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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1247052236 Message started by Sandy on Jul 8^th, 2009, 12:23pm

Title: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by Sandy on Jul 8^th, 2009, 12:23pm

Hi all,

Couple of questions about the tolerances for fire doors.

1) Are the sections of the building regs that cover fire rated doors and frames the same measurements/tolerances the same for business premises AND domestic dwellings?

2) Can anyone tell me where abouts I can find the most up to date section with the measurements/tolerances in there?

The reason I ask is that at work, our office arranged for some new storage areas to be built with 2hr fire rated doors at the entrances, which were only fitted in the last 2 months. However, since then a fire inspection (conducted by an external company and not by the Fire Brigade) has highlighted that the gaps around the doors are "too big" and have failed.

The company that fitted them usually do a top job and and with the firm I work for being on the large side, I can't help thinking the company who have conducted the inspection (not enlisted by me) are taking the p1ss and seeing the dollar signs flashing in front of them. So, I want to check their findings myself before considering £5k on remedial works or getting the joiners who fitted the doors back in to rectify.

Thanks for any advice.

Title: Re: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Jul 8^th, 2009, 11:39pm

here is a link to the BWF data sheet...you will need to enlargen, but basically a 3mm gap (+/- 1MM) and max 10MM to base or less!!

http://www.bwf.org.uk/fileadmin/documents/fdd/Fire_Door_maintenance_leaflet.pdf

hope this helps... and as for domestic/commercial,,, its a fire door where ever it is!!! so one hat status!!

Title: Re: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by CWatters on Jul 9^th, 2009, 10:34am

£5K sounds a lot to fit an intumescent strip to close the gap...or is there more to it than that?

Title: Re: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by Sandy on Jul 9^th, 2009, 7:42pm

Thanks for that TW. I was thinking about 3mm from my college days a good few moons ago, but didn't know if it had changed at all.

CW, yeah there's about 14 doors the "expert" found. He's quoted to replace the doors and fit intumescent strips.

Me thinks I'll be checking the gaps myself. The thing that confuses me is that the building has only been built 5years and no one's picked it up before!

Title: Re: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by Zambezi on Jul 9^th, 2009, 10:48pm

Jobsworth springs to mind...

Title: Re: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by woodsmith on Jul 10^th, 2009, 7:36am

The company that found the gaps is the one that will fix them for £5K;

That smells a bit fishy, in fact it stinks of fish.

Can you not get the BCO in to confirm then, if you need to, get the original firm back to sort it, covers your back if anything goes wrong?

Title: Re: Fire Doors - Maximum Tolerances
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Jul 10^th, 2009, 7:41am

contact the company i linked too, and get on of their FREE tester pieces/mirrors (mirror so you can see the label-legal requirement)

and use the tester to check your selves... it is a legal tool!