We’ve all seen it at some point—a heavy fire extinguisher casually propping open a door. It might seem harmless, even clever. After all, it’s heavy, close by, and “already there in case of a fire,” right?
But here’s the truth:
Using a fire extinguisher as a door stop is not just a bad idea—it’s a breach of fire safety regulations and a serious risk.
Let’s explore why this seemingly convenient habit is one you really should avoid.
1. It Compromises Your Fire Safety Equipment
A fire extinguisher isn’t designed to be dragged around or used to wedge open doors. It’s a precision safety tool, built to respond to emergencies.
When you use it as a door stop, you risk:
- Damaging the hose, valve or pressure gauge
- Dislodging the safety pin or tamper seal
- Scratching, denting, or corroding the cylinder, which can affect its structural integrity
- Moving it away from its designated location, which may be critical in an emergency
In short, it won’t be where it’s supposed to be or work as expected when someone needs it most.
2. It Obstructs the Fire Strategy of the Building
In the UK, fire safety strategies are designed around compartmentation. That means doors—especially fire doors—are there to:
- Contain fire and smoke
- Protect escape routes
- Buy valuable time for evacuation and emergency response
If you prop open a fire door with a fire extinguisher, you:
- Render that fire door useless
- Create an open path for smoke and flames to spread
- Violate your building’s fire risk assessment strategy
This could lead to significant property damage, legal liability, or even worse—put lives at risk.
3. It’s a Breach of Fire Safety Regulations
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the “responsible person” for a building has a legal duty to:
- Maintain fire safety equipment
- Keep escape routes clear
- Ensure fire doors are not obstructed
By using extinguishers as door stops, you’re:
- Misusing safety equipment
- Obstructing fire containment
- And potentially invalidating your insurance
An inspector could view it as a sign of poor fire safety culture or training—and take enforcement action.
4. It Makes Daily Use Unsafe
Aside from fire safety, using an extinguisher as a door stop introduces other problems:
- People may trip over it in corridors
- The extinguisher could be knocked over and damaged
- It could roll or shift, allowing the door to close suddenly and potentially injure someone
What looks like a shortcut often causes more inconvenience and hazard than it saves.
5. It’s a Sign Something Else Is Missing
If someone’s using a fire extinguisher to hold a door open, it’s often because a proper door hold-open system isn’t in place.
There are better, safer alternatives:
- Magnetic door retainers linked to the fire alarm system (automatically release if the alarm goes off)
- Dorgard or Freedor units, which hold fire doors open legally and release on detection of a fire alarm
- Spring-loaded closers with hold-open settings where permitted
These solutions are safe, compliant, and don’t compromise your fire protection plan.
What Should You Do Instead?
If you’ve seen extinguishers being used as door stops in your building:
- Raise it as a fire safety issue
- Ensure all extinguishers are properly mounted or on stands
- Review door usage and consider installing compliant hold-open devices
- Update staff training and awareness to prevent future misuse
Need Help with Fire Extinguisher Compliance?
At ESI: Electrical Safety Inspections, we help small businesses, landlords, and property managers across Farnborough, Camberley, Reading, Guildford, and the surrounding areas keep their fire equipment fully compliant and correctly positioned.
We offer:
- Fire extinguisher installation and servicing
- Supply of correct wall brackets, stands and signage
- Fire door compliance reviews
- Advice on safe door hold-open solutions
Let’s keep your people safe, your building compliant, and your fire extinguishers doing what they’re meant to do—not holding doors open.
Get in touch with us today if you’re unsure about fire extinguisher placement or fire door safety. We’re here to help.
