Neil Ashdown MAFDI

You should be aware that, in a fire situation, heat transfer from this large amount of metal to the timber door leaf could cause premature fire separation failure. The top edge and the upper part of the closing edge is more vulnerable to fire (than the lower parts of the door leaf) and therefore it would be sensible to risk assess the effects of a premature failure for the timber based doors that are fitted with magnetic locks. With regard to removal of stops, it is always better to add a timber fillet to the door frame reveal instead so as to support the hardware securely. I realise this may not be very practical, but fitting such a device to the door-frame closing jamb doesn't seem very practical anyway! You should also bear in mind that mag-locks tend to distort the timber door leaf where they pull the leaf towards to magnet. During installation, care should be taken to ensure the leaf remains in plane in its closed position.

Aside from the important issue of checking that the doors are suitable as FD30s doors you can find information in the Glass & Glazing Federation 'Fire Resistant Glazing Best Practice Guide' at http://www.ggf.org.uk/groups/fire-resistant-glazing-group/fire_resistant_glazing_best_practice_guide Also check out latest guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/707440/Advice_for_building_owners_on_assurance_and_replacing_of_flat_entrance_fire_doors.pdf and from the National Fire Chiefs Council at https://www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/High--Rise-Safety-for-Residents

Will the intumescent air transfer grille restrict the spread of cold smoke?

Hi timbo, To achieve compliance the self-closer you install must be to minimum power-size 3 to BS EN 1154. Select a self-closer that has power adjustment up to size 4 or 5 with adjustment for both closing speed from fully open to almost closed as well separate adjustment for the latching action. This type of self-closer, correctly adjusted, will close the door correctly overcoming any latch bolt resistance and close quickly enough to satisfy your requirements.

Hi Silvia, Find your nearest Certificated Fire Door Inspector at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector They will be able to help.

Hi MHO, You don't say if the building has had any work done regarding the fire doors that would be subject to current building regulations. So assuming the answer is no and the fire doors were installed 18 years ago when the building was built, the question is: Do you need to upgrade to three hinges per fire door? A fire door inspector should check several points (depending on the fire door rating) regarding the hinges: a) That they are suitable for the fire door and in good serviceable condition, b) That all correct size fixing screws are present and that the hinges are securely fixed to the door and frame and c) That there are three or more hinges fitted at the correct positions either because its a requirement to comply with the evidence of performance for the fire door or to comply with BS 8214 the Code of Practice for Timber Based Fire Doors. Timber based fire doors (unless very small cupboard doors) should have three or more hinges to meet the required fire separation performance by helping to prevent or limit distortion of the door at mid-height in a fire situation. The fire performance of the door can only be as good as the hinge fixings used to secure it to its door frame. So if there are three hinges rather than two then the fire performance will that much better! Fire doors are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Article 17 of the Order requires that Fire Doors...... are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/17/made

From a fire separation perspective the door frame or lining needs to be in accordance with the door manufacturer's certification data sheet, installation instructions or technical manual. Usually an external type door frame with a flush cill would be used for that application but the framing sectional size must be in accordance with the requirements for the particular fire door you are installing and of course correctly sized intumescent fire and cold smoke seals will be necessary. If you install a lot of fire doors its worth purchasing a copy of BS 8214 : 2016 Code of practice for timber-based fire door assemblies.

Hi Fouted, No need to be sorry, competence is most important. Speak with two or three because although all FDIS qualified they work independently on their own account and will have varying industry backgrounds from fire safety generally to joinery or ironmongery specifically, and that knowledge and experience will be a factor too in engaging the best person for the particular task at hand. Tell the inspector exactly what you are looking for and ask him how he can help.

Thanks Gordon. What you have described above is not uncommon. Often fire doors are not correctly installed and the installers do not possess the necessary knowledge to carry out the works competently. Keep on contacting the owners of the flats or the management company and if that doesn't work try the local Fire & Rescue Service.

Hi Manuela, You are correct to take this up with the housing association. Cross-corridor Fire Doors are commonly held-open by magnets to save wear and tear and allow residents to move around and move items around the building without hindrance of having to open a self-closing fire door. From what you say above I would suspect that these doors are fire resisting doors that release to self-close automatically when the alarm sounds. In which case they are fire safety devices and are subject to a suitable maintenance regime under Article 17 of the Fire safety Order. If so, they are required to have conspicuous blue/white circular signs on both faces of each leaf that say "AUTOMATIC FIRE DOOR KEEP CLEAR" and should be checked for correct releasing and self-closing at the same time as the weekly fire alarm check. Keep up the pressure on the housing association to advise whether these doors are Fire Doors. Let us know when you get the answer.

Hi KarlW, You don't say if its a timber door or metal door? Generally speaking, handles do not need to be fire rated and subject to fixing methods and size of handles they should not affect the fire performance of the door. Again generally speaking, where a door handle 'bolts through' a timber-based door leaf the fixing holes must be tight (hole to be max 1mm greater diameter than that of the through-fixings) and suitable intumescent mastic or intumescent gasket material should be applied around the bolt-through fixings. Handles should be fitted only at the lock-block and at about mid-height. If you are at all unsure about this task on a fire door you should seek help from a competent person.

The council has a legal duty to ensure fire safety devices are subject to a suitable maintenance regime and kept in efficient working order. However, the fire doors would usually be the flat entrance door and the doors in the common areas (not usually the doors inside the flat). Guidance regarding fire doors at purpose built blocks of flats is available at https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf

Hi Barbara, Contact a certificated fire door inspector. These are listed at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector The inspector should be able to inspect the fire door and issue a report either confirming compliance or detailing remedial works required in order for the door to be compliant. Speak with two or three to make sure they can provide what you are looking for.

