Neil Ashdown MAFDI

Hi Melanie, "This Document addresses the need for sealing the threshold of a fire resistant door assembly, stating that if the gap at the threshold exceeds 3mm, then a threshold seal must be used." am I right in thinking that if the gaps are less than 3mm then legally that is ok?" If the threshold gap at the bottom of your flat entrance door does not exceed 3mm then you will not require a threshold seal. As far as the cat flap is concerned I would advise you to consult the manufacturers/suppliers previously advised with regard to evidence of fire and smoke performance before taking further action.

You don't say if you are referring to new fire door installations or existing ones and this makes a difference because: 1) If you have had new fire doors installed the installer should be able to provide you with fire and smoke performance certification for the products used to make up the fire door assembly. The standards applying to fire and smoke performance for fire door components are BS 476 part 20/22, BS476 part 31.1 , BSEN1634-1 and BSEN1634-3 (the list here is not exhaustive). He should also be able to provide confirmation that the doors have been installed in accordance with the door manufacturers instructions and BS8214:2016. 2) If you mean existing doors then you must refer to Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order ( http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/17/made ) to ensure that fire safety devices (this includes fire doors and escape doors) are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. With regard to your question about separate certificates or one certificate for all doors, this would depend on numerous factors, not least, on whether the fire doors are all the same product with identical components. My advice is to seek advice from a Certificated Fire Door Inspector at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector He or she is the Competent Person as referenced by the 2005 Fire safety Order. Hope this helps, Neil.

Hi Tim, From what you say it seems like the front door to your flat opens onto a common area that would be used, by other residents, in a fire to enable them to reach a place of safety. If this is so then your flat entrance door needs to be an FD30s fire door to resist spread of fire for thirty minutes and restrict the spread of cold smoke too. Hope this helps, Neil.

Hi Melanie, I do sympathize and commend your approach in trying to find a solution. Fire door compliance is about using tested fire and smoke separation products, backed up by evidence of performance and installation of these products should be in accordance with the manufacturers instructions so as to ensure performance in real life. One area where smoke performance for a cat flap could be a problem is maintaining the seals against general wear and tear? My advice is to contact manufacturers of intumescent seals and smoke seals to discuss possible solutions. You could try: Mann McGowan http://www.mannmcgowan.co.uk/ , Lorient UK http://www.lorientuk.com/products/acoustic-seals-smoke-seals-and-fire-seals-for-door-assemblies and Envirograf https://envirograf.com/product/surface-mounted-intumescent-fire-firesmoke-seals/ Kind regards, Neil.

Hi Melanie, You are clearly taking a responsible and sensible approach. Assuming everything else is OK with the fire door and that self-closing and fire and cold smoke separation is compliant the main area you could have a problem is the cat flap. You say its draught proof and 'so would prevent cold smoke' but if the authorities require it could you provide evidence of performance to 'BS 476 Part 31.1 smoke penetration through door-sets' ? I am being deliberately pessimistic here because the fire and cold smoke performance of flat entrance doors is critical to the safety of other inhabitants and the fire door should meet the cold smoke restriction requirements of the above standard. See Tom's comment from November last year (above). Might be worth asking your supplier if they supply an intumescent fire rated cat flap that has also been successfully tested for cold smoke spread though? If they don't supply one.............then why is that............... and (how) can they recommend one for a flat entrance door? Kind regards, Neil.

For fire resisting doors you need to fit the correct (circular blue & white / blue & aluminium or stainless steel) signs. There's lots of information here http://firecode.org.uk/Code of Practice 2009 Issue 3.pdf in section 10 of 'Code of Practice: Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors'.

Presumably the products you fitted in your fire door came with evidence of fire and smoke performance to BS 476 pt 20/22 (or EN 1634-1)and BS 476 Pt 31.1 respectively? If they did not you are likely to have a problem in demonstrating suitability for installation in to a fire door.

Hi Geoff, This type of closing device was commonly fitted to FD20 internal fire doors inside flats and houses. Many hardware suppliers call them 'slammers' as they are not adjustable for closing strength and speed but are cheaper to buy than adjustable self-closers. They are not suitable for flat entrance doors and fire doors in common areas as they are not compliant with regulations that require such devices to be a minimum of power-size 3 to BS EN 1154. If you have them fitted to doors inside your flat or house there is no legal requirement to upgrade, indeed a change in building regulations no longer requires fire doors protecting staircases in dwelling houses and fire doors protecting inner lobbies in flats to be self-closing. There is guidance here https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/fire-safety-purpose-built-04b.pdf However, people do sometimes regard these self-closers to be a nuisance and often remove the complete device or sometimes just the chain itself. Any alteration to a fire door may affect its performance so if a concealed closer is removed then the void left inside the door / doorframe must be competently repaired.

