We get it, when the temperature drops, you’re thinking about heating bills and keeping your premises warm. Fire safety probably isn’t top of your list. But here’s the thing, Winter actually brings some of the biggest fire risks of the year.
Winter Fire Hazards Nobody Talks About
Your heating system is working overtime. There’s extra lighting because it gets dark at 4pm. Someone’s probably brought in a portable heater for that cold corner of the warehouse. And everything’s shut up tight to keep the warmth in.
All of this means more electrical load, more heat sources, and less ventilation. It’s not ideal from a fire safety perspective.
That’s where proper fire rated shutters come in. They’re not just about ticking compliance boxes, they actually do something useful. During the day, they work exactly like your regular security shutters. But if a fire breaks out, they drop automatically to stop it spreading.
The Difference Between Fire Shutters and Regular Shutters
Standard roller shutters are great for security. They keep people out, they’re tough and they do the job you bought them for. But they won’t stop a fire.
Fire rated shutters are built differently. They’ve been through rigorous testing (BS EN 1634-1:2008 and BS EN 16034:2014, if you want the technical bit). The steel construction and design mean they can hold back flames and smoke for a set period – usually 2 or 4 hours depending on the rating.
This matters in Winter when your building might be empty during bad weather, or packed with extra stock for the Christmas rush. The shutters respond to your fire alarm system, no manual operation needed.
Why Winter Makes This More Critical
Think about the last time we had heavy snow or flooding. Emergency services were stretched thin and response times went up. If you’ve got a fire and the fire brigade is stuck in traffic or dealing with multiple incidents, those extra minutes matter.
Fire rated shutters contain the problem. They stop a small fire in one area becoming a building-wide disaster. They protect your stock, your equipment and potentially save your business.
A Quick Note on Compliance
If you’ve had fire shutters for a while, it’s worth checking they’re still compliant. The old BS 476 part 22 standard isn’t valid anymore and hasn’t been since 2019. If your shutters were tested to that old standard, they’re technically not certified as fire shutters now.
Nobody wants to find that out after an incident, or during an insurance claim.
Now’s a Good Time to Check
Winter’s actually perfect for sorting this out. Lots of businesses do their annual safety checks before year end. If you’re planning any maintenance over the quieter January period, it’s worth getting your fire shutters inspected or upgraded then.
We install fire rated shutters that meet current regs and actually work when you need them. They’re built to handle daily use as security shutters while being ready to do their ‘actual’ job if things go wrong.
Bottom Line
Fire rated shutters aren’t the most exciting purchase you’ll make for your business. But they’re one of the smartest. They work every day as security, and they’re there in the background if everything goes pear-shaped.
With the fire risks that come with Winter weather and the heating season, it’s worth making sure you’ve got proper protection in place.
Want to know more about what would work for your site? Give us a call. We’ll talk you through the options without the sales pressure.
