Care Home Fire Doors

[hmcb1976]

Evening all, can anyone clarify where specifically it says cross corridor fire doors in a care home have to be 60min fire rated? Builder has told me this.

Thanks all 👍

[AnthonyB]

It doesn't as far as I am aware, all reference is to 'at least 30 minutes'. Unless the specific building's fire strategy specifies otherwise (perhaps due to layout) I would expect 30 minutes as the PHE approach usually relies on 2 x 30 minute, not 1 x 60 minute door, with the room of fire origin & the cross corridor door forming the protection.

I'd take information from builders with a pinch of salt from experience!

[hmcb1976]

My thoughts entirely Anthony!! Thanks for the reply and confirming my suspicions !! 👍

[Crusher]

Worth checking that the cross corridor doors in question are not across the compartment line. In that case they would need to be 60.

Worth a check.

[hmcb1976]

Hi Crusher,

Can you confirm what you mean by the compartment line? These cross corridor doors are enclosing a group of bedrooms so would be compartmental doors.

[AnthonyB]

Usually the sub compartments for PHE use 30 minutes FR with defend in place bedrooms being 60 minutes - however the fire strategy is useful to consult as the size and layout of the site may have required a 60 minute compartment and doors, although most care homes aren't that big, it's when you are looking at a hospital size premises or a home appended to a larger site where you may see them.

No two buildings are the same so we can only give a broad idea on here.

[hmcb1976]

Ah yes, understand you now. As you say every building is different, this is an old care home so no chance of finding the fire strategy unfortunately!
Thanks for your answers

[Dinnertime Dave]

Is the builder referring to care homes in general or a specific building. If it is all care homes then the builder is mistaken.

I have come across ground floor bedrooms in a care home that had vulnerable, immobile residents, the rooms had patio doors to outside and the and 60 minutes protection to the corridor including the doors. It simply gave staff more time to get the resident ready to move.

[hmcb1976]

He was referring to care homes only.

[Crusher]

Hi Crusher,

Can you confirm what you mean by the compartment line? These cross corridor doors are enclosing a group of bedrooms so would be compartmental doors.

Hi hmcb1976, I was referring to a compartment line created for horizontal evacuation. Not enough information for me to be more specific, but as has been mentioned, these are usually more prevalent and obvious in larger and purpose built premises.