Fire door remedial works

[Guest Ben]

Could you please help with some questions on a door survey that was done in our office. The report came back and said

 

1). we need door closers on 1/2 leaf. the door is locked with x2 bolts & has a keep locked sign. Are closers needed?

 

2). A couple of doors have maglocks that have been bolted through the door. There is no information on the door. The inspector recommends new doors as there is an integrity breach. Can maglocks be removed & door repaired?

[AnthonyB]

1 - No, it sounds like the exit width is provided via the full door and, as is common, the half leaf is for where extra width is temporarily needed, e.g. moving large items/furniture, hence why it's bolted. If the full leaf and a half was required for escape width as sometimes is the case then the half door would/should have no bolts and a self closer.

2- I'll let the forum's fire door specialist address this next time he logs on

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

Q2). A couple of doors have maglocks that have been bolted through the door. There is no information on the door. The inspector recommends new doors as there is an integrity breach. Can maglocks be removed & door repaired?   ( 2- I'll let the forum's fire door specialist address this next time he logs on  ) :

A)  There are some timber-based fire door / magnetic lock combinations that do have evidence of fire resistance performance.  So, it may not be appropriate for the mag-locks to be removed / fire doors replaced - it would depend on the type of door leaf construction and the type of mag-lock.  I would advise that first a risk assessment should be carried out to evaluate the risk to life safety and building safety were the fire doors to fail to provide their ultimate fire resistance performance as designed.    Where the risk is untenable and a certificated solution is required then the fire doors should be replaced with a set that are suitable for mag-locks.   If the mag-locks are no longer required and it is felt that the doors do not require certification and can be repaired  - then the repairs to the door leaves and frame should be made to a joinery standard using suitable hardwood tightly fitted with no holes, gaps or voids.

[Guest Leanne Facilities Manager]

Hello Neil Ashdown,

I hope you're well.

Please can you help, I've had a mag lock removed from a fire door as it was no longer required, obviously leaving a hole penetrating right through the door. I've had a bolt fitted with fire proof sealant by the security door contractor, will this still pass a fire risk assessment as the bolt is tight with no gaps or voids or would it require a new fire door?

I look forward to hearing from you.

[Mike North]

If the MAG lock is fire rated, pit the lock back and leave it unlocked

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

If there is a hole penetrating through the thickness of the timber-based door leaf, then I would make a repair by using tightly fitting hardwood dowel and urea formaldehyde based adhesive.