Neil ashdown

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

? ?

Yes, it is possible to remediate excessive gaps. The most effective method would be to remove the door leaf and door frame and then reinstall to the correct tolerances. Refer to BS 8214: 2016 for guidance https://shop.bsigroup.com/products/timber-based-fire-door-assemblies-code-of-practice/standard

Self-closing fire doors should not bang shut or indeed bang-open. They are adjustable (some more than others depending on the quality of the self-closing device) for speed, latching action and back-check. See Section 3 of the Code of practice: Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf

The thing with fire doors is that by making modifications you could cause the fire resistance performance certification to become void. This is because the scope of some types of certification are limited to this type of work being carried out by the original manufacturer or fabricator. If you add a lipping make sure its done by a competent person that has sufficient knowledge, or alternatively you could remove the complete fire door assembly so that the door frame head can be re-positioned to suit the door leaf / leaves. Refer to BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice.

The door should open fully. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540330/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf

If the doors are fire resisting doors, then in order to be compliant to the Standard the minimum and maximum gaps will need to be achieved. BS 8214: 2016 guidance states 2mm to 4mm at the top edges & vertical edges and the threshold gap should be to the door manufacturers installation instructions (usually 6mm to 10mm). This can be difficult to achieve for double-action doors. If the doors are required to provide 'restricted smoke spread' then the smoke seals should seal the operating gaps, including at the threshold. BS 8214 https://shop.bsigroup.com/products/timber-based-fire-door-assemblies-code-of-practice/standard Clearly, intumescent edge seals and most likely smoke seals will be required.

Here are the building regulations for fire doors in housing 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 Fire Doors: From what you say 11b would apply, FD20 fire door without restricted smoke spread protection to the stairway. In which case if you do remove the smoke seal, the doors will fail to provide 'restricted spread of cold smoke' to the protected escape route but still comply with regs.

In my experience the brush is certainly more durable but the blade offers less friction so as to allow the door to self-close more reliably. Have a look at this https://www.ifsa.org.uk/documents/ you might find it useful at some point.

A door of that age may not have identification to a certification scheme. However, guidance permits 'Notional Fire Doors' in certain circumstances. Refer to the document 'Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats' at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-in-purpose-built-blocks-of-flats If in doubt about the suitability of the doors to meet FD30(s) requirements, you could engage a competent person to undertake a fire door inspection and issue an inspection report.

In order to be compliant with 'BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice' in terms of restricted smoke spread a suitable threshold seal is required. If this is not possible the maximum gap should be 3mm. Would a Part M compliant ramped threshold plate fitted in conjunction with a static threshold seal be acceptable in respect of the 'older vulnerable people'? See below:

Are the doors meant to be fire resisting doors? Is the final exit a dedicated escape door? These are unusual for a house, is it an HMO?

No. If the doors are timber-based and in good condition, you may be able to adjust the door frame (re-position the jambs) to reduce the gap(s). This will involve pretty much removing the existing door frame and reinstalling to fit the door leaves as well as making sure the linear gap between frame and wall is compliant post-works. If in doubt, consult a competent person.

No problem with the timber fire door frames having 25mm rebates but perimeter intumescent fire seals and smoke seals are essential. I think you won't find that listed as a legal requirement but in terms of fire door compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 it would be very difficult, I believe, to justify the absence of these seals. Especially where sleeping accommodation is present and to protect means of escape. Check out the Intumescent Fire Seals Association at ifsa.org.uk