Fire Door Safety Week
The British Woodworking Federation’s Fire Door Safety Week aims to raise the awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property in the unfortunate event of a fire.
Everyone plays their part in ensuring a fire door performs as it should in the tragic event of a fire, from the manufacturer through to the building users, and knowing what to look out for and what to do if you spot a problem might just save a life.
Fire Travels Fast- Fire Door Safety Week 2025
New research conducted by the British Woodworking Federation for Fire Door Safety Week has revealed a sharp rise in public concern about the fire risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, particularly those found in e-bikes and e-scooters – with over half (59%) of owners saying their fire risk fears have grown since getting one.
- More than half of e-bike and e-scooter owners fear their device could start a fire
- 1 in 10 people have experienced or know someone who experienced a lithium-ion battery fire
- More than a third of people have spotted issues with fire doors in their homes
Fire Travels Fast- Fire Door Safety Week 2025
The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) is warning that the surge in lithium-ion battery fires from e-bikes and e-scooters – combined with poor fire door maintenance – could put lives and property at risk across the UK.
New research, carried out by BWF to mark its Fire Door Safety Week campaign – ‘Fire Travels Fast’ – has revealed a sharp rise in public concern about the fire risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, particularly those found in e-bikes and e-scooters, with over half (59%) of owners saying their fire risk fears have grown since getting one.
- Nearly half of people (46%) have spotted fire door problems in their workplace
- 1 in 5 people charge e-bikes/e-scooters at work
- Only 13% report workplace fire door faults – despite widespread problems
- 1 in 10 people have experienced or know someone who experienced a lithium-ion battery fire
Recognise it, Report it
Research conducted in 2023 by the British Woodworking Federation as part of their Fire Door Safety Week campaign ‘Recognise it, Report it’, found that over half (57%) of the UK public couldn’t spot a problem with a fire door, leading to a failure to report issues.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that while awareness over factors that might prevent a fire door performing properly in the event of a fire is high, the majority of people couldn’t identify a faulty fire door.
Would you know how to spot a faulty fire door and who to report it to?
Would you report a problem with a fire door?
Research conducted in 2022 found that a third of the British public would not report a problem with a fire door.
And despite three quarters correctly believing that propping a fire door open stops it performing its role in the event of a fire, almost half wouldn’t take action over a propped open fire door as they wouldn’t know who to report it to.
Our handy video explains what you should be looking out for when it comes to a fire door – would you know if it will perform properly and save your possessions or your life in the event of a fire?
Looking for advice?
The issues around fire door safety don’t just exist in high rise, high risk buildings. They are prevalent in pretty much any sector and building type that you think of, from care homes and hospitals to schools and specialist housing. The advice section aims to cover all applications.
The Fire Door Safety Week Toolkit
The Toolkit is a collection of resources to help check for faulty doors and poor installation, including the 5 Step Fire Door Check. Plus, there are a wealth of resources to help you get involved with the campaign – from poster downloads to sharing our short campaign films.
5 things to check for fire door safety
1. Certification
2. Apertures
3. Gaps and Seals
4. Closers
