Can the fire door and frame have fire door seals?

[Guest Eugene]

I have a question about intumescent seals.A friend of mine gave me a fire door with 15mm grooves routed already on it. My door frame has got 10mm grooves routed already as well. So would it be appropriate if I have both door and frame fitted with itumescent seals, say door with a fire seal,frame with a fire and smoke seal, at the same time

[Tom Sutton]

Very unusual but I cannot see any reason why you cannot have seals in the door and frame providing they do not interfere with each other.

[Sally H]

If a fire doorset with intumescent seals in the grooves of both the door and the frame is subjected to the furnace test under BS 476: 22, the pressure exerted by the seals might be so excessive as to force the door open. This advice is from the Intumescent Fire Seals Association (IFSA), who recommend that one of the grooves be filled in. It is possible to purchase an empty plastic seal casing, which can be used as a filler; alternatively, for a timber doorset, a hardwood filler for the door or hard or softwood for the frame would be appropriate. For further advice and technical guidance visit: www.ifsa.org.uk

[Tom Sutton]

I stand corrected and if this is the advice of the IFSA who I am I to argue, we learn something all the time.

[Guest AndrewTom]

please could you advise minimum rebate dimenisons for 30 minute redwood door casings. many thanks andrew

[Tom Sutton]

This will be determined by the test (BS 476 part 22), the test uses a fire door set which is the door and frame and the frame should be a similar specification as the test frame. However nowadays it is usually 12 mm rebates, the 25 mm rebates were under the part 8 test which is now redundant. Check out any documentation that accompanied the fire door.