Neil Ashdown MAFDI
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Posts posted by Neil Ashdown MAFDI
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Given that the flat entrance doors need to be fire rated..............
Initially, I would consult the manufacturer of the ablative batt and sealant system for evidence of fire resistance performance including the penetrations. I would use this evidence to satisfy myself that the batt with fire-stopped penetrations meets the necessary fire and smoke resistance requirements, so that the over-boarding on both sides is additional to fire performance rather than integral to it. With regard to over-boarding the batt I would use a fire resistant cement based board on both sides.
I would have an open-mind just in case a batt & sealant system proves unsuitable and a masonry based solution is necessary.
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In terms of compliance, it depends on the circumstances.
For flat entrance doors in blocks over 11 metres storey height Government guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022/fact-sheet-fire-doors-regulation-10
In terms of compliance with the relevant standard, BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice you would need to consult the installation instructions for the fire door in question. To answer your specific questions:
1) The 12mm threshold gap exceeds the usual requirement of 10mm for fire resistance performance and 3mm for restricted spread of cold smoke. You could install a threshold plate to the floor to reduce the gap under the door and a flexible seal to seal the gap for smoke purposes.
2) The gaps between the door leaf and door frame at the top and vertical edges should be between 2mm and 4mm. You could adjust the fit of the door leaf in its frame to achieve those gaps.
3) You could replace the intumescent strips to rectify the very small gap where they stop short of the hinges. Different intumescent strips can vary in the way they intumesce so its best practice to replace them as a set. You will require cold smoke seals too.
4) The intumescent pads fit behind the hinge blades between the hinge and the timber door and frame. In a severe fire they can act as a gasket to restrict the rate of char to the timber from the metal hinges.
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The gap between the door frame and surrounding wall should be sealed in accordance with the requirements of BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based Fire Door Assemblies - Code of practice. Use non-combustible materials such as mineral fibre & intumescent mastic to seal the gap(s) and consult a specialist where necessary.
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Whilst there are no specific regulations in this regard, it would be usual to consult the product certification data sheet for the door. In the absence of such certification best practice would be to use hardwood of minimum 640 kg per cubic metre density, 6mm minimum thickness and 18mm maximum with the work carried out to a joinery-works standard and using urea formaldehyde based adhesive.
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The product data sheet for the particular model of door leaf will provide information about the exact fire seal requirements. Generally speaking a firmly closed fire door is unlikely to be adversely affected by having seals that are 5mm wider that those specified.
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You don't say whether the bedrooms open on to a communal area or are located within a flat?
Usually bedroom doors inside a flat will be FD20 and not have smoke seals fitted (unless its a large flat) whereas bedroom doors that open onto communal areas will be FD30(s) with smoke seals fitted to restrict smoke logging in the corridor/hallway to provide for safe escape.
Furthermore, perimeter smoke seals fitted to doors will not completely stop smoke spread (only restrict it) because leakage will take place at the hinges and lock positions and under the door.
Clearly, additional fire detection would improve the situation but in any event you would be advised to speak with the inspector in detail for clarification about how best to provide the safest solution.
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When changing from rising butt hinges to fire rated butt hinges the chamfer on the top edge of the timber-based fire door will need to be removed and and a suitable hardwood lipping fitted to the top edge to provide for the correct gap with the door frame head. Suitable adhesive should be used to fix the lipping. The fire and smoke rated letter-box should be one that is suited to a fire door with a tubecore chipboard core, some are not.
A tubecore door will have timber stiles, top rail and bottom rail with hardwood lipping to the vertical edges, so if these are intact it will be possible to groove the top and vertical edges to fit fire seals. Don't forget smoke seals too.
Having said all of that, tubecore fire doors are not best suited to use for flat entrance doors and you may wish to consider replacing it with a complete purpose-made fire door-set.
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So based on Mike's post above (28mm thick door frame jambs for use with a Halspan Optima door leaf) and using a 762mm wide door leaf, the over-all door frame width would need to be 824mm. Check the door frame requirements for the door leaf you intend to install.
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- Should the doors and door frame all be fire proof and has this always been the regulations or has that changed since 2004? If so how would it have been signed off at completion as been compliant? Answer: Its not that a fire door frame needs to be fire-proof or fire rated. The fire door frame just needs to meet the specification stated in the fire door leaf manufacturers installation instructions in terms of sectional dimensions and density.
- I am obviously also really concerned that the house may now not be compliant which in turn could cause a risk to life or invalidate our home insurance? Answer: Contact a competent fire door installer, they should be able to advise what action is necessary to meet the relevant standards and regulations.
- How we can resolve this problem - it affects 4 doors? Answer: As 2 above.
