Neil Ashdown MAFDI

Thanks for the pic. Makes it so much easier to understand the issue. In my opinion if the seals are as close to each other as is possible, whilst still allowing the door leaves to self-close without binding on the edges of the seals, then that's as good as you will get. That is assuming the seals will not fit to the pull side of the doors. Just another thought, have you checked with the seal manufacturer for advice? They will, I expect, have tested the seals for restricted smoke spread to either BS 476 part 31.1 or BS EN 1634-3. So it would be interesting to see if that test was done on double leaves or single leaf..........or both! NB: Automatic drop-down threshold seals are also available to fit into a groove in the door leaf bottom edge.

Useful document http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf

Is the blade of the threshold seal continuous along the full length of the door bottom edge?

"2) Should there be brushes at the bottom of the fire door (he has done strips on the sides and top)" The door should restrict the passage of 'cold-smoke' in accordance with BS 476 part 31.1 or BS EN 1634-3. So either the gap at the threshold should be a maximum of 3mm or it can be 10mm max (generally, depending on door test evidence) but with a suitable threshold smoke seal brush fitted. "3) Should building control be involved, or do the doors need to be certified/checked in some way once installed?" You have an obligation to ensure the new fire doors you fit will meet the required standard for fire and smoke protection. This document may be useful https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf

"My flat is on the ground floor, with a private entrance into my own front garden however as I am the end block my flat is next to the staircase that leads upstairs". From what you say, it seems this is the only entrance/exit door from the flat. So the question is: If there was a fire inside your flat would failure of the door to hold back fire and smoke prevent others from using the staircase to escape from the floors above? FD30s composite flat entrance doors are available so speak to your supplier if necessary.

Doors to flat entrances should be FD30(s). This means fire and smoke seals should be fitted at the top edge and both vertical edges, the smoke seal should just about fill the gap between the door leaf and door frame without causing hindrance to the self-closing action. The gap requirement at the threshold is 3mm maximum, for a fire door that should provide cold smoke protection. On fitting a hardwood lipping to the door bottom edge to reduce the gap, this depends on whether or not this is permitted by the door manufacturers' installation instructions/product data sheet. Check with the door manufacturer as to whether or not such work will void any fire performance certification applicable to the door leaf.

Using thin pieces of timber to add thickness to the inside face of a door frame or to the edge of the door leaf is not a suitable repair (to a fire door) when trying to reduce the gap between the door leaf and frame. Where the gap is so large that it cannot be reduced by adjustment, either: 1) Loosen the door frame jamb, pack behind and fire-stop between frame and wall accordingly. So as to reduce the overall width to suit the door leaf. 2) Remove the existing hardwood lipping form the door leaf and fit a replacement hardwood lipping thick enough to reduce the gap. Lippings should be generally min 6mm thick to a max of 18mm I assume suitable intumescent seals are fitted?

Hi Karen, "Certificate the door" is the wrong phraseology and demonstrates a lack of understanding about fire doors. Certification relates to fire doors and component products where the manufacturer is a member of a third party certification scheme. My advice is to have the fire door inspected by a Certificated Fire Door Inspector, after inspecting the door they will issue an inspection report. The report will either list the fire door as compliant or if there are any compliance issues the report will include details of the remedial work required. https://fdis.co.uk/find-an-inspector/ The council should accept the inspector's report as evidence of compliance, assuming of course that the fire door is indeed compliant.

In England and Wales, the Building Regulations Approved Document B Fire Safety for dwelling houses applies: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/485420/BR_PDF_AD_B1_2013.pdf

BS 476 part 20 is the fire performance test for building materials and structures whereas the BS 476 part 22 is the fire performance test for non-load bearing elements of construction, including fire doors. Therefore if installing a fire rated air transfer grille to a fire door, the product should have evidence of fire performance to the same standard as the fire door.

You can get advice and information about fire safety provisions for blocks of flats here https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf including fire doors.

There are two gaps to consider when inspecting the top edge and vertical edges of a fire resisting door: 1) On the pull side there's the gap between the edges of the door leaf and the door frame. 2) On the push side there's the gap between the face of the door leaf and the edge of the door frame rebate stop. If the door leaf does not sit close to or on the stop, then it may be proud of the door frame on the pull side and this may be a cause of premature fire separation failure. Then there's the threshold gap too. If inspecting timber based fire doors, consult 'BS 8214:2016 Timber based fire door assemblies - Code of practice' for relevant information.

