Fire rated Letterbox slot installed in FD30 door - implications

[Fezmarelda]

Hi, 

Does the installation of an appropriately fire rated letterbox into an apartment front fire door (FD30) automatically undermine the FD30 door certification rating if the original test certificate was based on no letterbox slot installed?  

Even if the letterbox slot is certified fire rated and has been installed into said door accordingly?  

Would this not actually become a nominal FD30 in the absences of a specific test certificate of said specific door and letterbox combination? Given that both door and letterbox slot are fire rated - and installed accordingly ? Vs deemed non compliant?

Thanks in advance

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

The installer should consult the certification data sheet / technical manual for that particular make and type of door leaf before cutting the aperture and fitting the fire & smoke rated letter plate.  Where the relevant document does not permit such a letter plate, then the door manufacturer technical dept should be consulted. 

Where a letter plate has been fitted to a door where one is not permitted - this would be a 'non-compliance'.  It would not become a Nominal Fire Door. 

[Fezmarelda]

H Neil, 

These are the doors originally installed at the time of construction, with letter boxes in situ, my understanding is fire-rated letter boxes as the original inspection didn’t deem them an issue … (until after a secondary inspection - required due to errors of original inspection measurements came to light - by same company). The company is now saying the doors do not comply as they have letterboxes and no test certificate supporting such.  They were provided as door sets from manufacturer and the complex built in circa 2007/8 (phase 1) and 2011/12 (phase 2)

There is test document of the door with a different letterbox type in situ (where that letterbox failed but the door carried on and passed with the test being stopped after 32 minutes) such that the inspectors are now saying the door fails with the actual existing letterbox that was in situ at construction. (these actual existing are fire rated)  

I wasn’t referring to retrofitting a letterbox to a fire door aftersales which is what I think your response may think I was meaning.  

Please can you confirm in light of above.  

Thanks

[Neil Ashdown MAFDI]

In the light of this information, I would suggest you contact the fire door inspector for the details of compliant letter plates. You would then be able to contact the letter plate supplier(s) for evidence of performance, price and availability. Then check compliance again with the fire door inspector before placing any orders.