Fire door minimum width: ensuring safe and compliant openings

During the design phase of a new office building, the architect aimed to create wide, open corridors to promote a spacious and airy feel. However, the fire safety consultant raised a concern: the doorways leading into these corridors were narrower than the required minimum width, potentially compromising occupant safety during an evacuation. This situation highlighted the importance of adhering to fire door minimum width regulations to ensure safe and compliant openings.

The design team reviewed the relevant building regulations and found that the minimum clear opening width for fire door minimum width is typically 750mm for domestic situations and 800mm for non-domestic buildings when the approach can be made straight-on. To meet these requirements, the team adjusted the layout to widen the doorways, ensuring they provided adequate space for safe evacuation.