Doors often fail to self-close correctly because of a rise in air pressure caused by having two doors with seals close to each other.

You don't say if the work you refer to is subject to building regulations or whether the client has stated any requirement for the materials or installation to be third party certificated. The Building Regulations in Scotland 'Technical Handbook: Fire' can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00521763.pdf The regulations describe third party certification schemes but do not make it a mandatory requirement. However, the client may specify that the work must be carried out using a third party certificated glazing system or installed by an installer belonging to a third party certification scheme. Whatever, the requirements in terms of products and installation, the work must be carried out competently and helpful guidance is available from the Glass & Glazing Federation at http://www.ggf.org.uk/groups/fire-resistant-glazing-group/fire_resistant_glazing_best_practice_guide

Hi Bernie, Any modifications and repairs made to fire doors should be done competently and I would advise careful investigation of the modification/repair work to evaluate its suitability.

Hi Teekay, You have clearly given this matter some thought and consideration..............more thought then many building owners/managers have. You are right to do so, I have encountered similar situations where doors older than the 1980's have been found to be suitable fire doors. From what you say there is a good possibility that the fire doors at the building are suitable but may require some degree of upgrading works. As Tom says contacting a certificated fire door inspector CertFDI would help you evaluate the situation. These are listed at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector and my advice is to speak to two or three to see what their thoughts are before engaging the one that seems most suited to the task.

The point about fire doors is that if you can identify the fire door to it's manufacturer and relevant evidence of performance, then any components fitted or replaced to make up the fire door assembly should be 'as tested'. That means the fire door should be installed and maintained so that all components and installation data replicates the fire door assembly as it was 'fire performance tested'. For example if the BWF-Certifire label on the door leaf top edge shows the 'CF number' you are then able to download the certificate and data sheet from the Warrington Certification website and therefore install or maintain the fire door in accordance with the data sheet to ensure compliance. BUT many existing fire doors cannot be identified to a manufacturer and evidence of performance. So in this scenario there is no data to tell us what type of fire seals are necessary. In this scenario a self-adhesive fire seal is better than none. Because fire door core construction types vary so greatly, so do the requirements regarding installation and components. If in doubt seek expert advice.

Self adhesive fire and smoke seals are available https://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-door-seals-surface-mounted-intumescent-fire-and-smoke-seal-kit-product-1/?fGB=true&gclid=CjwKCAiAoNTUBRBUEiwAWje2lqpip9-5-BwL6n6Ikh2T8e9TFx9FgEfKJhrc-ZPElkVMQ_i0EBKjXRoCf5sQAvD_BwE

Hi Kevin, I am assuming here we are talking about timber based fire doors? The important thing is that the fire door is fitted in strict accordance with the manufacturers installation instructions. Depending on the manufacturer those instructions may make reference to the requirements of BS 8214 the Code of practice for Timber based fire door assemblies. If so you will need to refer to both documents (the British Standard and the manufacturer's instructions) for component selection and installation criteria. If the fire door leaf is certificated under the scope of the BWF-Certifire scheme you will find a label on the top edge of the door leaf. On this label you can find the manufacturers contact details and a number with the prefix 'CF'. If you go to https://www.warringtoncertification.com/certifire/technical-schedules.html you can find the data sheet applicable to that CF number. That data sheet will provide information about component compatibility and installation requirements. The data sheet and installation instructions may not provide information about installation of cold-smoke seals so it will be helpful to get information from the Intumescent Fire Seals Association website at http://www.ifsa.org.uk/documents/ FENSA are correct there is no legal requirement for certification for the installer but evidence of fire (and smoke) performance is required for the products. In England and Wales the 2005 Fire Safety Order refers to the 'competent person' so as you are installing fire safety devices you may have an obligation under the scope of fire safety law as that competent person. Competent Person is defined at the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/competentperson.htm Finally, training for fire door installers and maintainers is available and so is worth some consideration. Hope this helps, Neil.

Laminated fire glass is not toughened and so must be treated with care. Its the lamination that provides the fire and heat protection seethe video at Some fire resisting glass is tempered rather than laminated and so can withstand greater shock. Contact a fire glass specialist and specify your requirements.

Hi Eddie, Fire performance products must be installed in accordance with supporting evidence from a fire test report or assessment. If you are proposing to over board a door to improve its fire separation performance make sure you refer to the product data sheets to check suitability of the board for that application. You will also find the above mentioned article, about upgrading doors, useful with regard to the numerous components of the door assembly that contribute to its fire and smoke separation performance.

The flat entrance door as well as being a fire resisting door is essentially a security door too because it opens onto the common area. Therefore a face-fixed security chain like the one in the image below below is allowed. It does not need to be fire rated because its purpose is solely security and it has no contribution towards the fire separation qualities of the door BUT it must not interfere with the self-closing action of the door. You are right to fit thumb turns on the inside so as to aid safe escape from the flat in an emergency.

You are correct to raise misalignment as an issue as it would affect the door's performance in a fire. The amount of misalignment permissible varies from zero to very little depending on the core construction of the door. Generally speaking a tube-core construction fire door will have zero but a completely solid core will have some tolerance. Ideally you would know who the manufacturer is and check their installation data sheet but in many cases the manufacturer is unknown. The following links are worth a look.......https://www.falconpp.co.uk/media/1155/14_flamebreak_fire_door_installation.pdf they allow 1mm and http://www.hazlin.com/images/Halspan-Optima-FD30-Specific-fitting-instructions.pdf again 1mm

I assume you have fire doors from the bedrooms to the hallways and landings?