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Waynesullivan  
#1 Posted : 08 October 2024 15:43:34(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Waynesullivan

After some advice please re fire door compliance. Our site has had a new steel framed 'cabin' built adjacent an existing brick built 'bungalow' for want of a better word. Both buildings will be linked - both buildings having Inedependent doors that align with the other. A building control directive says the door on the brick built building must be fire resisting also (the buildings are a little over 1x metre apart - the link is supposed to facilitate children's activities simultaneously.) If I might add both buildings have alternative fire escape routes - so my question is; why would building control insist on both of these doors being fire resisting if the occupants can readily use other escape routes within their respective buildings? Appreciate any guidance - thanks.
Kate  
#2 Posted : 08 October 2024 16:08:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Because a fire or smoke could spread from one building into the other, and fire doors will give the occupants of the other building time to evacuate before this happens.

The point about fire resisting doors and evacuation isn't that you go though them to evacuate (the doors on an evacuation route might or might not be fire doors), but that the evacuation route is protected by the fire doors.  You shouldn't be evacuating through smoke and fire if the fire hasn't started in the compartment you are in - you should be evacuating on a route protected from smoke and fire.

thanks 2 users thanked Kate for this useful post.
KaranIOSH on 08/10/2024(UTC), Roundtuit on 09/10/2024(UTC)
Messey  
#3 Posted : 09 October 2024 05:13:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Messey

I have decided years ago that I give up trying to understand how both my wife and Building Control come to their decisions. Instead I either just get on with it or ask them why. I find that Building Control are usually happier to explain their rationale than Mrs Messey is !!

Without knowing much more about the building(s) concerned, it's difficult to comment with any certainty. It is possible that as they are one metre apart - albeit linked - BC have treated them as different buildings. Or perhaps different purpose groups? That would attract enhanced fire resistance between the structures.

Is it much of a problem (other than cost)? Assuming you have automatic fire detection installed, perhaps the door could be held open on a magnetic door holder or similar as you may not want kids to be constantly opening/closing the heavy fire door ??

Roundtuit  
#4 Posted : 09 October 2024 07:41:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

shallsamber REPORTED - spam hyperlink

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
peter gotch on 09/10/2024(UTC), peter gotch on 09/10/2024(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#5 Posted : 09 October 2024 07:41:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

shallsamber REPORTED - spam hyperlink

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
peter gotch on 09/10/2024(UTC), peter gotch on 09/10/2024(UTC)
firesafety101  
#6 Posted : 09 October 2024 15:40:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

Just to clarify Fire Resisting Doors are designed to prevent fire spread inside a building for a set period of time. i.e. 20,30,60 minutes.  They are usually installed inside premises to make a compartment stopping fire spread between compartments.

Fire Exit doors are positioned on escape routes to allow persons to escape from a fire within the premises.  

The two are not the same although a fire door can be used as a Fire Exit door but not the other way round.

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