Fire doors shape

[FRAN1870]

Hi all,

For my loft conversion the main door into the bedroom will either need to be pretty narrow 600 or have the corner shaved off a 686

As this needs to be a firedoor then can crop the corner ? Like the attached

Thanks in advance

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Your only way of getting approval is by starting off with a 'fire door blank' (google it) which is designed to be trimmed like this. Any other fire door is no longer compliant once you chop a bit off.

Though you could speak with your BCO, he may allow you to trim a bit off a standard door.

 

[FRAN1870]

Thanks Freddie, do you mean then dress the door with quadrant etc so it looks like a 6 panel

Question - Are solid doors in a FD frame with intumescent strips compliant ?

 

[Doggit]

It depends what you mean by a solid door. The FD frame is just pine, and it's what the fire door is made of that make it resistant to a fire for the specified amount of time. The intumescent strips can go into the frame, or the door, so if you were to cut the corner off of a 686 wide door, you'd need to add a wooden strip to that corner to either allow the intumescent strip to go back in, or at least to make good the door.

 

[FRAN1870]

Solid pine ? My friend is having a refurb and changing all his doors so I can get some cheap

Would these doors and an FD frame with strips be ok ? Or do I need proper fire doors

 

[Doggit]

Sorry Fran, the solid pine doors would last about 10 minutes; unless you could get the BC to agree to a few coats of fireproof paint - but I doubt it.

 

[FRAN1870]

Fair enough .... I'm happy to meet whatever is required. Looks like a 600mm door

 

[Doggit]

No, if you're woodworking skills are good enough, go for the 686 door, then you can get wider things in the room. By the time you've added the door stops on to the frame, you'll be down to about 570mm, maybe even less. BC won't worry about the corner as long as it's made good.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It depends what you mean by a solid door. The FD frame is just pine, and it's what the fire door is made of that make it resistant to a fire for the specified amount of time. The intumescent strips can go into the frame, or the door, so if you were to cut the corner off of a 686 wide door, you'd need to add a wooden strip to that corner to either allow the intumescent strip to go back in, or at least to make good the door.

No that's incorrect advice, once you cut the corner off of a standard fire door it loses its integrity and is no longer a fire door irrespective of whether you add a capping.

Fran, in theory the same applies if you add various beads or profiles to a blank but maybe your BCO will allow it, I doubt it though as she's an arse.

 

[Doggit]

Sorry Freddy, I assumed that she'd be using a blank, and as they are just fire resistant composition with a wooden capping round them, then you're just changing the shape, not it's integrity.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Why are you awake at this unearthly hour?

 

[Doggit]

Couldn't sleep. Came downstairs for a couple of drinks, and to update a few things for my daughters future. And you?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Couple of drinks? At 6 in the morning?

I went for a good run last night so had to have a super early night but now I'm wide awake though ache all over. Oh well kids'll be stirring soon.

 

[Doggit]

Got to bed at 1, but lay there dozing till 4, got up and switched the computer and TV on and poured myself a couple of southern comforts. I live on my own, and my running days are over, so back off to bed soon.

 

[FRAN1870]

Anyway .. About this door lol

So basically I can only use a 600 6 panel door unless the BCO agrees to cut the corner off.

Thanks for the advice, I'll leave you to your cornflakes drenched in tenants extra