Do I need a fire door on my kitchen?

alexanderalexander

I'm getting my 2nd/3rd floor maisonette refurbished. My builder mentioned that my kitchen should have a fire door. Is this correct (according to building regulations)? It didn't sound right to me, and I'd much prefer not to have a fire door there if at all possible (due to cost and style).

Sedge123

As far as I am aware to comply with building regs you should have a fire door on every inhabited room, excluding those such as toilets. We have a fire door from howdens on ours- exactly the same style and look as our other doors but just a fire door. You couldn't tell which was a fire door and which wasn't unless you tried to pick them up!!

david1951

I'd have thought that's the most important room to have one?!

Norman_Castle

I live in a flat converted in the 1970s. Every internal door, including cupboards, excluding the bathroom is a fire door with a Perko door closer. In the 70s this was a requirement. Current regulations for my property type specify only the final exit door needs to be a fire door with other internal doors being close fitting and good quality.
Fire regulations are complex and get updated. A fire door has to have a closing mechanism. These are a pain to live with and best avoided where possible.
If you don't want a fire door check the regulations carefully. Don't take the builders word about it.

mishkanorman

We just added a new kitchen in an extension and there was no need for a fire door between the room and the rest of the house.

gwynhughes

No need for a fire door in your kitchen, I've just completed a new build and only needed a fire door between my garage and my utility!


Unless of course it's connected to the garage

pinkpiglit

You might need one of the kitchen is on the 3rd floor and there are other rooms which mean you need to walk past the entrance to the kitchen in order to exit the floor.

Summer_Dreams

If you have a loft conversion which it sounds like you do you'll need all doors to be firedoors! I did and even need a firedoors In the kitchen that leads to the garage!

PasturesNew

I've seen many on Homes under the Hammer that didn't have one.

Another way to look at it is this: if there is a fire in your kitchen area, can you get out of the door to the hallway if you're up/awake, or if you're asleep and get woken by the fire?

If the kitchen's between you and the exit route then it's imperative that you have one.

I've seen conversions on HutH that didn't, bizarrely.

FreeBear

Summer_Dreams wrote: »

...and even need a firedoors In the kitchen that leads to the garage!

A fire door between a garage and the rest of the adjoining house is essential regardless of what else has been done. The garage often contains highly combustible materials - Think car with a full tank of fuel and a red hot catalytic converter.

A fire door between the kitchen and the rest of the house - Probably a good idea, but wouldn't work for those open plan living designs where the cooking area is part of the dining/lounge area.