Change to flat main entrance fire door

[Ronan]

I hope this is the right forum to ask this question.

I recently purchased an apartment in a block and the front door is an FD30. Now I know what that means but when I bought the apartment I had almost no knowledge of fire regulations.

A couple of friends told me that because there are additional locks on the door (probably retrofitted), now I'm in breach of regulation. May I ask?

1) does it mean that the insurance will not pay in case of a fire?

2) if the answer to 1) is yes, will I be responsible for the entire block?

3) can I remove the additional locks and close the holes with trudoor bolts? or caulk?

4) if there are no open holes in the door, as they are completely covered by the cilinders, is that really a problem? Isn't steel more fire resistant than 30 minutes?

5) if the door is now not compliant can I engage with a company to install a new one or does the management have to do that?

6) if the existing door is FD30 can I install an FD60?

I know it's a lot of questions but I'm a noob, I just want to do the right thing for me and the others living in the block. I have seen other doors in the block that are in similar conditions, and I want to inform also the other owners.

[AnthonyB]

If you are owner occupying and not renting it out it's up to you what & how many locks are fitted as long as they don't affect the integrity of the door.

The door is your responsibility to remediate if not to spec.

I'll let the forum's fire door specialist answer your other questions

[Ronan]

ok thank you, I've seen you have replied to my other post too. So it's fine to add more locks but they need to be compliant. I think at least one of those added if not both are not compliant, so I will have to replace the door probably.

Is it my right to change it whenever I want and with whatever I want (as long as compliant, and with same look and finish) or can the management company force me to use one they decide is fine?

[AnthonyB]

On 24/04/2023 at 20:49, Ronan said:

ok thank you, I've seen you have replied to my other post too. So it's fine to add more locks but they need to be compliant. I think at least one of those added if not both are not compliant, so I will have to replace the door probably.

Is it my right to change it whenever I want and with whatever I want (as long as compliant, and with same look and finish) or can the management company force me to use one they decide is fine?

From a purely fire point of view as long as the replacement door, frame and ironmongery form an FD30S certified doorset with a suitable EN door closer it can be whatever you want and legal for fire purposes.

However from a property law point of view I'd check your lease as there can sometimes be binding requirements on the appearance of doors in a scheme and/or a requirement to get freeholders consent for the proposed door.

[Ronan]

ok thank you for the explanation

[Ronan]

I have another question on this: if there is an hole that is almost the size of a cylinder, that goes through the door, is there anything that can be used to fill the door and to make it compliant again with the regulation? Or does the door need to be replaced?