Thermal fire door

MisterNick

HI,
I currently have a fire door between the utility room and the garage. I would like to replace the door and frame.
I thought I would look at insulated fire doors, but what I have found are a big step up in terms of price. Thermal fire door - v - fire door is >£1k difference.
Am I overthinking it? 

CliveOfIndia

Obviously you need an appropriately-rated fire door to comply with building regs.

A thermal door will also prevent a lot of heat loss (in the ordinary, every-day, non-emergency situation).  It's up to you whether you go for the more expensive thermally-insulated version - but it could save you a fair bit in heating bills over the long term, as well as making the utility room feel a lot less cold.  Assuming your garage is similar to mine, i.e. absolutely freezing in the winter!

If you've maybe already upgraded/insulated your garage so it's not actually too bad in terms of temperature then a thermal door may not be necessary.  Though obviously you do still need to ensure it has the appropriate fire-rating.

MisterNick

CliveOfIndia said:

Obviously you need an appropriately-rated fire door to comply with building regs.

A thermal door will also prevent a lot of heat loss (in the ordinary, every-day, non-emergency situation).  It's up to you whether you go for the more expensive thermally-insulated version - but it could save you a fair bit in heating bills over the long term, as well as making the utility room feel a lot less cold.  Assuming your garage is similar to mine, i.e. absolutely freezing in the winter!

If you've maybe already upgraded/insulated your garage so it's not actually too bad in terms of temperature then a thermal door may not be necessary.  Though obviously you do still need to ensure it has the appropriate fire-rating.

Thanks for the reply. I think we will probably go for the thermal door as it's an investment for the longer term. It was just that there was such a big difference in cost for the thermal addition that it seemed disproportionate.

womble12345

Could you just go for a UPVC double glazed door instead? A bit like a back door. Thats what I plan on doing to the door between my kitchen and garage.

CliveOfIndia

womble12345 said:

Could you just go for a UPVC double glazed door instead? A bit like a back door. Thats what I plan on doing to the door between my kitchen and garage.

Would that meet the fire regulations?  I know modern building regs are fairly strict about having a fire-retardant (or whatever the correct term is) door if you've got a garage that's attached to the main house - for fairly obvious reasons.

MisterNick

Building regs aren't involved in this aspect, but there is a fire door there at the moment.
I can get a fire door for £2-300 which would be suitable, and I would probably refit or replace the frame.
The problem is more that I currently get drafts and as the garage is not heated I get cold through it. 
My idea was to have a fire door that is insulated, and it is for that that I am looking at an increase of over £1,000, which surprised me. The UPVC idea would not meet fire regs, and  would also be about £5-700.
I've had a slight change of mind and may just go for a conventional fire door that looks good and hope the better fit etc. cuts down on heat loss

FreeBear

MisterNick said: Building regs aren't involved in this aspect, but there is a fire door there at the moment.

Building Regulations still apply even if you don't involve Building Control.

There was a change in legislation recently that allow councils 10 years to serve enforcement notices on any non-compliant work.

Draughts coming in around a fire door is going to compromise its effectiveness in the event of a fire. So replacing it with a better fitting one will pay dividends even if it isn't fully insulated one. Even so, the core of a standard fire door does provide a fair degree of insulation (one I took apart was filled with a cork slab).

womble12345

CliveOfIndia said:

womble12345 said:

Could you just go for a UPVC double glazed door instead? A bit like a back door. Thats what I plan on doing to the door between my kitchen and garage.

Would that meet the fire regulations?  I know modern building regs are fairly strict about having a fire-retardant (or whatever the correct term is) door if you've got a garage that's attached to the main house - for fairly obvious reasons.

I hadnt considered that, what about a composite door (ie a front door) as they must be fire rated as people have them as their front door on blocks of flats and they must be compliant with fire regs.

CliveOfIndia

womble12345 said:

CliveOfIndia said:

womble12345 said:

Could you just go for a UPVC double glazed door instead? A bit like a back door. Thats what I plan on doing to the door between my kitchen and garage.

Would that meet the fire regulations?  I know modern building regs are fairly strict about having a fire-retardant (or whatever the correct term is) door if you've got a garage that's attached to the main house - for fairly obvious reasons.

I hadnt considered that, what about a composite door (ie a front door) as they must be fire rated as people have them as their front door on blocks of flats and they must be compliant with fire regs.

A "standard" front door doesn't have to be fire-rated if fitted to a stand-alone house, but in flats they do need to be - in certain configurations (all the details are easily available online, but that's the nub of it).  But in the situation as described by the OP (garage opening into a "habitable space") then a fire door is required.  So for that, you'd need to make sure that any door you fitted met the regs.

Upzeecreek

I've looked into this with the idea of putting a composite door for utility into garage. I've looked at an Endurance door. They only do the fire compliant door in 1 style unfortunately. The cost last year came back at £2600. They are well made doors. 
I was told by the door company that since the Grenfell fire that many door manufacturers have stopped producing fire doors. 

FreeBear

Try Latham's - Their doors feature a 19 point locking system and a high security lock.

Got one of their doors here, and it looks & feels much more secure than a standard uPVC/composite one. Being a steel skin, even the standard doors are inherently fire resistant (in my opinion).