Tom Sutton

I would suggest you speak to your landlord or managing agent if you own the flat, because the common areas are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order 2005 and you need to know the fire strategy for the premises and details of the fire risk assessment. Also consider if you interlink each flat what happens if one of your neighbours keeps on burning the toast?

If the fire door was installed before 1987 then it will have been tested to BS 476 part 8 and will have no intumescent strips and 25mm rebates. If after 1987 it will have been tested to BS 476 part 22 and fitted with intumescent strips and 12mm rebates. A part 8 door will fail a part 22 test with a duration of about 15 to 20 minutes but depending on the findings of your fire risk assessment it may be acceptable not to fit intumescent strips. Another point to consider the intumescent strip maybe fitted under lipping on both edges but it could be visible on the top edge of the fire door.

I agree with Torx if you go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-doors/ there is a diagram showing the location where the intumescent strip should be fitted. On both long sides and the head of the fire door. Try http://www.ifsa.org.uk/pdf/Information%20Sheet%20No1.pdf for more info.

Hold a hair dryer underneath it but don't use a heat gun instead of a hair dryer (unless you are very careful). Heat guns are liable to melt the plastic!

Further to my above posting I should say even if you premises is not a HMO then the common parts are still subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This means the common parts require a fire risk assessment and this is maybe what the landlord has done and is implementing the findings of the fire risk assessment.

Go to http://www.firesafe.org.uk/houses-in-multiple-occupation/ this my help.