Some building managers are particular about safety. They will check fire extinguishers every month, but walk right past fire safety shutters. It’s easy to see how fire safety shutters get neglected by building managers. Shutters are conveniently out of the way, tucked above doorways and at the end of hallways, waiting to be deployed.

Unfortunately, shutter maintenance negligence is a safety concern. An unmaintained shutter is a safety unknown. It could function normally, and drop when the alarm is triggered, or have a myriad of maintenance problems. You don’t know the extent of shutter problems until a situation is triggered, and the consequences are realised.

So what is the maintenance standard for fire shutters?

British Standard BS 7846 describes the bare minimum as a visual inspection, listening for grinding sounds, and checking for obstruction; and says this should be done weekly for fire shutters that are operated on a daily basis. Doing the checks takes a few minutes and is a good idea for building managers to do themselves.

The nuances tend to get lost in the longer explanation. Ideally, a proper service should be carried out by a professional at least biannually. Buildings that are more actively used, or older installations which have endured more over the years, typically require servicing on a quarterly basis. There is no one-size-fits-all number, it should be determined by the workload the shutters are doing and the environment they are working in.

Many fire risk assessments consider an annual check to be the minimum. This is acceptable for a minimum, but not for the entirety of the plan.

Who should do it

Beyond a weekly inspection, this cannot be done by someone who has a spare thirty minutes. There are fusible links, drop mechanisms, motors and possibly even some integration of a smoke detection system. Because of all the complexity, this really requires someone who knows what they are doing. Most facility managers develop a preference for a specific contractor because of the unique challenges that specific building presents and that is often more valuable than is appreciated. A contractor who has worked with that building before is much more valuable than someone who has never worked with the building.

Signs Something’s Already Wrong

Fire shutters give multiple warnings, and typically don’t fail suddenly. For example, shutters might give warning signs, such as slowing down, scraping, rust, or leaving a gap that wasn’t there before. Any of these signs should prompt you to take immediate action, and you should never wait to take action until the next scheduled inspection.

It should also be noted that problems with fire shutters can arise when there has been unusual heavy usage of the site or construction work in the immediate area. In these situations, dust and debris settle in places where they don’t belong, and things that were working perfectly fine can start to get stuck.

The Paperwork Nobody Loves

Every single check that takes place, no matter the size, needs to be documented. This is not a fun thing to deal with, but in the case of a fire, or if a fire officer conducts an inspection and requests documented proof of due diligence, the statement, “we checked it, honestly” will mean nothing. What actually matters is the date of the check, the findings, and who performed the check.

Where That Leaves Things

This is not complicated in practice. Most of it boils down to check it weekly and service it bi-annually, as well as addressing things that sound or look off. The habit of daily shutter inspection is more important than the inspection itself, because shutter systems are meant to protect the building when everything else fails.