BWF research highlights generational gaps in fire door education

New research has revealed generational differences in how people learn about fire doors, with social media the most commonly cited source among Gen Z (aged 18–29), while workplace training plays an important role in educating Millennials (aged 30–45) and Gen X (aged 46–61) about the life-saving role fire doors play in UK buildings

Whether using a fire door in an office, school, hospital, flat or apartment building, everyone has a role to play in fire door safety. Access to clear and reliable information is needed across all generations to improve awareness and understanding of a fire door’s role, as well as how to spot and report potential maintenance issues to help protect people, property and possessions in the event of a fire.

The survey, carried out by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) to mark its Fire Door Safety Week campaign – Check it, close it: Protection starts at the door – highlights the importance of ensuring people have access to accurate and reliable fire door information throughout their lives, particularly as the channels through which different generations learn about fire safety continue to change.

Gen Z respondents are most likely to have learnt about fire doors via social media (33%), followed by workplace training (31%) and school or college education (26%). While social media can play an important role in raising awareness, the findings raise potential concerns about whether younger people are receiving information from authoritative and reliable sources. Unlike formal workplace or educational training, social media content can come from a wide variety of creators or organisations, making it harder for users to judge whether information is accurate, up to date or presented in the correct context. The increasing availability of AI-generated and misleading content online makes access to trusted fire safety information particularly important.

Encouragingly, workplace training is a significant source of fire door education for working-age generations. It is cited as the main source for 42% of Millennials, 57% of Gen X and 56% of Baby Boomers (aged 62–80), highlighting the important role employers can play in providing structured fire safety information and the potential to increase this further to build greater awareness and understanding.

The figures also highlight a gap among older generations, with 25% of Baby Boomers and 40% of the Silent Generation (aged 81+) stating that they have never received any education or information about fire doors.

The findings suggest there is no single route through which people learn about fire doors – it is a collective effort developed through multiple touchpoints. Schools, colleges and universities establish an early understanding of their purpose, employers reinforce this through workplace training, and landlords, housing providers and building managers provide practical information relevant to the buildings people use.

Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), said: “Fire doors are one of the most important and familiar fire safety features in our buildings, yet many people have never been taught the vital role they play in saving lives or how they work. Fire safety education should not stop when people leave school or complete a workplace induction – it should be ingrained at every stage of life.

“Landlords, employers, education providers and building managers can all play a role in helping people understand their building’s fire safety strategy, including the purpose of fire doors. Fire door education is crucial for providing people with the information they need to be proactive about fire door safety – giving them the confidence to spot a fire door and know when and how to report a problem.”

The research also explores how media coverage of fire incidents influences public perceptions of fire safety. The findings show that news stories online, on social media and in documentaries can increase awareness, but this does not always translate into understanding or behaviour change.

Around 28% of respondents say fire coverage has made them more aware of the importance of fire safety regulations and standards, 22% say it has increased concern about whether buildings are adequately protected from fire, and 20% say it has made them more aware of fire safety features and escape routes and prompted them to actively look for them in the buildings they use.

Responses to fire-related news also vary by generation. For Gen Z, 22% say fire-related news grabs their attention at first, but the effect does not last. Another 18% feel numb to these stories because they see so many, while 15% feel less safe when they visit new places. On the other hand, 22% of Gen X and 23% of Baby Boomers say they rarely see fire news, so it has not changed how they think. For 20% of the Silent Generation, news coverage makes little or no difference to their feelings about fire safety.

Helen Hewitt added: “Public awareness naturally increases following major fire incidents, but those moments must be used to build lasting understanding rather than temporary attention. Through Fire Door Safety Week, we aim to raise awareness and understanding around fire door safety, challenge myths and misconceptions, and provide helpful guidance and support for landlords, employers, industry and educators in communicating to their audiences.

“Every conversation we have around fire door safety, whether in the workplace or in education settings, along with accurate news reports and social media content, can help to build a stronger culture of fire door safety and ultimately protect lives.”

Fire Door Safety Week was launched in 2013 by the British Woodworking Federation to improve awareness and understanding of the vital role that fire doors play in protecting life and property, and to promote industry best practice across all building types.

More information, guidance and campaign materials are available on the Fire Door Safety Week website: www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk.