Hello to all The Kingston upon Thames introduced additional licensing for HMO properties that are less than 3 storey a year ago. I have a house being let to 5 students on multiple contracts.
1- The licensing inspector originally advised a simple fire door between common room and hallway but recently he has asked that it should also have a vision panel in it. I don't want to enter into an argument with him and make him sticky to his change of opinion without being knowledgeable on this matter
My understanding is that a vision panel is usually required in such properties usually when there is no direct route of escape and the occupants have to leave the property through a common room, living room or kitchen but my property has a dedicated escape route through the hallway leading to front door.
Kitchen opens into the common room that opens in the hallway. Stairs from the upper floor ( house is a typical double story semi ) also end in the hallway that leads to the front exit
2- If you feel that he is correct in altering his demand then where to buy such a vision paneled door cheaply. Usual hardware super stores seem to stock only general non vision panel doors? Google was not very illuminating and brought up websites for general fire doors
3- Finally as the general fire doors are 198 cm long, there will be a 4 cm gap between the lower margin of such a door and the floor as the frame to floor distance is 202 cm. Inspector has not asked for any intumescent strips or smoke seal.
Would it be better to screw a piece of 2.5 cm hardwood to the bottom of the door or to the upper part of the frame?
Thanks for the help
