Do we need fire doors in a three story house?

[NoTNoShade]

We are moving into a three story house. The builder has not put in fire
doors and says they aren't a requirement.

We live in a three story house at the moment (built in 2005) which has fire doors throughout and a friend who has just had a three story extension built two years ago told me that when had to put fire doors on her new third story so we are really confused.

Does anyone know if they are a legal requirement?

Not sure about yours but...I am having a loft extension so will have three floors. I have been told I will have to have a fire door to the loft, and also downstairs from my living room and kitchen. Based on this, I think you do.

I've googled on your behalf so you don't have to make the effort: www.homebuilding.co.uk/part-b-fire-safety/

but honestly you really should have spent two minutes doing that yourself

Thanks Spudina. I think so too. I think the builder is wrong.
I think it's saying you do need them in 'habitable rooms'.

I didn't realise we had to check with with you Orchid before asking a question. Thread police all you like but there would be no Mumsnet at all if nobody asked anything. I've spent waaayyy more than two minutes googling it, I promise. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b This is what I have been reading. I found it quite hard going!

We've just had a quote for a loft conversion and the builder said that we need fire doors installed on every habitable space. So basically every door bar the bathrooms. He said that up until last year, he would just do smoke alarms in every room but people were having difficulty selling their houses without fire doors so now he insists on them.

I think its just for new builds. We live in a three story house and don't have fire doors. One of our neighbours has just done some work and has had to enclose the open staircase (not sure if it was planning consent or building regulations, or both).

I live in a 3 story house and it's all fire doors. I don't know why you would skimp and not put them in to be honest.

Yes I think it's just new builds too.

I'm not skimping! I'm buying a house where the doors aren't fire doors. When I asked the builder they told me that they weren't a legal requirement. It seems they are to me.

Ooh stick to your guns OP.

Think they are in Scotland but our rules are different. Best people to ask are actually Fire Bridgade as they will know up to date rules etc.

Ask Building control at the council. You used to need fire doors with closers and wired smoke alarms but this may have changed .

Friend had extra story added to house. had to change all the doors to fire doors. really unhappy as all downstairs doors were glazed originally

We had to retrospectively enclose our bottom staircase because of old loft as per building control. We had put in fire doors anyway as the existing ones were rubbish, but I think that building control was only concerned with fire door to loft and not the first floor. To be honest, building control seems to just issue guidance before building but ultimately have the final say when issuing certificates on works under their remit. I have found that what is passed varies depending on whether bc is private or the local authorities, and also who you speak to. Even if you speak to the same bc officer they can change their mind later on. It's a very frustrating process. Anyways, I digress. I would just ring your local authority and ask to be out through to a bc officer to sort it out. If you don't want to raise anything with them, speak to a private bc officer.

My neighbours had their loft converted 9 years ago. They were told back then that they had to have every single door changed to a fire door in order to get building regs signed off as they are now 3 stories. We’re in England.

1/2 hour fire doors are not very expensive. Tell the builder you want them. It’s better to have them, and wired smoke alarms.

I thought you only had to upgrade to fire doors if you are renovating and require building control sign off?

If you are leaving the house as is then it is not required.

If the seller had renovation work to add an extra storey but did not upgrade to fire doors but should have done that's a different question.

Your solicitor will check if the house has had renovation and whether it was fully signed off or you can check yourself online. Most councils have online records of extensions etc.

Best people to ask are actually Fire Bridgade as they will know up to date rules etc.

I had a fire safety inspection by two members of fire brigade and when I asked them whether my internal doors were fire doors or not, they said they didn't know and couldn't tell me!