Internal Fire Doors ??

sethsgran

Hi. We live in a 3 storey house, loft conversion. We are wanting to change our internal doors but not sure if they need to be fire doors or not. We have wired smoke detectors fit already in the hall and on both landings. Am I right in saying that all habitable rooms that lead directly from the stairs need to have fire doors or has this changed. One suggestion has been fire door closures but not sure of this. We don't have a linked garage so no need for a fire door there.

dominoman

Surely just fit the doors you want to fit. It's not as if you're going to get building control in to check them.

I'd fit fire doors if it will make you feel better. As you already have good smoke detectors if you think normal doors are OK (as i would) then do that

sethsgran

Good point. I am a worrier, my husband isn't. We are planning other work, internally and just want it to be right and not waste money either. Thanks for your help.

zorber

Yes when we had our loft conversion done, building regs made us change all internal doors leading on to the stairs or hall way to fire doors. I did say whats the point as if theres a fire the fire doors are not going to be much good as I cant get out of the windows anyway regardless to the fact they may keep out the fire for 30 minutes.

Doozergirl

Building regulations dictate fire doors.

You don't need automatic closers, that requirement was removed.

Better safe than sorry, in my view. Fire doors are heavier and can give a feel of quality anyway.

Mr.Generous

It would depend when your home became 3 story, building regs never apply retrospectively. Fire doors are heavier because they have a fireproof sandwich in the middle, basically a piece of plasterboard!! Personally Id want to protect my family, three story home makes it harder to jump out of a window if its on fire and your on the top floor. If you didn't have fire doors previously you probably need better hinges too. New builds have intumescent strips in the frame too.

PheoUK

The point is to compartmentalise the fire and either prevent the fire compromising you means of escape (eg blocking it into the kitchen or lounge), or in the event of it being the the hallway, to give enough time for the fire brigade to get you out.

Personally I'd go fire doors for piece of mind on a three story. Just make sure you close them at night otherwise it's pointless.

sethsgran

Thanks everyone. Excellent thoughts.

dominoman

If you're just replacing existing doors (and not doing a major internal renovation or loft conversion) then there is no requirement to put in fire doors.

I'd rather have enough loud smoke alarms.

kie-ade

PheoUK wrote: »

The point is to compartmentalise the fire and either prevent the fire compromising you means of escape (eg blocking it into the kitchen or lounge), or in the event of it being the the hallway, to give enough time for the fire brigade to get you out.

Personally I'd go fire doors for piece of mind on a three story. Just make sure you close them at night otherwise it's pointless.

This^^^^


The Building Regulations are usually the minimum standards considered necessary. I wouldn't try to avoid meeting them where my families safety is concerned.


It's also more than possible that a future purchaser's surveyor will spot that fire doors aren't installed. This could cause problems & delays with the sale.

sethsgran

I guess my concern is based round the fact that we know that probably within the next 3-5 years we will move. Our family have now married and moved on. So apart from all our grandchildren coming for sleepovers we have 4 spare bedrooms. A luxury I never imagined when they were all little. It seems the right time to make sure they are done right.