Can you wedge a fire door open?

No. A wedged door can't close, so it can't hold back smoke when the alarm goes. It's one of the first things we write down on an inspection, and it's nearly always done for a sensible reason. The door is heavy, the corridor is hot, or a trolley has to get through.

There are proper ways to do it. A hold-open device wired to the fire alarm lets go when the alarm sounds. Some work by magnet, and some listen for the alarm sound and release by themselves. You can also fit a lighter closer so the door is easy enough that nobody props it, or look at whether a door that's used all day is in the right place.

Staff need to be told what the door is for. A notice on it helps, and so does a word at induction. People wedge a door when nobody has told them why it's there.