10
Existing panel doors less than 32mm in thickness
1. In addition to the recommendations for panel doors in excess of 32mm indicated above, if it is
intended to retain doors less than 32mm in thickness a proprietary solution should be sought to
upgrade the door. This may include the application of fire resistance materials to the panels and
stiles on the room side of the door.
Such doors can be provided with a certificate from a specialist supplies confirming their
upgraded suitability.
2. Alternatively, the door can be upgraded, on the room side, by infilling the panel with a fire
resistant board and applying a similar board glued and screwed over the entire door.
Hardboard flush doors
Existing hardboard or other lightweight flush doors are not considered adequate to provide a
reasonable level of fire protection to a stair enclosure and should be replaced with FD20 doors in
accordance with the recommendations of the approved document.
Internal fire spread (structural)
Normally a floor in a three storey property will require a full 30 minutes fire resistance. However, provided the
following conditions are satisfied, namely:
1. Only one storey is being added;
2. The new storey contains no more than 2 habitable rooms, and;
3. The total area of the new storey does not exceed 50m2;
Then the existing first floor may have a modified 30mins fire resistance in places where the floor only
separates rooms (not stairways or landings).
External fire spread
Occasionally dormer cheeks, and gable ends that are built as a result of the conversion and may be in close
proximity to the boundary. In this instance additional precautions will be required to improve the fire resistance
(30 minutes fire resistance required) internally and externally of the new construction.
Think of the space and leave the rest to us