Would triple glazed glass be 30mins fireproof??

[KITTENSMUM]

Hi,

Apologies if any of this constitutes daft questions.

I am currently in the process of rennovating a property and have been advised by my local building reulations department that I need to have a 30 Minutes fire proof door. My property is a first floor flat so the front door goes onto a landing and stairs which are effectively a common area with the flat downstairs.
 
I had already purchased a door which is made of mixed material construction, using wood, man-made materials and real wood veneers and is approx 3.2cm in depth. It also has three small window features made with triple glazed toughened glass to BS6206 Class A.
 
I have asked the Building Regulations department if I could keep this door were it to be treated with an intumescent product and they have said that they would be happy for me to do so provided that I can provide certification as to the quality of the intumescent product from the supplier.
However, when I mentioned the glazing the Inspector was unsure whether this would prevent the door from meeting standards.

In case any one is interested to see the size of the windows then attached is a link to the details of the door. http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/187531

Also - from what I've seen on other threads am I correct in saying that I will also need specialist hinges and intumescet seals?

Sorry for the laymans questions but my mum works in Control and said that this would be a good place to get some specific advice..

Kittensmum

[jokar]

You will need a fire door and from what you have described I do not believe that you can achieve a 30 minute standard which is a requirement.

[Pete M]

The door you have purchased is not a fire door so essentially you have a number options:

1) Take the door back and get a refund, then buy a fire door.
2) Use the intumescent coating you have desribed - the manufacturer will provide the certification required by Building Control and also guidance on application methods and rates.  The small window area may be acceptable by Building Controlled as a limited unprotected area.
3) Check whether the original door was a fire door - if not, you may well have an argument under Schedule 4 of the Building Regulations that you are not making the installation less safe than it already was.

The above has been much simplified but at least you are aware that you have a number of options to consider.

[KITTENSMUM]

Thanks Pete,

The original door was most definitely not a Fire Door - it was the original door from when the place was built in 1938 and was wooden but fairly flimsy & the glass was single glazed and in much larger panels..

I might go for option 2 treating the door and back it up with option 3 when speaking to building regs.

I do still have the receipt for the door and it is packaged so I could return it but having done a bit of looking around I've really struggled to find an attractive looking fire door for a reasonable price. There was a website I found that had some nice looking ones but they were circa £800!!

[kurnal]

The treatment will cost you about £60 for the varnish plus the extra work - and you need to uy and  install seals. Take another search on google for fire doors before making up your mind.

[Pete M]

Sound advice from Kurnal - you should be able to get a FR door for around £200 + VAT

[Fishy]

No such thing as 'unprotected area' on a fire door - if the glass goes (as it will, within 5-10 mins) then it's providing zero protection.  I really wouldn't waste my time trying to muck about with the doorset you've got.

Buy a fire door - www.doorwarehouse.co.uk do an extensive range.  You might even be able to get panels replaced with F/R glazing, but this must be done by a competent person - contact Certifire or TRADA (google for links) for more details.

[Pete M]

Another option, and again I am going to refer to not making any 'material changes' to the building or its use, is to check the doors of the other first floor flats.  If your original door was not a fire door and that can be backed up by other doors not being fire rated, the Approving Authority (Building Control) cannot insist that your new door comply with the current guidance.

This is bound to produce some backlash from other members here but we are talking practical and Building Regulations compliant options here, not 'nice to have' provisions.