Neil Ashdown MAFDI

Thanks. Good to know about the Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996

My advice would be to: Establish that the doors are solid core and in suitable condition, record your findings. Add suitable BSEN1154 compliant self-closing devices and make sure all doors self-close completely, reliably, smoothly and without risk of causing a 'trapping injury' - of fingers etc. Add intumescent fire seals and perimeter smoke seals. Make sure the door to frame gaps are between 2mm and 4mm (within reason). Replace the existing letter plate with a fire and smoke rated item and attend to the door threshold so that it will restrict the passage of smoke in a fire. UK Government advice about fire doors can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022-fire-door-guidance/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022-fire-door-guidance

I would advise Fire Exit Keep Clear signs on both sides. The existing PUSH sign should be sufficient unless the Fire Risk Assessment requires illuminated signs.

Hush pads might affect the smoke seals fitted to fire doors. Its not your door so this might not be any use to you but there are smoke seals that soften the closing action of the door - such as these:

https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/site-search.htm?q=fire+doors&searchSubmit=Search

The face of intumescent strip should be flush with the surface of the door leaf edge or door frame. So making a deeper groove is not an option. To reduce friction as the door self-closes, you could use alternative smoke seal types such as those with a blade or you could use perimeter seals or seals fitted to the face of the rebate stop.

Are intumescent seals and smoke seals fitted to the edges of the door leaf? Is the glazed over panel fire rated?

As Anthony has said, Construction Product Regulations are not applied retrospectively. There is no requirement to replace existing hinges because they don't have a CE or UKCA mark. Current building regulations (Approved Document B Appendix C) require that:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/639ae7e98fa8f5069839c7d7/Approved_Document_B__fire_safety__volume_1_-_Dwellings__2019_edition_incorporating_2020_and_2022_amendments.pdf Appendix C Fire Door-sets. Table C1 2A on page 138 should help. Also this: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-in-purpose-built-blocks-of-flats

Your situation is shared with many owners of flats in the UK. There is guidance on this matter at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-in-purpose-built-blocks-of-flats My own opinion, as provided to similar clients, is that you would be wise to engage the services of a carpenter/joiner that has demonstrable competence and experience working with timber-based fire doors. They can inspect the flat entrance door and carry out sensible upgrades to make sure the door self-closes completely and reliably. Also fitting suitable intumescent edge seals & smoke seals, making sure gaps between the door and frame are within the 2mm to 4mm guidance and that the door is aligned with its door frame. There may be other issues but an inspection check by a competent person should reveal these.

There are timber fire doors that can have large clear glazed panels. These are a common solution where a larger amount of borrowed light is necessary. eg.

It's not a regulation. HM Gov changes to fire safety regulation has not included any change to perimeter gaps around fire door leaves. The code of practice BS 8214 has recommended a 2mm to 4mm gap since c.1990 - The 2016 version is available at https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/timber-based-fire-door-assemblies-code-of-practice?version=standard see section 9.5.2 You could look for marks, labels or a plug on your door to identify the door to it's manufacturer and obtain the certification data sheet. That document would state the gap requirement for compliance with the fire resistance performance certification. eg:

The installation should have been completed in accordance with Building Regulations because replacement of fire doors is a notifiable activity and the local building control office should have been informed. The installer should have completed the installation in accordance with the fire resistance performance certification for the products used and installed as well as the relevant Code of Practice BS 8214: 2016. Your task now is to ascertain whether the installer has complied with the above. If they haven't, you have a legitimate reason to make a complaint.

Its OK to install intumescent and smoke seals to an existing timber-based fire door leaf. But first its important to ensure that concealed intumescents have not been fitted and if they have not then make sure the intumescent seals you fit are the same type as those already fitted at the other edges or in the door frame. For double leaf fire doors, both leaves should be of the same type and evidence of fire performance should be checked where possible.

So the installer seems to have made a mistake? The installer should be contacted and remedial works, approved by the door manufacturer, should be carried out. Subject to reasonable acceptance by the client.