Building Regulations & Fire Doors

[pompey1939]

Our building regulations for a new loft extension say nothing of changing all the first floor doors to fire doors (it just says putting closers on them all & 2 hard wired smoke detectors)) but the Building Inspector has said this is necessary.

Has anyone had this problem before?

Does anyone know of a way of UPGRADING original doors to satisfy new fire regulation requirements as we do not want to lose the original 1930's doors.

Thanks in advance

[Ethel]

The Inspector is right. When I had this work done ALL doors opening on to the staircase and hallway, including the downstairs doors, had to be replaced.

"The only internal doors opening onto staircases that may have glazing which is not fire resisting and do not need to be fire resisting are doors into bathrooms or toilets."

"The condition of existing doors and door frames must be assessed. If they do not provide at least 20 minutes fire resistance, they must be replaced with doors capable of achieving at least 20 minutes fire resistance."

http://tinyurl.com/ywvcav


As far as I know, existing doors can be 'fireproofed' but it is horrendously expensive and they will look different, so it is quite pointless.

[buildersmate]

Good answer. Its 30 minutes fire protection, not 20.

[arclight]

Building regs have changed now. As a rough outline, if you add a third floor to a house, all the doors accessing the stairwell need to be fire doors, but as it stands at the moment they need only be 20 minute fire doors. Requirements for closers have also changed, they're only required on 30 minute doors, such as doors that access a garage.

Building control usually accept a 20 minute door as being a thirty minute door with no intumescent fire and smoke seals, although there is a conflict between building control and door manufacturers as no one will certify a fire door without fire and smoke seals.

Paints and varnishes are available to upgrade existing panelled doors, and they don't alter the look of the door in any way. We do a lot of work on old buildings in York, and the vast majority involve working with doors more than 200 years old. But it does depend on the construction of the door, so you will need to contact someone for advice.

You can contact us on www.jssupplies.net. We cover Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, but it if your outside our area we can put you in touch with someone closer