Hi,

I work in a supported housing unit for the elderly which have self closing fire doors in the main corridors.  The unit is only staffed during the hours of 8am until 10pm and these doors are kept open during these hours.  I have been advised to now not close the fire doors at the end of my shift and to keep the fire doors open all night when the unit is unstaffed.  I would have thought it was a legal requirement to close these doors during the night and have concerns that the correct procedure is not being followed.  Can you advise?

They are not allowed to be kept open at any time unless fitted with a device that will release them to close upon the sounding of the fire alarm - if they are then depending on the category of hold open device and the risk assessment, then they might be left open at night although traditionally automatic fire doors used to have to be closed at night.