Stable Doors

[Mushy]

Hi

I have a feeling this question has been asked before (maybe by me  )but has anyone ever come across a stable type door that was a fire door?

[BLEVE]

Dont see the point in having such a door as a fire door. Is it an existing/nominal door or are there any markings or certification available.]
If it is intended to be held open, how do any electronic devices result in door closure? 

[nearlythere]

Hi

I have a feeling this question has been asked before (maybe by me  )but has anyone ever come across a stable type door that was a fire door?

Yes Mushy albeit in the CLG Guide to horsie hotels where such protection is recommended in a dead end condition.
Being of the equestrian type, by hobby rather than looks, I can assure you that it would be extremely unlikely to the extent of not happening for a horse owner to enclose a stable to fire resistance to include a fire door. Horses are gregarious creatures and would be distressed if isolated from the day to day activities of stable life.
I would doubt that the stables in Buck House would ever be fire resisting be they in a dead end or otherwise and of course one cannot prosecute ones self, can one?

[kurnal]

Hi Frank
I have seen many conversions - often used for kitchen serving hatches ( heaven forbid)and office receptions.  Such conversions are a real gamble and rely on a solid fire door blank but who is to say there is sufficient structural integrity at the centre of the door once it is split in two? Invariably some kind of rebate is required at the centre so the top half pushes the bottom  half to close. This type of overlapping rebate is particularly vulnerable to warping. Any warping effect is amplified by the rebate.

The bottom line is unless you can find one with a test certificate dont do it. Certifire say they are available in their literature so someone must have tested one at some time.

[MPC]

 The doors are only the same as normal , only with the leaf vertical, so why cant they be certificated

[kurnal]

They can and are subject to BS476 testing and if they pass a certificate will be issued. BWF Certifire say they are available - I havn't looked.

But as door manufacturers specifiy how much can be trimmed from the periphery of the door without negating the certification,  sawing  a standard door in half is much more significant. 

My hypothesis is as follows.

Common sense suggests that even if the door has the necessary structure to withstand a cut across the centre  (How would anybody tell?) then the temperature gradient from top to bottom of the each half of the door will be half that of a full size door. The top part is likely to be exposed to a higher heat flux than the bottom half. The top half is likely to warp more than the bottom half and the joint between the two will be critical.  Inevitably it will be rebated to enable a door closer fitted to the top half to push the bottom half shut. This rebate will exacerbate any gaps caused by warping.

But I never say never- indeed I have recommended stable type fire doors in a couple of specific  and unique situations.

[Mr. P]

Yep! seen many. If they are authentic (not hotch potch bodges) And the management is sound. No big problem. They are often used where window type counters are not possible, small recptions, etc.

[Mushy]

Thanks for all your replies...I'll let you know the scenario later