Doors and closers

[Guest]

I have risk assessed my property that consists of a basement and sub-basement approx max travel distance of 17m single access. I use the building as a language school and I am about to install a linked smoke detection system with a detector in each room as well as emergency lighting within the corridor area. Do I need to alter all my corridor doors or do the other measures reduce the requirement for 1/2 hour fire resistance.?.

What if I just fitted door closers and left the doors?. :rolleyes:

[colin todd]

sounds good to me

[wee brian]

Oh no - I'm agreeing with Colin again. The idea of using fire resisting construction on dead end coridors is to allow people to escape past a room that is on fire.

If you have good early warning the need for fire resistance, as such, is much reduced. The real problem is smoke.

So long as the doors are shut and there are no holes in the walls (check above the false ceiling) you will be providing a reasonable level of safety.

[colin todd]

Then there is hope for your department yet then wee b. (But not much.)

[Guest]

I tell all my inspecting officers forget FR in dead end corridors. Ensure AFD in rooms off the corridor and ensure people react to the alarm. Job done.

[colin todd]

Duh, you do remember to tell them to make doors s/c don't you?

[Guest]

yes of course. However it can be argued that even that may not be necessary in all cases. Given the usually small nature of these rooms, height above door to ceiling (reservoir) early detection, small travel distance, management and reaction and whats available at the junction of the dead end etc etc etc.