Neil ashdown

This type of composite fire resisting door was popular in the early 2000s. Is the self-closer a chain type, fitted to the hanging edge of the door and hanging jamb of the door frame? Many were. Could be a Birtley or IG door but unlikely that the manuufacturer would still hold data after this length of time. You could try contacting https://www.acdm.co.uk/ The Association of Composite Door Manufacturers, if you send them images of the doors they may be able to help. You may find Para 62.17 of the HM Gov guidance at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65e9def95b6524001af21bcc/Fire_Safety_in_Purpose_Built_Blocks_of_Flats_Guide-update.pdf helpful in terms of Notional Fire Doors.

The stop lath should not be removed and replaced by a door-closer slide arm track. Check that the budget self-closer you are using has fire performance certification for use in the paralell arm cofiguaration, some come with a push-side kit but even so are only suitable for fire doors in projecting arm (pull side) cofiguaration. Check this out, this company has a few instructional films available. Contact them for more info and with any questions. They also run training sessions.

Yes you do, because your flat should be a fire compartment and so should your neighbour's flat be a fire compartment - but separate to yours. That's why you both need your own fire door.

Best to contact your local Building Control office for advice. My experience, having received different comments from different LBC offices.

The lock keep should be tightly morticed into the door frame stile or secondary door leaf so that there are no gaps or voids. Intumescent gasket material is usually required for FD60 doors and sometimes for FD30, the door data sheet should provide the necessary information.

As you say, the requirement for this type of house is that the staircase must be protected to facilitate safe use in a fire. The existing doors, as described, should be suitable for this purpose and the proposed alterations should maintain that level of protection. Building Control may require evidence that the alterations do indeed maintain the required level of fire protection.

This FPA article (see link below) including the link to UK Gov guidance may be of interest, underlining several previous comments in this thread: https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/government-issues-update-to-fire-door-guidance-

The lock keep should be tightly morticed into the door frame stile or secondary door leaf so that there are no gaps or voids. Intumescent gasket material is usually required for FD60 doors and sometimes for FD30, the door data sheet should provide the necessary information.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d17064a005e6f9841a1d50/Approved_Document_B_volume_2_Buildings_other_than_Dwellings_2019_edition_incorporating_2020_2022_and_2025_amendments_collated_with_2026_and_2029_amendments.pdf Appendix C Fire Doorsets C11: Fire Door Signs. Complying with BS 5499-5. All fire doorsets should be marked on both sides, except fire doorsets to cupboards and service ducts, which should be marked on the outside. https://www.firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors_issue_5.pdf Fire Safety Signs page 104 to 112.

You could search for a local fire door inspector at https://afdi.org.uk/category/find-a-fire-door-inspector/ and https://fdis.co.uk/approved-fdis-inspector/

It would very likely be possible to upgrade the fire resistance and smoke spread restriction of your flat entrance door but the term FD30(s) can only refer to either a door with product certification (which yours probably doesn't have) or a door that has been inspected/assessed by a suitably competent person as a Notional FD30(s) or Nominal FD30(s) door. Before you decide on any action, it would be worth consulting the UK Gov guidance whilst considering the location of the door in the block, fire evacuation strategy and potential risk from fire to the occupier(s) of the flat and other residents at the block. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-your-small-block-of-flats-safe-from-fire/a-guide-to-making-your-small-block-of-flats-safe-from-fire-accessible and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-in-purpose-built-blocks-of-flats

Make some intrusive surveys of a sample percentage of the 40 doors. If the cores are the same as fire doors, it may be possible to retain them and upgrade as necessary. "NFR" on a sticker on top of the door doesn't mean the core is unsuitable, it may be the same core as the fire doors.

https://www.lorientuk.com/products/architectural-seals

Generally, the maximum threshold gap for a fire resisting door is 10mm. For a door that is required to restrict the spread of cold smoke its 3mm. 3mm is often difficult to acheive due to imperfect floor conditions, so a 10mm gap is acceptable so long as its sealed with a flexible seal. Ref. BS 8214: 2016 Timber-based Fire Door Assemblies Code of Practice. UK Gov fire door safety guidance reconises this difficulty. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/677fbe166f01ae28ab5c0554/A+guide+to+making+your+small+block+of+flats+safe+from+fire+2024.pdf Page 18