More than half of people in Dorset do not know how to identify a fire door, research reveals.

This is despite heightened media coverage about the dangers of inadequate fire protection following the Grenfell disaster in 2017.

A national survey, carried out by IronmongeryDirect, was published in support of Fire Door Safety Week – a campaign which aims to highlight the importance of fire doors in saving lives.

The poll also highlighted that a quarter of respondents are unaware that fire doors must be kept shut at all times. More than a third admitted they would prop a fire door open for an extended period of time if needed.

The research emphasises the need for the public to be more aware of the essential role that fire doors play in keeping them safe. Fire doors are designed to withstand fire for between 30 and 240 minutes and, when used, they can make a remarkable difference in saving lives and reducing spread during a fire.

Wayne Lysaght-Mason, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “A well installed and maintained fire door can really be the difference between life and death for building occupants."

For more guidance view a checklist at ironmongerydirect.co.uk