Meady

Hi all, Just jumping on the 'bandwagon' here with a similar question... We often come across FD's which are used to help enclose such items as the electrical consumer units, which dont have strips or seals. Typically, these are in supported living housing risks where these is a single means of escape (stair) from the upper floors. The cupboards dont have AFD - so the FRA states that the introduction of strips and seals to the door would prevent smoke spreading into the hallway which is where the AFD is installed and therefore there is no need to upgrade the existing doors. Is this commonly accepted?? I would have thought the best solution would be to introduce AFD in the cupboard containing the electrical units and upgrade the door with strips and seals, but didn't know if this is OTT?!

Thanks AnthonyB - much appreciated.

Please can someone give me some guidance regarding fire dampers? Do the bathroom extraction ducts which travel into the protected corridors need fire & smoke dampers? ADB Vol 2 - 10.22 suggests that they do and they must be linked to the fire alarm. But I have been to a hotel (approx. 20 years old) where there is no fire damper fitted to the ducts coming from the bathrooms. Someone suggested they may be 'shunt ducts' but I cannot seem to understand how these work?! And whether they are acceptable? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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!! ?