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There is no mandatory requirement to replace fire doors just because they are old. However, the suitability and condition of fire doors must be sufficient to meet the necessary fire and smoke compartmentation requirements to suit the fire strategy at the building.
Consult the fire risk assessor on this subject and be prepared to upgrade or replace fire doors where necessary.
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You would need to check with the door manufacturer. Also you could try the Door & Hardware Federation https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/
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Are the ground floor doors there to protect the escape route in a fire? If the answer is yes, then they should be fire doors.
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The problem with tight gaps is that the door could bind on the frame and fail to self-close correctly. Always reference the BS 8214 guidance in your report.
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This might be helpful: https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/media/fire_safety/library/mhclg-advice-note-16.pdf This advice note has now been withdrawn by UK Gov but may provide some insight into how this situation may have arisen.
You don't say whether the existing fire doors are timber or composite? I understand the issues in the government sponsored fire door tests were with Composite fire door-sets https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fire-door-investigation
Maybe an independent expert (fire risk assessor/fire door consultant) has been consulted and the advice given is being followed?
Why are the new doors so costly?
This document, updated recently, provides guidance about fire doors in blocks of flats https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-in-purpose-built-blocks-of-flats
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If the fire door leaf (or fire door-set) can be identified to its certification / manufacturer, the technical department at the door manufacturer will be able to advise what work may be done without compromising the fire resistance performance certification.
Where the door cannot be traced to any certification or manufacturer an additional lipping should not be added to the existing one, instead the lipping should be replaced using the correct dimensions and density of hardwood and suitable adhesive. The work should be carried out to a 'joiners shop' standard.
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There's much confusion on this point. It is not possible for a certificated fire door to become a nominal one.
Certificated fire doors can have many items of hardware fitted but the hardware must be compatible with the fire door leaf. This means the installer must follow the requirements of the certificate and data sheet for the fire door leaf when fitting the hardware; handles and letter-plates included.
Where an installer fits an item of hardware that is not compatible, reduces the size of the door by more than permitted or makes a repair such as replacing a lipping then the door could become a 'non-compliant certificated fire door'. This is because the scope of the certification does not cover that modification.
Before modifying the door one should check with the manufacturer to see what the scope of the certification allows. This is not to say that a fire door should not be repaired but to emphasize that the scope of the certification is intended to cover the manufacturing of the door by factory production control rather than repairs to the door.
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The standard 'BS8214:2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice' states that, for fire resistance performance, the optimum door leaf to door frame perimeter gap is 2mm to 4mm. For restricted smoke spread purposes the door/frame should lightly contact the blade or brush of the seal in the door-closed position.
The competent person that declared the doors as "high risk" should provide some commentary as to why and it what context the doors are high risk and what recommendations they are making into how the issue could be resolved and the correct gap maintained.
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Removal of existing lipping and re-lipping a timber-based fire door with suitable hardwood and using suitable adhesive is a valid option for remediation of excessive door leaf to door frame gaps. It should be carried out be a suitably competent person.
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In the DCLG document 'Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats' the author stated that the term 'Notional' refers to a fire door that at the time the building was constructed met the requirements of the regulations. As building regulations are not retrospective there is no requirement to upgrade to modern methods.
However, recent product development has meant that fire resistance performance has been improved and that provides us with the opportunity to upgrade existing fire safety measures were such action is worthwhile. So for example, an inspector may recommend that such upgrades be applied in onerous situations such as at sleeping accommodation or on escape routes.
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A swing free self closer? https://www.safelincs.co.uk/free-swing-door-closers/
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If you intend to use the fire door inspection report so that contractors can tender for remedial works, its essential that the fire door inspection report contains sufficient information. Many such contractors report that most fire door inspection reports are insufficient for that purpose and insist on carrying out their own inspection before quoting.
Make sure you see a sample fire door inspection report before procuring the fire door inspector services.
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The fire door will have a fire rating based on a fire resistance performance test on one of its type. Therefore the fire-stopping to the linear gap between the back of the timber door frame and the surrounding wall cannot provide sixty minutes fire resistance for a FD30 fire door assembly.
Where the fire door is considered sufficient, seal the linear gap in accordance with the door manufacturers installation instructions or where this is unavailable refer to the Standard BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based fire door assemblies - Code of practice.
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Historic England have published guidance with particular reference to timber-based heritage doors here: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/fire-resistance-historic-timber-panel-doors/
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Where the fire door is so critical to the fire strategy at the building that it is desirable to upgrade the fire performance of the door. Consider that all timber-based fire doors have had intumescent seals for around the past 30 years now. So why wouldn't you fit them to a fire door?
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If the doors are fire resistant they should be checked regularly (three-monthly in residential blocks over eleven metres in storey height) and any damage should be repaired. The glazing system should be confirmed as fire resisting.