Neil Ashdown MAFDI

Hi Doorguy, Assuming these are cupboard doors FDKL. You need to use 'projection hinges' and as its a fire door they need to be CE marked BS EN 1935 compliant fire rated ones. Depending on the size of the doors a minimum of three hinges are required for each leaf.

Hi Rob, You may find 'Section 3 : Door Closing Devices' of the Code of Practice : Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors useful. http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf

Hi David, A flat entrance door opening onto a common area should be a FD30s door so that the common corridor/hall/lobby area is protected in-case of a fire inside the flat. This is so that people may escape safely using the common area without it being compromised by the effects of smoke and fire. The door must have a BS EN 1154 compliant self-closing device that has been successfully fire performance tested on a FD30 fire door of the type installed at your flat. The door should have a lock / latch fitted that enables key-less egress from inside the flat. If you can find out which company manufactured the fire door you can ask them about the type of lock that may be fitted as well as its position at the locking stile. Some fire doors have a lock-block and installation of the lock is then limited to a defined location. More information in the LGA document Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Fire safety in purpose built flats.pdf and LACORS guidance https://www.rla.org.uk/landlord/guides/housing_act/lacors_fire_safety.shtml

The flat entrance doors should be FD30s fire doors as they open onto common areas.They should give protection against fire and smoke spread from inside the flat to the common areas, in a fire. The common areas must be protected against fire and smoke spread so that people may safely escape in a fire. In some cases (with flats) there may be a stay-put policy in which case the flat entrance door should provide protection until such time as the fire can be dealt with and/or the person(s) evacuated. Check out the local government publication 'Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats' http://www.local.gov.uk/fire-safety-purpose-built-flats and LACORS guidance for fire safety in flats https://www.rla.org.uk/docs/LACORSFSguideApril62009.PDF You could also contact your local Fire and Rescue service for advice or contact a fire door inspector.

Hi Marie, The doors are fire doors with smoke protection because building regulations (approved document B) say they need to be. When closed they should provide protection from fire and smoke spread so that in a fire somebody on the upper floor should be able to safely escape, passing a fire in a room in a lower floor, using the staircase. Most designs of timber door are also available as FD30(s) fire doors. Fire doors are 44mm thick whereas standard doors are only 35mm or 40mm so you would have to alter the door frame accordingly. With this in mind and the fire and smoke protection issue I can't think of any reason to fit non fire doors instead. All the best with your home improvements!

Hi CherylH, You don't say if the work you are doing is subject to building regulations? What I can tell you is that not all timber fire doors are suitable to be used as a pair. Fire doors are fire performance tested for certain configurations (double leaf, single leaf, single swing action, double swing etc) so my advice would be to make sure you purchase fire doors that have evidence of fire performance where used as a pair of double doors. Don't forget to correctly fit the cold smoke seals too.

Hi Gavin, Tom is correct. Generally, for FD30s doors intumescent fire seals may be interrupted at the hinge blades and latch positions. Ask the joiner why he has removed the certification labels because you are correct the label must be remain intact and indeed there are limits for planing / trimming door edges on many fire doors. As a minimum I would insist that the installer provides fire performance certification from the fire door manufacturer. Going back to seals, make sure he has fitted the cold smoke seals correctly. In order to be effective the brush or blade (when fitted in the door frame reveal) must contact the opposing door edge. As above they may be interrupted for hinges and latches but there must be no gap between the seal brush or blade and the door edge itself.

Or you could fit a replacement self-closing device that incorporates closing speed/damping adjustment.

Hi Valerie, Its important that the self closing device is compliant to BS EN1154, fitted correctly and that the correct seals are used and installed correctly. You can find help and advice in you area by contacting a CertFDI qualified Fire Door Inspector www.fdis.co.uk/inspector