Anyone have fire doors?

[RoseGoldEagle]

We've been told that we need fire doors throughout our home (as we're extending and remodelling upstairs, and the windows in one of the rooms doesn't meet fire regs- not our choice but due to the openings needing to be about 1.7metres as stipulating by planning permission).

My image of fire doors is enormous, heavy, ugly things, but have been told they can look ok! Just after advice from anyone that has them really- are they horribly heavy?? Hoping to hear they haven't really been an issue, but be good to know! The cost is obviously an issue too, but mainly worried about the look and feel or them. Thanks!

They look like normal doors. Lots of styles. It's about material and thickness.
www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Doors+Windows/Internal-Doors/Fire-Doors/c/1000659

We have them throughout the whole house, because we are over 3 storeys, so the regs are different. The only rooms I don't need them on are bathrooms, so on those we have non-fire doors in the same style. You honestly can't tell which is which - the fire doors look just like the normal doors.

They look the same as non fire doors. The majority of door styles have a fire door option. They are heavier and will have a self closer on them - probably on the hinges which means you can't just leave them ajar - you'd have to use door stops etc
Also a lot more expensive. So a £50 door becomes £250
Are you going into the loft is that the extension? If so you'd need them on all "habitable" rooms so that's the bedrooms, lounge and kitchen

This is where we got them from: www.emeralddoors.co.uk/fire-doors

You also don't need a closer any more. That used to be a requirement, but was rescinded because:

1. Fire doors are heavy and closers are vicious, so they were causing injuries
2. Because of 1), people just propped them open, which defeated the whole point.

We had building regs for non-self-closing fire doors signed off 18 months ago on this basis.

Planning permission won't dictate fire escapes and doors, that will be building regulations and certainly not 1.7m for windows. I believe the minimum is 450mm x 750mm.

Thanks all, this is so helpful!! Good to know they can look fine.

Daftasabroom we’ve been told that the window openings need to be above 1.7 metres from the floor, so that even when open we don’t have a view into the neighbours garden, (so the lower part of the window is not openable, and 1.7 metres is too high for a fire escape). This is how it’s been explained to us anyway!

We've just had our loft converted and our builders replaced all of our internal doors to fire doors. They don't look any different to 'normal' doors and we had a decent choice of styles. They aren't self closing either.

My builder said they cost about £100 each. We enquired about a glass fire door and the price was about £500, so we didn't bother.

@RoseGoldEagle okay, there is a minimum height for the method of escape opening, this is building regs. There is then a non overlooking requirement in most planning guidelines that's the 1.7m eye level bit.

We have normal windows at normal height overlooking our neighbors but with privacy (frosted) glass that open so that we ensure our neighbors privacy and provide an MoE. We have top hung MoEs in some rooms.

Mine look exactly the same as my non fire doors including extensive glazing. They were shockingly expensive however I think that’s worth it for the extra safety they provide, that half an hour extra could literally be the difference between life and death.

U
lol

Friend got them on bedrooms only, small 4 bed house. Astoundingly heavy but like any other doors once in place.

Ooo awesome

we had a fire door in our old house

we replaced all the doors in the house and they all-looked exactly the same

the fire door was heavier but we took the chain closer thingy off

it didnt cause an issue when we sold the house but maybe quantums post is why

Almost certainly, Rufus. We did the same - took the chains off all the existing doors. And the new ones in the ground floor after we refurbed were all signed off never having them.

Purple raises a good point, OP - fire doors aren't hugely more expensive than normal ones, except if you have glazing in them. Fire glass is extortionate, so avoid if at all possible. <sighs wistfully about my glazed crittal room divider that will never ever happen>

Fire doors all the way through here, see pic
Nobody has ever noticed that they're fire doors!

If you need a fire door, contact www.securitydirectuk.com they sorted us a door out.