AnthonyB

If it's a 2010 build and is as you describe (& the front doors are into internal common lobbies/corridors/stairways) then it was never compliant with Building Regulations as it's recent enough to have required 4mm(ish) gaps and intumescent strips and cold smoke brushes. The 'no strip' notional door guidance is aimed to avoid unnecessary cost burdens on residents of small blocks who have fire doors to older standards but in good condition and compliant with the standard at the time of installation. Are there channels in the door frame where the strips should have been fitted or did the builders not even get as far as the correct frame to accept strips? If it's a small block it may be seen as a lower risk issue (especially if working closers are fitted) but it wasn't right originally and is symptomatic of the slack standards of the 21st Century building industry and the ineffectiveness of the building control process - if an obvious defect like the doors got through, I'd want to carefully investigate fire stopping & compartmentation as these hidden issues are usually even more often poorly completed!

Obviously outside the scope of fire safety legislation being a private dwelling, but it appears it's a version of the below - although if only first floor and under 4.5m then means of escape windows would be adopted as a second escape.

There are no requirements for it to be fire retardent

If you use this fire stopping product selector it will tell you what you need to use: https://www.hilti.co.uk/content/hilti/E1/GB/en/business/business/engineering/fire-protection/firestop-selector.html

Assuming you are in the UK it's all in here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b The sketched building appears as if it is below the height in England for mandatory sprinklers (but not so in Wales) If you were sprinkler protecting the building it would usually be just the flats not the common circulation areas.

Possibly 'code hugging' rather than taking into account the actual risks & other mitigating measures (e.g. fire detection & warning system to a higher category than usually required) When you say 'surveyor' who exactly are they are what are they doing? Is it a Building Control matter, insurance visit or fire risk assessment? There are insurers and fire risk assessors who specialise in heritage buildings and will take a holistic view, sounds like you need one!

Manufacturer's instructions, based on their certification test data, take precedence. In the example linked below, it allows a gap up to 10mm between frame & wall, states what the gap must be filled with - but does NOT say there MUST be a gap, only giving guidance should there be one. Therefore it is reasonable to assume no gap is permissible (check the install sheet for the particular door you are fitting though or better ring their support line) https://mbp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/PREMDOR-CF195-installation-guide.pdf

Even in a large hotel the actual hotel bedroom doors don't need to have fire door signs, it's a specific exemption in Building Regulations that can reasonably be applied under the Fire Regulations.

Where are you? I can legally dispose of these. It's a bit too rusted for preservation in my collection but I can still get rid of it. If you are too far away then some (not all) local authorities waste centres take them. Someone has messed you around on eBay as dozens of these are listed on eBay. Put it on eBay again & Facebook Marketplace for a penny as an item for upcycling - people turn them into lamps, toilet roll holders, minibars, etc. Otherwise find a local extinguisher company that has a waste license to take it.

Whilst most people fit maglocks and green break glasses strictly speaking this isn't correct as the exit is no longer panic proof. The correct solution is explained here: https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/downloads/download-file-documents.asp?id=54&pos=0&dir=documents&ref=/publications/best-practice-guides/2.htm This is the The Door & Hardware Federation guide to BS EN 13637:2015 Standard for Building hardware. Electrically controlled exit systems for use on escape routes.

Is it a protected stair? See https://nfcc.org.uk/our-services/building-safety/protection-building-safety/specialised-housing/ or http://www.cieh.org/library/Knowledge/Housing/National_fire_safety_guidance_08.pdf

Not generally See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-in-purpose-built-blocks-of-flats Retirement flats are technically Sheltered Housing (just with a less stigmatic name) so also see https://nfcc.org.uk/our-services/building-safety/protection-building-safety/specialised-housing/

The site needs a fire risk assessment to sort this out by a fire safety specialist with additional training in & experience of residential FRAs.(Legally it should have had one for 18 years now in any case!) The current arrangement is one for a simultaneous evacuation usually required when one or more of the following is in place: - Inadequate fire separation between commercial & residential uses (but you say it's OK) - Shared escape between commercial & residential uses (but you say it's separate) - Inadequate fire separation between flats &/or flats & common parts (but you say it's OK) - Inadequate or no smoke control (but it's an open deck!) - External Wall System High Risk (unlikely for size of building) It seems (& this wouldn't be the first time this has happened) it has got a fire alarm system that it doesn't need nor ads any useful additional benefit and just costs everyone money and the premises may be acceptable with no common system and a 'stay put unless affected' approach. I can't of course be 100% unless I've been and done the FRA - where in the UK is the property?

Your doorsets no doubt are missing these: https://wellinguk.com/products/door-closers/door-closers-door-closers/overhead-surface-mounted-door-closers/double-door-selector-silver/

Have you checked these out? https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-means-of-escape-for-disabled-people

Whilst it has no common areas if it could be classed as a single building containing two or more dwellings then it falls under the FSO requiring an FRA to consider the external wall fire risk.

Yes you can as long as the PIR locations and activation times are such it's not possible to be navigating a flight before they lights activate nor them cut out before you've finished. Many buildings have these.

It's not explicitly required, but having one could be viewed as required to form part of the record of fire safety arrangements that is required by law. It also helps with planned maintenance so that only doors required to be fire doors are inspected and maintained (which as this can be quite expensive can save a lot of money!)

Keeping the kitchen separate is a good move as this is often the area of contention. As it's too high for every floor to have escape windows as a secondary exit you would usually need a protected stair as you have presently. I've not had time to look in detail, but usually layouts like this would attract a need for domestic sprinklers, in some cases smoke curtains and vents have been used too. A chartered fire engineer is your best bet for advice & any BCO submission.

Who ever did the work on 2 & 3 needs to come back & think again as the works are useless if the doors aren't shutting flush of their own accord - a fully competent firm would be expected to be able to recognise and deal with this issue. Does the lobby contain a staircase, how many floors are there & how many flats per floor? The default is to remediate your door but I can see your point - depending on the overall set up in the premises would determine how critical this would be.

How old is the house? It's been a legal requirement under Building Regs for a very long time so shouldn't have been replaced by a non fire door. If it's a very old house then it may predate this requirement and as long as it complies with the standard at the time of build it's compliant until there is any building work that would result in the application of current regs

I'd make the effort to find out, I've worked on a Tribunal case where a landlord supply was installed when not actually required for EL & alarm and helped the leaseholders win and not be liable for costs. If it's pre payment only then there are grounds for a landlord supply but these can be very expensive to provide and you are at the mercy of the DNS as to what they will charge for their side of laying in the new supply.

As long as it's not off a pre payment meter it's tolerable.

Yes, at least a notional 30 minutes usually

However, if an existing building with a common alarm system and simultaneous evacuation you are fine. A new build would indeed require 60 minutes and usually then doesn't need linked alarms.