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Can I change the swing of a fire door in our house

5 replies

FullOfCake · 21/04/2020 13:17

We have just had our garage converted into a dining space. The builder added a heavy fire door for access eventhough we strictly didn't need one. The door currently opens into the dining room. For practicality, we have two very small children and two highchairs etc etc, we would like the door to swing into the existing living room but there is another door nearby which leads into a small cloakroom leading to the front door. Presumably we can't do this as although the dining room door would go flush against the wall, the two doors opening into the living room can clash?? Are there any rules about door swings etc?

Can I change the swing of a fire door in our house
OP posts:
minisoksmakehardwork · 21/04/2020 13:39

I think because the dining room door would swing into the clearance for the cloakroom door, which leads to the outside, you might find it is considered blocking an escape route. I don't have any building or planning experience but from a risk assessment perspective, that would be my first concern.

Loofah01 · 21/04/2020 14:47

This is a domestic setting, not a commercial one so why on earth bring up risk assessments?
Why fit a fire door if not required? If you don;t need the fire door then just remove it. No clashing then.
What you have drawn, OP, is going to drive you nuts if implemented but there isn't a good reason not to do it otherwise. Just find out why it's a fire door that has been fitted...

minisoksmakehardwork · 21/04/2020 15:32

Because there is such thing as a personal risk assessment - ie if I do X, what is the risk to my family and I?

I believe from researching, fire doors are required in 3 storeys homes in garage conversions.

I wouldn't rehang the door without finding out why it was put in because a) they need rehanging properly in order to be effective and b) quite frankly the risk two bumping doors might have in escaping a burning home is too high.

I have stayed in a holiday home where two doors opening in the same space kept getting their handles locked together. Very frustrating when you are the one shut in a room until someone jiggles them free.

Loofah01 · 21/04/2020 16:07

It was probably there as they can be required between garage and home; as it's not a garage anymore a fire door is not required. They're no harder to fit than a normal door aside from having three sets of hinges.

I guess if you're into personal risk assessments then fair enough. I'd avoid the proposed set up as the clacking of doors would drive me potty more than anything, and if it was an issue then I'd remove it completely.

PaulaSmith1 · 22/04/2020 10:21

You could also rehang the cloakroom door to swing into the cloakroom rather than the living room.

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