Neil Ashdown CertFDI

The smoke seal brush or blade should lightly contact its opposing surface so that spread of cold smoke can be restricted. There are several types of smoke seal so that binding or sticking doors shouldn't be a problem. Top class guidance documents here: http://ifsa.org.uk/docs.html Remember too that the fire door (unless FDKL) must self-close correctly overcoming any resistance from seals or latch bolt/strike as part of the self-closer action and without any other help!

Hi Charles, I would ask for documentary evidence in support of their claim that the fire door would now fail to provide the required level of fire and smoke separation protection because of the damage caused by your son and his mates.

Hi Digger, There is no document that gives definitive advice about which doors need to be fire doors. Building regulations (part B - Fire safety) and guidance documents for blocks of flats / sleeping accommodation provide information specific to the building type. You need to carry out a fire risk assessment for the building. That will identify which doors are required to protect escape routes or are required for another risk based reason. If the kitchen presents a risk to the safety of the users of the building in terms of fire and smoke spread then the door needs to be a suitable and effective fire resisting door.

Laminate faced timber-based fire doors are available from many fire door suppliers. Sometimes this is for decorative purposes and sometimes for impact protection in which case edge protection and frame protection products are also available.

Hi Simon, You don't say if they are timber or metal doors. I am assuming they are timber based doors, yes they must self-close and the best solution is to use floor springs and pivots. There's more information in the Code of Practice: Hardware for Fire and Escape doors at http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf

Hi Linda, Guidance in BS 8214 and BS 9999 recommends six monthly inspections. You should have carried out your own fire risk assessment and formed a fire strategy and this will identify the most critical fire doors. From there you can decide if some doors need to be inspected more or less often. Justify your decision in your fire risk assessment. The relevant legislation is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 more info at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents/made

Hi Mark, Find out if a fire risk assessment has been carried out. If it has ask for a copy because this document should identify fire related risks for that particular building and therefore enable the building operator to prioritize fire safety works. If there's no fire risk assessment advise your client to get one done by a suitably qualified person. The law that applies is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and from what you say it seems like your client may need assistance in complying with the legislation. Health care buildings have the benefit of purpose-made guidance documents called Healthcare Technical Memorandums such as HTM05 for fire safety and HTM 58 for doors. Check them out.

Hi Fiona, A competent craftsman could make an excellent high quality door in his workshop but the problem with making a fire door from scratch is that there will be no evidence of fire separation performance. In the case of fire doors in the UK the manufacturer must be able to provide evidence of performance (in accordance with BS 476 part 22 and/or BS EN 1634) for the products supplied. No inspector of any flavour can provide fire performance product certification, only a certification body can do this and they can do so only against suitable evidence of performance. However, if using a fire door blank the blank manufacturer will be able to provide a copy of the fire performance test report for the product as well as the relevant assessment report. They will also be able to provide instructions for sizing, machining, gluing and lipping the fire door blank as well as details about the door hardware, seals and other components to be used with the fire door assembly. These instructions must be carefully followed and the installation must be in accordance with those instructions too. If your carpenter works with fire doors then he will also possess the latest version of BS 8214 code of practice for timber based fire doors, this document provides important information about installation and any installer, maintainer or inspector should have a copy. Best to check all of this before proceeding because most of all you need your fire doors at your buildings to be fit for purpose. A certificated fire door inspector will be able to offer advice and inspect the finished installed product but the first thing he will look for is suitable evidence of performance. He can provide an inspection report identifying the fire doors as compliant with current standards........or not should he detect any defects or non-compliance. If he finds any non-compliance his inspection report will detail the necessary remedial action BUT no inspector can provide fire performance product certification, only a certification body can do this and then only against suitable evidence of performance. As we have seen in the media many fire doors are non-compliant due to lack of knowledge amongst specifiers, suppliers, installers and building inspectors. I hope this info helps and that the project goes smoothly.

Hi Fiona, You don't say how your carpenter will be making the fire doors. Will he be using a fire door blank from a fire door blank manufacturer or making the doors up from scratch using loose timber?

Generally you should use the screws that are supplied with the fire rated hinges. Some timber fire door cores. though, such as Graduated Density Chipboard require larger screws. Consult a fire door inspector if you are unsure.

Cold smoke separation will likely be an issue where a fire door opens onto a staircase. Ensure your fire risk assessment addresses fire and cold smoke separation issues before making a decision about the requirements for the door.

When selecting a self-closing device for a fire door consult the document 'Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors' at http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf Also be mindful that concealed self-closing devices are not suitable for some type of timber based fire doors. It depends on core construction.

There's no legislation on whether the self-closer is fitted outside or inside. The usual reasons are because there's no room on the inside (because of a bulkhead for example) or because the building owner/operator wants to check each door has a self-closer without having to look inside each flat. Generally overhead self-closing devices work better fitted to the inside.

The guidance document 'Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats' by the Local Government Association covers this subject.

What you should do is..............Inform the residents about the importance of self-closing fire doors with effective smoke seals. Inspections by FDIS inspectors have shown these to be common faults and a recent inspection for a housing association found 57% of newly installed fire doors were non compliant on these issues alone. If you need help,let me know.