My client, a letting agency, required an inspection of a sample of flat entrance doors to establish if they possessed the required half hour fire resistance etc. It was understood that a general fire risk assessment for the builidng had previously been undertaken and the risk assessor had correctly indicated that the flat entrance doors may not have the required fire performance.
There were 280 flats in the 1930′s complex (perhaps the largest of its kind in London) and the initial inspection involved a detailed examination of the doors, frames and door hardware for four flats (three were flush and one was panelled). Some of the contexts involved large corridor travel distances and it was vital that the flat entrance doors would not put other tenants at risk should there be a fire in a flat. The inspection involved consideration of factors such as type, thickness and condition of door, suitabilty of door frame, type and robustness of hinges, efficacy of latch, condition of letter plates and other openings, self-closing device, performance seals, above-door construction compatibility, etc. The doors appeared on first sight to be hollow with plywood faces, perhaps with a paper honeycomb core, but this would need to be confirmed by exploratory tests. Assuming they needed replacement with new fire door leafs, practical recommendations were made on the work needed to obtain requisite fire resistance and smoke seaing properties. A check list of relevant factors was prepared and research was also undertaken on current and old guidance on fire doors.
I had made many such assessments while at the government Fire Research Station in the late 70′s end subsequently
Client: PW Lettings, London.
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