Approved Document B of the Building Regulations sets out the requirements for 'providing early warning of a developing fire, satisfactory escape routes, preventing fire spread both within and to other buildings and providing good access and fire fighting facilities for the Fire Services' In this case the regulations appear to have failed. The question really comes about from Appendix B clause 3 which says unless it’s tested then it must be 800 plus - despite clause 1 saying the entire set should be tested - yet another contradiction in the Regs themselves.

Interested by comments from Guest 123. Fire doors undergo testing for fire separation performance and manufacturers product data sheets enable installers to replicate the test conditions at least in terms of the product installation. The fire performance tests are conducted to British and European standards and of course the real-life fire that could occur in a building may differ to the fire conditions used for the test. The door manufacturers product data sheet says: 1) Door to frame gaps: 4mm maximum at the vertical edges and top edge. 10mm at the threshold. 3.5mm between the meeting edges of double doors. 2) Hinges shall be CE marked for use on timber fire resisting doors. In addition the blade height is to be 100mm (+20mm -10mm), blade width 30mm (+/- 3mm), blade thickness 3mm (+/- 0.5mm) and knuckle diameter 13mm (+/- 1mm). Hinge fixings to be a minimum of four steel screws no smaller than No.8 by 32mm. The product data sheet also states ''........certification is conditional on these instructions being complied with in their entirety.........failure to do so will invalidate this approval and may jeopardise the fire performance of the door''. British standards and other guidance documents have been produced to help ensure that fire doors are installed correctly. These documents are authored by experts in the subject. I believe that when installing, repairing or maintaining fire safety devices such data sheets and guidance documents should be complied with. When working in the field of fire safety decisions made and work carried out should surely be backed up by performance data and best practice guidance. If we don't follow such data and guidance how can we evaluate likely fire performance. Footnote: a) Guest 123 seems to be contradictory in paragraphs 2 and 4. b) Timber fire doors vary in their core construction and framing construction (therefore fire separation performance will also vary) and so parallels should not be made between different doors.

The Building Regulations are clear. Performance of Fire Doors should be in accordance with the tests BS 476-22 or BS EN 1634-1 and the Building Regulations also state that the test evidence applies to the 'complete installed assembly'. Therefore the fire door installed at your house should be compliant with the relevant fire performance test for that particular door leaf. The door leaf manufacturer will be able to provide a data sheet showing the installation requirements including all ironmongery, intumescent seals and fire stopping around the frame at its junction with the supporting wall. Only doors installed in compliance with the fire performance test evidence are acceptable. If the fire door is not installed in this way, what evidence is there that it will provide the required fire separation performance?

IF IT IS a fire door then it is required to self-close fully to the rebate stop of the door frame. The self-closing action must overcome any resistance from the latch bolt, the latch keep or strike, the smoke seals and any floor covering. Failure to do so is clearly a breach of the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005. The fact that the building is Grade II listed makes no difference. There should be a fire risk assessment and a fire strategy. If, as part of the fire strategy, that door is intended to be a fire door then it must self-close correctly.

There are security devices that lock the escape door but they release the lock automatically when the push bar or push pad is operated. Have a look at 'Hardware for Fire & Escape Doors' at http://www.firecode.org.uk/ Section 12, sub-sections 12.3.4 and 12.3.5 on pages 103 / 104 of the document cover this subject.

When replacing a fire door leaf the hinges and screws should be replaced at the same time. Hinges are subject to a lot of stress due to the weight of the door and pressure from the self closing device and therefore wear out much sooner. Replace with fire rated CE marked to BS EN 1935 steel or brass hinges with a durability grade 13 or 14. If the doors are FD60 they should have intumescent gaskets between each blade and the timber frame and door edge. Caution: You get what you pay for and do make sure the correct screws are used and that they are a secure fit in their fixing holes!!!

