Meady

Hi Neil, thank you very much for coming back. Would you as a competent fire door inspector typically accept this method as a suitable way of reducing the operating gaps (on the basis all other parts of the door-set are adequate)?

Hi - sorry, can anyone help me on this enquiry please?

Hi All, am I right in saying that the additional checks (over and above those performed during a FRA) only apply to buildings 11m+ and 18m+? The Gov guidance I am looking at, to me, reads that blocks less than 11m only require the "Information to residents" section to be added to their management plan?? But I confess to be no expert in this area!! https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/check-your-fire-safety-responsibilities-under-the-fire-safety-england-regulations-2022/check-your-fire-safety-responsibilities-under-the-fire-safety-england-regulations-2022

We have been advised by a fire door contractor to fit a FrameFit – Fire Door Upgrades to our fire doors to help reduce the operating gaps. These look too good to be true, so I am wondering if any of you fire door inspectors have a) come across these and b) would accept them if inspecting a door? Previous door inspections have suggested removing the frames and packing them out to reduce the operating gaps, which is obviously a lot more work, so if the Framefit devices are acceptable, we would obviously be interested in these. But we don't want to waste time and money if the Framefit is not compliant! Any thoughts / advice would be appreciated.

Hi Anthony - thank you, I think you've made it clear that we need to be going along the 'D' route. The 'F' style alarms worry me due to the risk of people simply knocking them off the ceilings if they go off! Thanks as always for your advice - genuinely appreciated.

Hi Harry - thank you, that is a great help! ?

Thank you Tom - much appreciated.

Please can anyone give us some advice? Grade D1/D2 alarms - do they have to be mains powered (with battery back up) or can they be 10-year, sealed, lithium battery powered only? BS5839-6 seems to suggest that they must be mains powered in some way with options for battery back-up depending on D1/D2. But can wireless radio-linked devices suffice as a suitable alternative in the guidance?

We have an open plan kitchen and lounge on the first floor of our home - but the ceiling is pitched (height approximately 5-6m). Do we need to have both a smoke and heat alarm fitted in the top of the apex? Or would a single heat alarm suffice?

? Would be worth every penny! Your advice is truly appreciated. Thank you.

That's great - thank you Mike.

Thank you AnthonyB - the good old 'should' and 'must' scenario!! ?

Hi AnthonyB - thank you so much for such a detailed reply! That is really useful information - many thanks!

I was wondering if you could help clarify something in ADB Vol's 1 and 2 for me please relating to the requirement for vision panels in doors in particular in schools. I can see that there is a requirement for vision panels on doors dividing corridors and doors which are hung and designed to swing both directions. But should doors which open on to stairways also include vision panels too?

Please could someone give me a steer on the required levels of fire separation between basements and ground floors? Situation is a commercial premises; the basement is served with independent stair which is fitted with FD30s at top. The stair is separated from the main stair to upper floors. Basement is not ventilated. Basement is also unoccupied but does contain mains electrical distribution board and gas valve / shut off. Building Control accepted FD30s at top of stair on basis basement has smoke detection fitted which is linked to building fire alarm system. Fire Risk Assessor advises that because basement has no smoke / heat ventilation, it must have 60-minute separation and has advised either upgrading door at top of stairs to FD60s or add another FD30s at base of stairway. In ADB Volume 2, it appears to state that only 30-mins fire separation needed between basement and ground? Or am I reading this wrongly? So why would a) Building Control say FD30s is fine as long as smoke detection fitted and b) why is Fire Risk Assessor stating it must have 60 mins separation? I've also looked at the HM guidance documents for fire safety risk assessments and cannot see anything in them either. If anyone can help point me in the direction of correct documents / articles to read it would be a great help. Thank you! ?