Neil Ashdown MAFDI

If you are installing a new 27" wide fire door, the door leaf should come with manufacturers installation instructions. These instructions should include details about the frame and will normally state minimum sectional size (such as 32mm thick x 75mm wide) and the material its made from (such softwood or hardwood). So if you need to add a 20mm thick piece of softwood (or hardwood if it's FD60) continuous along the outside of the door frame jamb, then that's OK so long as the continuous joint between the two pieces is tight with no gap. If you are using the existing door frame you first need to make sure that the frame meets the specification stated in the door leaf installation instructions. Assuming that it does, you may add a continuous piece of 20mm thick softwood (or hardwood if necessary) to the inside of the door frame jamb so long as the piece is the same full width as the existing door frame jamb and the joint between the two surfaces is tight without any gaps. Use sufficient fixings just as you would if you were fixing the jamb to the wall. When fixing the hinges to the hanging jamb I would advise using longer screws to ensure a good fixing through the 20mm thick added lining and into the existing jamb. But not so long that they pass right through the combined thickness of the lining and jamb.

Fire door installation and maintenance contractors should be following the door manufacturers installation instructions as well as the recognised guidance documents 'Timber based fire door assemblies. Code of practice' from https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030332501 and 'Hardware for fire & escape doors. Code of practice' from http://www.firecode.org.uk/

Guidance documents may provide assistance https://www.thefpa.co.uk//index.cfm?originalUrl=advice--guidance/advice--guidance_detail.fire-risk-assessment-for-small-businesses.html&_tkn=CB6A295D-2DCD-4B28-945E3904FE96D915 and https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/fire-risk-assessments

Hi Engineer, You say the door needs new glass so I am assuming its already glazed but that the glass is damaged. If so make sure the new glass is suitably fire resistant and that the repair work is completed using the correct gasket materials, hardwood bevelled glazing beads with pins/screws of the correct dimensions at the correct centres and angled towards the centre of the door core thickness. This document may be useful to you https://www.ggf.org.uk/publications/fire-resistant-glazing-publications/guide-best-practice-specification-use-fire-resistant-glazed-systems/ Do not attempt to cut an aperture for glazing to a fire door without first seeking expert advice.

Get advice from your local certificated fire door inspector at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector

The guidance document 'Fire Safety at Purpose Built Blocks of Flats' will be useful to you at https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf

Hi. Try www.fdis.co.uk/inspector

Hi Linda, There exists no data about minimum panel thickness and although panel thickness could be an issue there are other issues to consider besides this. How is the door constructed, timber stiles and rails? If so what is the size and thickness of each panel, what are the sizes of the stiles and rails? Or is it engineered construction and is it composite or timber? What is the door frame made from, PVCU or timber? It is possible for a flat entrance door to have panels and still be a fire resisting door. But its not possible to say for sure without seeing the door 'in the flesh', so if you have any doubt you should have the door inspected by a competent inspector. That person will be able to assess the door's suitability for its purpose and issue an inspection report.

Could be, Tom. Either way the installer should install or perhaps should have installed in accordance with manufacturers installation instructions.

Hi Gordo, From what you say it seems you have purchased new door leaves to replace existing ones damaged in a burglary and that these are to be fitted in the existing door frame. AnthonyB is correct, the usual rebate size for the meeting edges of fire doors is 13mm because they are fire-performance tested with that rebate size in the furnace to the BS 476 or BSEN 1634 test. The door leaf (or door blank) manufacturer will have produced installation instructions based on evidence from that fire performance test. Assuming the doors are being used as fire doors it is important that they are installed in exact accordance (including use of the correct door frame, seals and door hardware) with the door manufacturers installation instructions. Any deviation from the manufacturers installation instructions may invalidate fire performance certification and jeopardise fire separation performance.

The certification data sheet or technical manual will provide details for hinge positions for the particular fire door. If you can find out the door type and manufacturer then contact them for advice. There are timber based fire doors that allow the third hinge to be fitted as 'two at the top' as an alternative to central to door leaf height.

If the perimeter gap is too large then a non-compliance exists. Removing the existing lipping and replacing like for like (but thicker) is one method of resolving the issue. There are others. Check with the door manufacturer with regard to retaining certification.

I would advise the owner and, given recent events, ask him for permission to carry out a fire door inspection.

Hi Ben, Is it a fire door?

In recent months there have been many instances of management companies writing to leaseholders asking for proof that flat entrance doors are sufficiently fire resisting. So, where fire doors in common areas have non compliance issues leaseholders are quite correct in writing to the management company..................

Might be worth a look at products such as High Expansion Intumescent Sealant for use around cable penetrations through the wall adjacent to the door frame. Maybe Safelincs can supply something suitable?

Hi Mike, Clearly the more heavy use a door is subject to then the more maintenance issues will arise. Because the BS 9999 guidance already exists (and is reinforced in BS 8214) I would find it hard to ignore and therefore follow it in advising my clients. However, I believe the building's fire risk assessment should cover periodic inspections of fire safety devices and therefore should include a schedule for inspection and maintenance works based on A) how critical the door is to life safety, B) the fire risk at that part of the building, C) the condition of the door at the last inspection and D) the type of use to which the door is put. With flat entrance doors we know they are critical because the considered fire risk is from inside the flat whereas some common areas should be 'sterile'. However, doors in common areas are likely to suffer more wear and tear. As you say it would be good to hear from housing providers on this rather than fire door specialists like me!

Usually, the management company will require evidence that your flat entrance door is fire resisting to the BS 476 part 22 or BS EN 1634-1 fire performance tests. Therefore, if the FENSA certificate does not provide such evidence then they will not accept it. If you do not have the required evidence a Certificated Fire Door Inspector could help by inspecting the door and providing a report to confirm whether or not the door is suitable as a fire resisting flat entrance door http://www.fdis.co.uk/inspector

No legal requirement to upgrade a 1989 fire door to 2018 standards. However, assuming the door needs to be a fire door then it must be fit for purpose. https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf should be useful to you.

Yes you can reduce and lip fire doors. However, anything you do to a fire door must be within the scope of the door's product data sheet or technical manual so where you can find out which company made the door always refer to the data before carrying out any works. Don't forget, if the fire doors are required to restrict spread of cold smoke (which is most of them) the threshold gap should be 3mm max or you should fit a threshold smoke seal.

Not sure about "........mandate the fitment of FD30 doors........." but certainly as the owner of a flat you have a legal duty to ensure the flat entrance door (if it opens onto a common area inside the block of flats) is fire resistant and will also restrict the spread of cold smoke. Of course, your flat entrance door may already be a fire door so you should start by having an expert inspect the door so that you know what you need to do next.

Yes that's right you should first check the existing lock-set is suitable for your fire resisting door and, if so, then replace like for like. If in doubt contact the fire door manufacturer (if known) or a fire door specialist.

Horizontal positioning affects the ability of the device to self-close the door. Check with Geofire before installing in a fixing position that differs from the installation instructions.

I would recommend seeking the advice of a certificated fire door inspector at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector Vision panels may be retro fitted in some fire doors provided the work is done correctly and the door is suitable so you need advice from somebody qualified to carry out the necessary inspection work.

I would recommend seeking advice from your local certificated fire door inspector at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector A competent fire door inspector can survey the doors and advise on a suitable door hold open device.