Remove the grille cover and check inside to see if an intumescent air transfer grille has been fitted. Such intumescent grilles are often labelled on one edge with details of fire performance, which should be a test to BS 476 part 22 or BSEN 1634-1. The intumescent grille should be a tight fit in the aperture and depending on the construction of the door core the aperture may require a hardwood or intumescent liner. Example of an intumescent air transfer grille can be found here https://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-rated-intumescent-air-transfer-grilles/?fGB=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImoKltsbW4QIVxbTtCh1uVQ4XEAYYASABEgITtPD_BwE

I would advise you to consult Part M of the Building Regulations with regard to requirements for spy-viewers for wheelchair users. Fire performance tests have been conducted with more than one spy-viewer installed in one fire door leaf, but you should check with the company that manufactured the fire door before carrying out any installation work.

Hi MartinP, Does your son own the maisonette or does he rent from a housing association or other landlord?

Fitting that type of product will resolve the issue of restricted cold-smoke spread, but not the fire performance non-compliance caused by an excessive perimeter gap. If you can identify the fire door to its manufacturer you may be able to find out permissible gap tolerances for fire performance.

Refer to 'Code of practice. Hardware for Fire & Escape Doors' at http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf Sections 2.3.8 and 3.3.8 of the document refer to double action spring hinges (also known as Bommer Hinges). Section 3.3.10 covers floor springs and the double action hardware.

Good point, Tom. In which case, it would most likely not be a fire resisting door and therefore would not need to self-close.

The door must self-close. Therefore efforts should be made so that it does self-close and remain closed accordingly.

If the 54mm thick door is required to provide only thirty minutes fire separation performance, then a softwood frame would be acceptable provided that it meets the specification contained in the door leaf technical data sheet.

The door should be fitted with a suitable self-closing device and latch.They must both be compatible with the fire door leaf. The door must self-close to the stop of the door frame rebate overcoming resistance from the latch bolt and smoke seals so that the door leaf 'self-latches' into the keep at the door frame. A lock is optional, but clearly desirable for security purposes.

All timber based fire doors tested to BS 476 - 22 and EN 1634-1 'currently' have intumescent fire seals. As an inspector I would always recommend existing / older timber-based fire doors should be fitted with seals. I do this on the basis that: 1) The building operator has a legal duty to take 'reasonable precautions' and keep fire doors in 'efficient' working order under the RR(FS)O. 2) The upgrading work is reasonably simple and cost effective. 3) Intumescent seals have proven evidence in tests in contributing to the fire separation performance of timber-based fire doors. If a client then decided not to fit the seals to existing / older doors, then its a matter for them and their fire strategy and fire risk assessment. They should justify their decision.

Would need to see the doors in question. Fire doors vary (according to their construction) in the type of closer that's acceptable and to what degree the edges may be trimmed to fit replacement lippings. Clearly, you are attempting to improve on the current likely level of fire & smoke performance of the fire doors but it would be wise to engage a fire door inspector, they can report on what type of remedial work can be done.

I would advise a thumb turn on the inside so that your teenage daughter can unlock from the inside without needing to search for the key. The Fire Safety Order does not apply inside your own private home but as its an FD30s door your may like to fit a fire rated lock. Personally, I would.

Hi John, The first thing to say concerns smoke seals. If the students are deliberately pulling the fins away from the intumescent seal then it would be worth considering fitting plain fire only intumescent seals instead. A smoke seal will be required but a compression seal, bat-wing type seal or smoke seal in a carrier fitted to the top edge of the rebate stop may be less easy to damage. Try a sample piece for suitability before installation as some seals may interfere with the self-closing of the door, but clearly that won't help at square meeting edges (sorry). I would suggest you consult the Intumescent Fire Seals Association at https://www.ifsa.org.uk/documents/ and https://www.ifsa.org.uk/advice/ for advice Regarding the intumescent fire seals, these may be required to bypass interruptions for hardware (such as at locks and hinges) or interruption may be allowed. Only by consulting the installation data for the fire door and fire seal can you be sure of the requirement. Below is an image showing a common application of fire seals to an FD60 door assembly, so you can see one seal may bypass at hinge blades but as the lock is morticed centrally the seal would be cut around the lock face plate. Short lengths and cut pieces of fire seals are easily removed due to the nature of their self-adhesive fixing method. In many instances the door maintainer will use small gauge panel pins to hold the seals securely - so that may be an answer for you? If you intend to use intumescent mastic instead, consult the product manufacturer for advice. When replacing intumescent fire seals, be aware that different seals may react at different temperature ranges in a fire situation. Therefore, unless you can be sure of like for like replacement you should replace all seals of the door assembly together. It would be wise to speak to the seal manufacturer for information about the above before going ahead. As a footnote, I did hear of one case where a student was disciplined and the police involved because willful damage was caused to a fire door which may be? a beach of the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 but I can't confirm the story as true!