SteveNeedsAnswers

I am of the opinion that a door frame stop on a fire door cannot compliantly reduce a threshold gap issue. If this is correct - is there any legislation that I can quote from pls?

A basement end passageway has a resident flat. The flat entrance is a final exit door onto an exterior escape route (the outside) so doesn't have to be a fire door. Directly opposite that flat door (no more than three feet) is a riser room under the above pavement which contains electrical meters/cables etc. This riser room door vents to the outside so does not have to have a fire rating. My issue is - despite the correct calls from the fire safety assessment - that the resident must surely have their safety compromised should there be an outbreak of heat/smoke/fire from the riser area. The escape route is compromised and the resident and their property are vulnerable at such close proximity with no adequate fire barrier between themselves and the incoming fire load. It is unknown as to whether or not there is a rear escape option or the resident is physically capable of accessing it (elderly/infirm.) As a fire door inspector my concerns have been superseded by the fire safety report. I did feel the need to make an addendum outlining the issues around personal health and safety, property damage, duty of care. Should more preventative measures be included within either report? Appreciate any thoughts.

As a fairly newly qualified fire door inspector, this past year has seen me return to inspected premises (quarterly/annually) to come to the same conclusion results as previously reported. Many of the inspection findings highlighted excessive threshold gaps, non-compliant hinges, missing combined seals, faulty closing devices among other significant fails. Despite anecdotal reporting of such and recommending remedial options, it appears that some landlords are refraining from their obligations with regard to fire safety. Each of the fire door fails, in one way or another, already compromise the safety of the residents. If these fails are not immediately rectified they remain vulnerable and potentially lives are at risk. In the obvious knee-jerk to the Grenfell tragedy (quite rightly so), governments have been addressing various aspects of fire safety through Acts, Documents & Regulations, with revised editions. My concern is that all I am able to do as an inspector is report my inspection findings and leave them in the lap of landlords that have undertaken their responsibility. I am unable to issue timescales as matters of urgency, and have no mandatory powers of sway (only the Fire Brigade can attend premises and enforce timelines or immediate change.) So, this leaves me having evidenced fail concerns and then turning away and hoping landlords act upon the findings. Returning to premises with no remedial changes made by landlords concerns me greatly, as without doubt there are numerous potential mini Grenfell situations out there with compartmentation and fire door fails in abundance. Governments need to do more with this specific regard (or disregard) to resident safety and the various regulatory guides need more in depth revision.

Ta muchly

No meters, fuses or distribution boards, just three electric cables tunning up through punched holes up five levels. Waste pipes also within the block cavities. Guessing nothing is combustible and toleration is acceptable. Thanks

Cheers muchly

No - just three cables

A two-foot square timber fronted riser cupboard on a stairwell of a 5-storey residential block of flats contains three waste pipes and three electric supply cables running up through all floors. The hinges are not fire-rated, the door is 18mm thick with 10mm stops. No combined seals. Is there a need to better protect the escape route?

I have a block of elderly steel fire doors mounted on two swivel hinges top and threshold. (They do not swivel two ways.) No stopper. Smoke seals. The threshold gaps are in excess of 9mm. Is there anything on the market or drop down seals that would make the doors compliant? With no stopper, conventional drop seals couldn't be activated. Any thoughts pls.