How to Solve Common Fire Door Closer Challenges with Smart, Easy Solutions
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How to Solve Common Fire Door Closer Challenges with Smart, Easy Solutions

21st September 2025

How to Solve Common Fire Door Closer Challenges with Smart, Easy Solutions

Fire doors are essential for safety in high-traffic buildings, but without effective closers, they can create common challenges that impact cost and compliance. If you’re looking to maximise protection and ensure your fire doors work as they should, here are some smart and easy solutions, including innovative options from Fireco.

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IronmongeryDirect

Common Fire Door Challenges

Fire doors can present common challenges that affect both safety and usability. These include:

  • A heavy weight that makes them difficult to open
  • Accessibility concerns in care homes, schools, and other facilities
  • Hardwiring required, which is expensive and disruptive
  • Noise disruption caused by slamming doors
  • These issues are important to address, and smart door closers that simplify operation and improve safety are the ideal solution. Noise disruption from slamming can be reduced with high-performance closers. Heavy doors and accessibility concerns can be solved with free-swing modes, and costly hardwiring can be avoided with wireless installation.

    Smart Solutions for Safer Fire Doors

    Fireco's innovative Freedor device is designed with these challenges in mind, offering solutions to ensure fire doors remain compliant, providing reliable protection and safe access in everyday use and emergency situations. Their benefits include:

  • Wireless installation – wire-free devices eliminate the need for hardwiring, reducing installation costs and servicing needs. This low-maintenance design leads to long-term savings.
  • SmartSound technology – this technology listens for and identifies fire alarms, even in noisy environments, and triggers the door to close. This makes them incredibly effective in emergencies, while also allowing doors to stay open without compromising on fire safety.
  • Free-swing mode – their free-swing design removes the heavy resistance of fire doors so they can move freely and stay open at any angle for ease of access. In the event of a fire, the door closer automatically closes the door to maintain fire safety. The quiet operation makes it ideal for care homes, schools, and other areas where inclusive access is essential.
  • Assembled in the UK – 96.5% of components are sourced locally, ensuring reliability and quality assurance.
  • Eco-conscious design - everything on Freedor SmartSound closers, apart from the velcro strap, can be recycled. There is also a recycling programme available, ensuring safety standards are met while reducing environmental impact.
  • An image of a door closer

    Why Smart Closers Make a Difference

    Smart closers improve compliance with fire safety regulations and enhance building accessibility, which is especially important for high-traffic areas, such as care homes, schools, hospitals, offices, and other busy environments. For a sustainable option with low installation costs, high-quality smart closers are an effective choice, reducing disruption while maximising safety.

    Discover Freedor Fire Door Closers at IronmongeryDirect

    You’re now aware of the important role fire door closers play in ensuring maximum compliance and safety, and all that’s left to do is invest in a smart and user-friendly option. Explore our selection of Freedor SmartSound fire door closers at IronmongeryDirect to transform the fire safety and accessibility of your building today.

     

    FAQs

    What is the purpose of a fire door closer?

    The purpose of a fire door closer is to ensure the door automatically closes after opening, maintaining fire safety, and protecting people and property.

    Are door closers required on fire doors?

    Yes, door closers are required on fire doors, ensuring the door automatically closes in the event of a fire, helping to prevent the spread of smoke and flames.

    Where are fire doors needed?

    Fire doors are needed in buildings where fire containment is critical, including care homes, schools, and offices. They’re used to control the spread of fire and provide easy accessibility in these high-traffic areas.

    How do you adjust fire door closers?

    How to adjust fire door closers depends on the model, and it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Generally, regulating the closing speed, latch action, and backcheck will ensure the door closes fully without slamming.

    How should fire doors close?

    Fire doors shouldn’t slam; they should close fully without obstruction. This creates a safe exit, ensuring the door seals properly to maintain fire resistance.

    How can smart door closers improve fire door safety?

    Smart door closers, like Fireco's Freedor SmartSound, allow doors to stay open safely for accessibility and then automatically close when a fire alarm is detected. In high-traffic environments, this creates an effective solution for maximum safety and compliance.