did fire doors before 2000 require fire rated hinges?

[Guest BobAd]

Could you tell me if fire doors fitted in the year 2000 required fire rated hinges?

Many Thanks

Bob

[Tom Sutton]

Prior to BS EN 1935: 2002 fire doors required hinges in accordance with BS 8214:1990, now they have to meet the current British/European standard.

BS 8214:1990 states, Hinges fitted to fire doors should be non-combustible and should be selected to perform in accordance with BS 7352.

NOTE Some regulations also have a minimum melting point of 800°C requirement. (which means steel hinges)

The hinges selected should be adequate in numbers and performance for the use category, size and weight of door to be supplied and be compatible with the fire resistance of door and frame and with any self-closing device that may be fitted.

BS 7352:1990. Specification for strength and durability performance of metal hinges for side hanging applications and dimensional requirements for template drilled hinges.

Hinges with rising cams or quick action rising spindles should not be fitted to fire doors.

[george kawkabany]

Have a fire door fitted with hinges on which I read BS 72 52 8. Are these hinges approved for fire doors?

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

Its actually BS 7352 Grade 8 dating back from the 1990s.  In those days, prior to its replacement BS EN 1935 2002, that type of hinge would have been used for Fire Doors.  If the hinge is damaged or worn then replace all hinges on that door with their modern equivalent to BS EN 1935 minimum Grade 11

[DCcare]

If the hinges are ok can they be left in situ?

[Neil ashdown]

The hinges for an 'existing' fire door need to be made from a suitable material with a high melting point, be of suitable dimensions, have the correct screw fixings, be of suitable durability (for such a door leaf) and be in good serviceable condition.  You wouldn't necessarily change a hinge solely  because it is not to the latest standard.

[jackflanagan]

On 20/10/2019 at 07:12, Neil ashdown said:

The hinges for an 'existing' fire door need to be made from a suitable material with a high melting point, be of suitable dimensions, have the correct screw fixings, be of suitable durability (for such a door leaf) and be in good serviceable condition.  You wouldn't necessarily change a hinge solely  because it is not to the latest standard.

|Hi Neil,

any idea what good serviceable condition for hinges means? We have had a fire safety assessment carried out and they've suggested to potentially replace hinges. The only details they've given is that they're 'weeping'. This looks to me to just be old oil so could it not just be wiped off and lubricated?

 

any advice would be greatly appreciated,

 

Jack  

[Neil ashdown]

Remove the surplus oil.  Then monitor the condition of the hinges and where there is evidence of wear / separation at the bearings replace the complete set. http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf

[Guest Chris Jackson]

I have a flat in one of two purpose built flats (1 is 4 stories, the other 5 stories) built in 2001 just before BS1935 Grade 13 became applicable. The fire door hinges are all brass using 4 x 32mm screw fixings with 3 to a door but have no markings. We are being told by a fire expert who initially said it was urgent to replace all fire doors that now we only need to replace the hinges and add intumescent strips where necessary. There are in all 76 fire doors in the blocks of them have to be replaced. Currently they are all serviceable. All the doors have gaps of 4-6mm on various sides which would tend to suggest that was standard at the time. Only one of the 76 was found to be damaged.

Can someone advise what we should be doing as replacing over 200 hinges will be a considerable cost.

 

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

The gaps of 4mm to 6mm would most likely never have been compliant.  The current hinges may be compliant (with building regulations Approved Document B) where the melting point of the materials they are made from exceeds 800 deg C.  Each flat entrance door should be fitted with suitable smoke seals and intumescent edge seals.

So there are clearly some defects with the fire doors that may allow fire and smoke to spread from the flats and into the escape routes in a fire situation, before the minimum thirty minutes required by building regulations (ADB). 

The Fire Risk Assessor at the building should decide what remedial works should be undertaken and at what priority in terms of the fire strategy at the building.