The important thing is that the installer is competent. Ask the installation company what reference documents they use and what standards they work to when installing fire doors and also what training the installers have received. Personally, if they are not familiar with 'BS 8214 : 2016 Timber based fire door assemblies Code of practice' and the GAI / DHF guidance document 'Hardware for Fire & Escape Doors' I would not employ them. Some clients are now requesting, as a condition, that the installation company provides a report by a competent third party confirming that the fire doors have been installed correctly. Third party accredited installation companies have their quality management systems audited periodically, their managers receive training and some of their work is subject to inspection by the scheme provider. FENSA, to the best of my knowledge, do not operate a third party certification scheme for installation of fire doors. Their have been numerous reports about poor quality and non compliant fire door installation work so remember, competence is king.

HI Rachel, Seek advice from a certificated fire door inspector. You can find your local one at www.fdis.co.uk/inspector

Hi Charles, I would ask for documentary evidence in support of their claim that the fire door would now fail to provide the required level of fire and smoke separation protection because of the damage caused by your son and his mates.

Hi Digger, There is no document that gives definitive advice about which doors need to be fire doors. Building regulations (part B - Fire safety) and guidance documents for blocks of flats / sleeping accommodation provide information specific to the building type. You need to carry out a fire risk assessment for the building. That will identify which doors are required to protect escape routes or are required for another risk based reason. If the kitchen presents a risk to the safety of the users of the building in terms of fire and smoke spread then the door needs to be a suitable and effective fire resisting door.

Laminate faced timber-based fire doors are available from many fire door suppliers. Sometimes this is for decorative purposes and sometimes for impact protection in which case edge protection and frame protection products are also available.

Hi Simon, You don't say if they are timber or metal doors. I am assuming they are timber based doors, yes they must self-close and the best solution is to use floor springs and pivots. There's more information in the Code of Practice: Hardware for Fire and Escape doors at http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf

Hi Linda, Guidance in BS 8214 and BS 9999 recommends six monthly inspections. You should have carried out your own fire risk assessment and formed a fire strategy and this will identify the most critical fire doors. From there you can decide if some doors need to be inspected more or less often. Justify your decision in your fire risk assessment. The relevant legislation is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 more info at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents/made

Hi Mark, Find out if a fire risk assessment has been carried out. If it has ask for a copy because this document should identify fire related risks for that particular building and therefore enable the building operator to prioritize fire safety works. If there's no fire risk assessment advise your client to get one done by a suitably qualified person. The law that applies is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and from what you say it seems like your client may need assistance in complying with the legislation. Health care buildings have the benefit of purpose-made guidance documents called Healthcare Technical Memorandums such as HTM05 for fire safety and HTM 58 for doors. Check them out.

Hi Fiona, A competent craftsman could make an excellent high quality door in his workshop but the problem with making a fire door from scratch is that there will be no evidence of fire separation performance. In the case of fire doors in the UK the manufacturer must be able to provide evidence of performance (in accordance with BS 476 part 22 and/or BS EN 1634) for the products supplied. No inspector of any flavour can provide fire performance product certification, only a certification body can do this and they can do so only against suitable evidence of performance. However, if using a fire door blank the blank manufacturer will be able to provide a copy of the fire performance test report for the product as well as the relevant assessment report. They will also be able to provide instructions for sizing, machining, gluing and lipping the fire door blank as well as details about the door hardware, seals and other components to be used with the fire door assembly. These instructions must be carefully followed and the installation must be in accordance with those instructions too. If your carpenter works with fire doors then he will also possess the latest version of BS 8214 code of practice for timber based fire doors, this document provides important information about installation and any installer, maintainer or inspector should have a copy. Best to check all of this before proceeding because most of all you need your fire doors at your buildings to be fit for purpose. A certificated fire door inspector will be able to offer advice and inspect the finished installed product but the first thing he will look for is suitable evidence of performance. He can provide an inspection report identifying the fire doors as compliant with current standards........or not should he detect any defects or non-compliance. If he finds any non-compliance his inspection report will detail the necessary remedial action BUT no inspector can provide fire performance product certification, only a certification body can do this and then only against suitable evidence of performance. As we have seen in the media many fire doors are non-compliant due to lack of knowledge amongst specifiers, suppliers, installers and building inspectors. I hope this info helps and that the project goes smoothly.

Hi Fiona, You don't say how your carpenter will be making the fire doors. Will he be using a fire door blank from a fire door blank manufacturer or making the doors up from scratch using loose timber?

Generally you should use the screws that are supplied with the fire rated hinges. Some timber fire door cores. though, such as Graduated Density Chipboard require larger screws. Consult a fire door inspector if you are unsure.