Sliding doors?

[dinodiva]

I’m most of the way through a loft extension on a very standard ‘L’ shaped Victorian terrace. One of the things we’ve been told we will need to do is put a door on our kitchen to comply with fire regs. Sounds simple enough but the kitchen is at the end of a corridor and there’s a step down into it. Opening a door into the corridor would get in the way, opening into the kitchen would also be irritating (cupboards to one side of the opening and a table/chairs to the other). The only option I can think of is some sort of sliding door, but presumably we’d need to have the old architrave removed?

Has anyone had this issue / got any helpful hints? TIA!

It needs to be a 30 minute fire rated door. Not so simple with a sliding door. Have you reviewed with building control on site? You might be able to omit it if you install sprinklers (but that is ££ and disruptive, especially if you've missed the boat in terms of pipework and plastering.)

Put the fire door slightly further up the corridor so it opens against the corridor wall. It’s up to you if you keep the door open!

It’s also up to you if you want to keep the door at all after building regs sign off. You may want to put cheap temporary door in, and decide later what you want to.

I’ve actually been told that it doesn’t have to be a fire door as we have enhanced smoke detectors. I think it’s worth me having a word with the building control people

If it doesn't have to be a fire door you don't need it at all.i would check that as it's important!
Fire door will help your escape in case of smoke and fire if you notice the fire early, but judging by the result at Grenfell even a 30 minutes fire door won't help if you are really sleeping soundly.

Some of the fire doors had been replaced at Grenfell with non fire doors I’m afraid. The issue is time to escape from a habitable loft. If you want to follow the regs, put the door in a sensible place. It could be life or death but you need to evaluate what the door means to you.

What John says. Normal requirements are fire doors AND enhanced fire detection. Double check with BC.