For older properties there are often no fire strategy drawings available that detail the protected zones, locations of fire doors and the necessary fire resistance etc.

What is the general approach in this case for fire door inspectors? For example if the inspector comes across a door do they just make a determination on if the door is a nominal fire door (in absence of any signs of certification labels) based on the door make-up (leaf width, hinges, presence of intumescent strips, door closers etc)? I have also come across doors that appear to be fire doors where if you then look above the (non fire resistant) suspended ceiling there is no compartmentation to the wall above the door! So in this instance it wouldn't make much sense to recommend replacement of the fire door without also recommending upgrade of the compartmentation above the ceiling. But it does raise the question on if the door actually needs to be a fire door.

If the inspector determines it is a fire door and it needs replaced, how does the client instructing the fire door inspector know what specification of fire door to replace it with in absence of fire strategy information? Would the fire door inspector be expected to advise on this or would it be reasonable to suggest that the client looks to have restrospective fire strategy drawings produced?

Start with the Responsible Person at the building.   They should be aware of the fire strategy, by taking advice from a competent Fire Risk Assessor where necessary, which doors need to be fire rated and which of those should provide restricted cold smoke spread.

Naturally, some doors will be more critical to fire safety than others and the RP should be aware of this.  If they are not aware they should seek advice from a Competent Person.

 

Basic principles in doors that need to be fire doors and to what standard have existed for some considerable time, so it's straightforward for a fire risk assessor to idntify which doors need to be FD's and help the RP compile a register to check against.

Neil / Anthony, many thanks for your helpful responses.

On 30/11/2022 at 19:27, AnthonyB said:

Basic principles in doors that need to be fire doors and to what standard have existed for some considerable time, so it's straightforward for a fire risk assessor to idntify which doors need to be FD's and help the RP compile a register to check against.

Anthony, out of interest and for my own knowledge can you point to what guidance/standards would include this information, would it be the approved documents?

On 03/12/2022 at 01:20, geeman said:

Neil / Anthony, many thanks for your helpful responses.

Anthony, out of interest and for my own knowledge can you point to what guidance/standards would include this information, would it be the approved documents?

Going back to the 60's and 70's with the Guides to Fire Precautions in Premises requiring a Fire Certificate and in more recent times Approved Document B, the MHCLG fire risk assessment guides (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-safety-law-and-guidance-documents-for-business), BS9999 & BS9991, to name a few.