Fire Doors in Multi-Storey Office Building

[Jack.R]

Hello,

I recently did a health and safety review of a multi-storey office building. The building was constructed in 1987 with three protected stairwells. Fire doors have been raised as an issue for a number of years, but this was my first time visiting.

The fire doors have "hidden" intumescent strips and the BM Trada Q-Mark is present on some of the doors. The fire doors were in reasonable condition, but there was general wear and tear gaps, holes, missing screws etc.

The most recent fire door survey for the building has highlighted a number of issues excessive gaps, non-fire rated hinges etc. but has also said there are no fire seals on the doors with the "hidden" strips.

My concern is that the fire door surveyor was not aware of hidden strips and has raised repairs, upgrades and replacements where they are not needed.

I am intending to go back to the client and recommend that the fire doors were installed to the standards of that time and should still be fit for purpose and that any upgrades or repairs should be carried out following review by a specialist fire door assessor, as i don't really trust the previous assessors judgement.

Am i correct in the above and if i am are there any building regulations, standards, guidance or legislation that i will be able to go back to the client with to support this, as the proposed works are going to be very expensive.

Edited April 11, 2022 by Jack.R
spelling

[Tom Sutton]

You are correct to a point, intumescent seals can be hidden but if cold smoke seals are required then they cannot. I cannot think of any written guidance to help you, a full knowledge of fire doors and common sense is rquired.