), we are monitoring these changes closely. We ensure that our products and advice help clients remain compliant now, and well-positioned for upcoming regulatory shifts.
We invite all our clients, partners, and anyone involved in fire safety to join us in playing our part in Fire Door Safety Week 2025 — because fire door safety isn’t optional. It’s essential.
