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Is there a legal requirement to retrofit CE marked hinges to existing fire doors?


Guest S.Ellacott

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Guest S.Ellacott

Hi There,

I work in a building that was built approximately 20 years ago.  The existing fire doors have intumescent strips and close automatically, but I cannot see any CE marks on the hinges, which lead me to think they are not fire rated.  What are the legal requirements from the companies perspective? Do they need to upgrade all the hinges to comply with the law or as the doors are existing is this not needed until they are replaced?

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So long as the hinges are made from steel, suitable to carry the weight of the door, securely fixed and in good condition then there's no legal requirement to replace them.

They might sometimes be marked BS7352 which was the standard before the current EN1935.

If the hinges are worn or damaged replace all three with CE marked fire rated hinges to minimum grade 11, use a good quality hinge as you may find some modern hinges will wear more quickly than others. If the current hinges have lasted twenty years it would be sensible to replace them, when necessary, with good quality hinges.

Just as a matter of interest, current building regulation requirements for hinges for fire doors can be found in paragraph C10 on page 151 of Approved Document B at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/832633/Approved_Document_B__fire_safety__volume_2_-_2019_edition.pdf

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  • 3 years later...
Guest Dave Fairbank

Hi guys, Sorry to raise an old thread but I have the saem question here in 2023. We occupie an old secondary school with old fire doors. they have briton 2003 closers on which we have been advise can be swapped out with these https://www.safelincs.co.uk/union-retrov-overhead-door-closer/

The hinges look original but the fire inspector we have insists that they need replacing as they have no markings (CE EN or kite mark) 

There are 3 hingen on each leaf and they appear to be solid steel in construction.

Any advice welcome 

Many thanks in advance

Dave

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Building regulations in England does not specifically require hinges for fire doors to be EN, BS, CE or UKCA marked but to have a minimum melting point of 800 deg. C. See Appendix C at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124736/Approved_Document_B__fire_safety__volume_2_-_Buildings_other_than_dwellings__2019_edition_incorporating_2020_and_2022_amendments.pdf

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  • 9 months later...
Guest Terry Buckingham

Hi,

We, too, have taken on a building having fire doors, which are in good sound condition.  Each door has three stout brass-coloured hinges, which have no markings.  Should they be replaced to conform to latest regulations?

Secondly, there's a concealed chain closing mechanism in each of the fire doors.  If the fire door is held ajar by 15 degrees, and released, it doesn't close fully.  Should an additional closing mechanism be fitted?  Should the concealed chain mechanism be removed?

Thirdly, the building is 170 years old and the floors uneven.  How should we resolve the problem of the gap at the bottom of the door?

These issues are giving us a real headache, we're seeking a sensible way forward.  Thanks, in anticipation!

Terry

  

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So clearly you have identified risks that the doors may not be adequate in resisting fire and smoke spread.  Therefore these need to be considered carefully and addressed appropriately. The performance required from those doors may very well depend on how the building is used. For example if there's sleeping accommodation then the risk could be high but if its an office the risk could be low.

For best effect prioritise your remedial works according to the risk to people at the building. All of the defects you describe can be resolved but some may be challenging. 

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  • 3 months later...
Guest Hopefully this will help

I have just passed the fire door inspectors course, It does state that hinge must be fire rated: with either  CE and UKCA marks, Certifire or similar certification, BS EN 1935 number, and fire rating.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest CJB

I live in a development of low-rise apartments built in 2002.  The managing agents have recently had a fire door survey done and one of the recommendations/requirements is that the hinges to the front doors of the apartments should be replaced as they are not CE marked.  However the hinges are marked MONARCH EN 1935, with codes indicating that the hinges are suitable for fire doors of up to 60kg mass.  My reading of previous posts to this forum suggests no requirement in the regulations for these hinges to be replaced with CE marked ones.  Is this still correct, or have recent changes in the regulations altered the requirements?  

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