Neil ashdown

From what you say I would assume that the fire door has no markings or label? If it had/has you could consult the manufacturer's installation instructions or product data sheet for the door leaf and this will provide the specification for hinges. For example, depending on the door core and/or door stiles material, the hinges may need to be No. 10 rather than No.8 and 40mm or 50mm instead of 30mm. So in terms of best practice, check whether the door has timber stiles or is just chipboard with hardwood lipping. A look along the top edge of the door leaf or removal of any mortice lock/latch should reveal which. If the door has timber stiles No. 8 x 30mm should be suitable but if it is solid chipboard throughout use No.10 x 50mm. For the door frame, the screws should not pass through the jamb to the other side and the screw heads should fit correctly in the recesses of the hinge blades. Also check that the middle hinge is central or above in door leaf height.

Lipping thickness spec has come from https://www.falconpp.co.uk/downloads/ but clearly applies to those particular doors so consult the door leaf manufacturer where that's possible. However, where you are unable to do so the information about lipping thickness, adhesives and timber species can be applied as good practice.

This can be a troublesome issue and as you say the gap (according to BS 8214) should be 4mm maximum with the smoke seal fin just in contact with the meeting edge of the opposing leaf. First, make sure that the smoke seal is fitted to one leaf only and not both. Then make sure you are using a single fin smoke seal to reduce friction. If that doesn't work change the self-closer for one that has latching adjustment - the door should close steadily (not fast) and the latching adjustment should pull the door shut at the point where it is almost-closed.

Assuming its a timber-based door - If you are able to consult the installation instructions or data sheet for the fire door leaf you can check that the existing hinges are suitable. If you cannot trace the door leaf manufacturer to do this and the hinges are in good condition you could retain them, although personally I would change them because most timber fire doors have a limit on the dimensions of the hinge knuckle.

There is no legal requirement for the installer to provide a 'certificate of installation'. If this is RBKC policy then you would expect that they would notify you accordingly ahead of the installation work.

There is an NVQ available for fire door installation but it this is not widely taken up, possibly because there are easier tasks and there is currently no statutory requirement to hold a dedicated qualification or certification to be able to install, maintain and inspect fire doors. However, you are correct the industry is working on this so keep an eye on things!

If the cupboard opens onto a protected escape route the door should provide for restricted spread of cold smoke eg. FD30(s) (section 62.12 of Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1020410/Fire_Safety_in_Purpose_Built_Blocks_of_Flats_Guide.pdf ) From Approved Document B, Appendix C https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937931/ADB_Vol1_Dwellings_2019_edition_inc_2020_amendments.pdf So if the fire door to a cupboard opens onto a protected escape corridor or stair, the door should provide for restricted spread of cold smoke eg. FD30(s)

A timber-based fire door will have specific requirements for the door frame. Consult the fire door leaf manufacturer's installation data sheet for information about the requirements for the door frame - eg. type of material, density, dimensions, fixings, frame to wall gap and fire-stopping requirements.

Might not be. If the film is on the non fire side of the door and the FR glass is not insulating glass, then heat transfer from fire side to non-fire side could cause the film to flame.

Yes a Pullman latch is spring-loaded so that it retracts when it comes into contact with the strike/keep. So long as you can find a device that is suitable to fit your PVCu door then it should be an improvement on your existing one.

Door blank is the way to go. These are purpose-made for cutting to size and lipping but you must follow the blank manufacturers instructions as regards where abouts you can make the cut, lipping type, lipping thickness and adhesive type. A standard fire door will usually (with few exceptions) be unsuitable for trimming to these heights.

Sections 2.4 and 4.4 of this document https://www.falconpp.co.uk/media/32386/fpp-im-1401-installation-of-fire-rated-doorsets.pdf cover the subject of the gap under the fire door leaf.

Seems as though Building Control are classifying the building as a garage with an adjacent habitable room. That would be a reason for a self-closing FD30(s) door to be required.

Clearly, it would be usual practice to not paint those items. Having said that, it would be interesting to find out what reason has been given not to paint those items. Certainly, it would be detrimental to paint the smoke seals and weather seals.

The main consideration is that many 'standard' fire doors have a strict limit (usually 3mm/4mm max) for trimming the edges to suit an existing door frame. So check the sizes before you buy. Combined intumescent fire and smoke seals can be fitted in the edges of the door leaf or in the frame. Make sure you comply fully with the door leaf manufacturers installation instructions including the self-closing device and sealing the gap between the door frame and the surrounding wall.

Current Building Regulations require that a door between a dwellinghouse and a garage is a self-closing thirty minute fire door with cold smoke seals. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937931/ADB_Vol1_Dwellings_2019_edition_inc_2020_amendments.pdf Appendix C Various types of smoke seals are available including bat wing, compression, combined intumescent with brush and combined intumescent with a fin or fins. There is guidance about selecting smoke seals for doors here https://www.ifsa.org.uk/documents/

When fitting flush bolts to double leaf doors only the active leaf should be fitted with combined intumescent fire and smoke seals. The flush bolt should be fitted to the slave leaf so that the seals by-pass the flush bolt rather than be interrupted by it.

Hinge blades may be packed with intumescent sheet materials. eg.

Yes, like most things there are various types of self closing device and there will be a limit to the size and weight of door that a given self-closer is suitable for. So the self-closing device should be selected based on minimum power size 3 for the size and weight of the door and should have a dampening mechanism so that the door meets the rebate stop of the door frame without slamming.

Georgian wired glass relies on the wired grid for integrity, there are other options. I would speak to a specialist for advice, you could try https://www.ggf.org.uk/ and https://zeroplus.co.uk/collections/glass

Does the fire resistance performance test evidence for the mastic product support that use?

In terms of fire resistance performance, BS 8214: 2016 guidance states that such a gap should generally be between 2mm and 4mm but you should check the fire door leaf manufacturers installation data sheet to see what is required. In terms of restricted cold smoke spread, one would expect to see such a gap sealed with a combined intumescent fire and smoke seal. Or if the meeting edges have a rebate or astragal, a bat wing type or compression type smoke/acoustic seal.

There are no regulations, in England and Wales, that deal specifically with a defective fire door inside an individual's own private dwelling. Clearly, though it would be desirable to repair the defect so that the spread of fire and smoke can be sufficiently mitigated.

Maybe the doors could be upgraded to improve their fire resistance performance. Historic England https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/fire-resistance-historic-timber-panel-doors/ Building regs Page 135 Fire doors https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937931/ADB_Vol1_Dwellings_2019_edition_inc_2020_amendments.pdf

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