Are Fire Door Wedges Illegal in UK Workplaces?

A fire door that cannot close cannot perform its main safety function. Yet wedges, bins, chairs, and other objects are still used to hold workplace fire doors open.

So, are fire door wedges illegal in the UK? The short answer is that using a wedge isn’t usually a standalone criminal offence. However, wedging open a fire door can breach the legal duty to maintain fire safety equipment and may lead to enforcement action, prosecution, fines, or worse if people are put at risk.

The rules are clear about the safety outcome: fire doors must close when needed. Understanding the law helps employers, facilities managers, and staff avoid a preventable fire safety failure.

Key Takeaways

• A manual wedge can stop a fire door from containing smoke and flames.
• In England and Wales, wedging open a fire door can breach Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Approved automatic hold-open devices may be suitable when they release the door during a fire alarm.
• The Responsible Person must keep fire doors, closers, seals, and related equipment in good working order.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland follow separate fire safety legislation, although the practical rule remains the same: don’t obstruct a fire door.

What the law says about fire door wedges

The main workplace fire safety law in England and Wales is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It applies to non-domestic premises, including offices, shops, warehouses, factories, schools, care settings, and communal areas in many residential buildings.

Under Article 17, the Responsible Person must maintain fire safety equipment and systems in an efficient state, working order, and good repair. The Responsible Person may be an employer, building owner, landlord, managing agent, or another person who controls the premises.

A fire door is part of the building’s fire protection arrangements. Its self-closing device, hinges, seals, frame, and door leaf all need to work together. When someone places a wedge beneath the door, the door may no longer close during a fire. That can amount to a breach of the maintenance duty.

This is why the answer needs careful wording. There isn’t one offence in UK law titled “using a fire door wedge”. However, the act can create an unlawful fire safety condition. If the problem continues, a fire and rescue authority may issue an alterations notice, enforcement notice, or prohibition notice. Serious failures can result in prosecution under Article 32.

The legal guidance on fire doors also stresses that a fire door must be able to shut during an emergency. A workplace policy may go further by banning wedges entirely, even where no enforcement action has yet taken place.

Why wedging a fire door open creates danger

Fire doors divide a building into compartments. When closed, they slow the movement of fire and smoke, giving people more time to leave and helping firefighters work safely.

A wedged door removes that barrier. Smoke can move through corridors, stairwells, storage areas, and escape routes much faster. In many fires, smoke presents a serious danger before flames reach the area.

The risk is greater in busy workplaces because doors are often wedged open for convenience. Staff may want easier access between departments, better ventilation, or a clear route for trolleys and deliveries. A warehouse worker might use a pallet, while an office employee might use a waste bin. Neither provides a controlled fire safety solution.

The door closer can also suffer damage when people repeatedly force a door against a wedge. Hinges may loosen, seals can become damaged, and the door may eventually fail to close even after the obstruction is removed. That turns a temporary shortcut into a maintenance problem.

Fire doors often carry ratings such as FD30 or FD60, but those ratings only apply when the complete doorset is installed and used correctly. The rating doesn’t protect a room when the door is held open.

A recent workplace fire door explanation from POYNTELL reaches the same practical conclusion: a wedged fire door cannot provide its intended protection.

Are any fire doors allowed to stay open?

Some workplaces need doors to remain open during normal operations. Hospitals, care homes, schools, warehouses, and offices may need wide access for people, equipment, or deliveries.

The answer isn’t a wooden wedge or an improvised object. Suitable premises may use an approved automatic hold-open device or an automatic release unit designed for fire doors. These systems hold the door open during ordinary use, then release it when the fire alarm activates or when power fails, depending on the design.

The device must be suitable for the doorset and installed correctly. It must also connect to the appropriate fire detection or alarm system where required. A magnetic device that doesn’t release during an alarm is not a safe arrangement.

Some fire doors use swing-free closers. These allow the door to move easily during normal activity while retaining controlled closing when the alarm operates. The system still needs proper design, commissioning, testing, and maintenance.

Facilities managers should never install a hold-open product based only on its appearance or price. They need to confirm:

• The device is intended for use with fire doors.
• It releases reliably when the alarm operates.
• The door closes fully into its frame.
• The installation matches the fire risk assessment.
• Staff know not to interfere with the equipment.

A door that stays open because of an approved, maintained system is different from one held open by a chair. One is part of a managed fire safety arrangement. The other depends on someone remembering to remove it.

How workplaces should inspect and maintain fire doors

Removing wedges is only one part of fire door management. A damaged or poorly adjusted door may remain unsafe even when nobody has propped it open.

The Responsible Person should arrange regular inspections by a competent person. The frequency depends on the building, occupancy, traffic levels, and risk assessment. Six-monthly checks are commonly used for non-domestic premises, while high-use settings such as hospitals and schools may need more frequent inspections.

Routine checks should look at the complete doorset, including:

• Whether the door closes fully from an open position.
• Whether the self-closing device operates smoothly.
• Gaps between the door leaf and frame, which should remain within the manufacturer’s or specification’s limits.
• Intumescent and smoke seals, checking for damage, gaps, or missing sections.
• Hinges, screws, handles, locks, and visible fixings.
• Damage, warping, splitting, glazing faults, or unauthorised alterations.
• Items placed near the door that could obstruct its closing action.

A fire door should close into the frame without sticking or needing a push. If it slams, drags, catches on the floor, or stops before closing, arrange an inspection rather than adjusting it casually.

Staff also need simple instructions. Everyone should know which doors are fire doors, why they must remain closed, and how to report a fault. Clear signs and short toolbox talks can prevent repeated misuse.

Where a door is beyond economical repair or doesn’t suit the building’s current use, replacement may be more sensible. Businesses can arrange professional fire exit door fitting and request a site assessment before choosing a new system.

What happens if a workplace ignores the problem?

Fire and rescue authorities can inspect premises when they receive concerns, after an incident, or as part of local enforcement activity. They may require the Responsible Person to correct defects within a set period.

An enforcement notice can require specific improvements. A prohibition notice can restrict or stop the use of part of a building where serious risk exists. Prosecution is possible when a person responsible for fire safety fails to meet the required standard.

The consequences depend on the facts. Investigators may consider whether the breach was deliberate, how long it continued, whether staff received instructions, and whether people faced a serious risk. A business may also face disruption, repair costs, reputational damage, and difficult questions from insurers after an incident.

Employers should record inspections, repairs, alarm tests, staff training, and reports of wedged doors. Records don’t replace safe conditions, but they show that the business manages its responsibilities.

The rules differ across the UK. Scotland has its own fire safety legislation, including the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Northern Ireland follows a separate legal framework, including the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. The details vary, but the core principle remains consistent: a fire door must be able to close and protect the escape route or compartment it serves.

Conclusion

A manual wedge doesn’t automatically create a standalone criminal offence, but wedging open a fire door can breach workplace fire safety duties. It stops the doorset from doing its job and may expose the Responsible Person to enforcement action or prosecution.

Workplaces should remove improvised wedges and use an approved automatic release system where an open door is operationally necessary. Regular inspections, prompt repairs, and clear staff procedures keep fire doors ready for the moment they are needed. If your premises needs advice about a replacement or repair, Contact Us to arrange a professional assessment.