3 story new build snag / developer conflict

[Guest NK87]

Hi 

 

I wonder if i can get some guidance on a issue that has cropped up .

 

I purchased a 3 story 4 bed detached new build house last year , i believe it was built in 2022 and was the show house for the site so remained empty , it has  habitable rooms on each floor with stairs down the middle of the house to the front door . 

 

I had a snag list done and the report flagged up the following points and he was curious  to know how it got signed off, the developer doesnt agree with them and im having difficulty getting them rectified or knowing where to go to get them sorted at no expense to myself.  

 

All doors are FD30

 

1. Only one of the fire doors on the rooms around the escape route has a safety sticker present on the top of the door itself ( are these required in a residential property the developer is saying they aren't ) . , any links to assist with this ?

 

2. 2 doors have a excessive gap at the bottom of the door ( i assume there are regulations regarding the limits , is this law or jaut guidance to get the best from the door ) 

 

3. None of the doors have expandable seals on the frames at all , are these required in residential properties or is it commercial only , I read another post on here where somebody was recommending not to have them fitted as it could stop the smoke getting to the alarms on the hallways. 

 

I have tried googling and came across this forum but have been unable to find the required answer to my specific questions yet. 

 

Any other information required please let me know .

[AnthonyB]

Unfortunately signing off of a building has no relevance as to whether the work is to a suitable quality or effective standard as they aren't carrying out inspection to any level of detail - the liability always rests with the developer. The biggest example is Grenfell Tower which got it's refurb signed off. I wouldn't buy anything from the last 25 years or so due to all sorts of common defects, particularly a house.
 

Intumescent strips and FD30 doors (where a dwelling size and layout requires any fire doors in the first place) are not a new thing and it's a long time since 'FD20' doors (often an FD30 door with no seals after purpose built FD20 doors were no longer made) were a thing: https://www.thefis.org/2022/05/30/fire-door-safety-alert-clarification-around-fd20s/

Third party certified doors aren't explicitly a legal requirement, but how else can you be sure they are compliant and it's usually expected for new installs.

Intumescent seals don't stop smoke detectors working as they don't stop smoke and only swell up to fill the door gap until the fire is very hot and well developed