how do I make internal UK fire doors

P

Peshi

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Jan 22, 2012
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I'm looking for an excuse to buy a Domino and MFT.
I need 8 x FD30 Fire doors for a new build 3 storey domestic detached house.

My idea is to make out of Douglas fir.
Doors need to be min 762mm x 2050mm x 40mm

Ive never made doors before so all ideas wanted. Looking for a clean plane contemporary look and could do with 2 doors having some glass panels.

My idea is may be use 100mm x 40mm thick wide planks dominoed and glued to make the door or am I best using to 2x 20 planks laminated together?

Or would a Douglas fir frame and plywood panel be fire rated?

Also ideas on making the door linings or casings.
 
My understanding is      You don't        They have to be certified and unless you want to go through the long and expensive process of getting certified. It's a none starter. I may be contradicted here as I am not up to date with the latest rules and regs.
 
I wasn't to worried about the regs as the building inspector is always happy with what I do.
If he did have a problem I can solve it by using fire paint or something similar.
 
linings don't need to be anything special, the size of the stops on fire doors are bigger than usual don't know the dimensions though
 
The stops need to be 25mm thick & screwed & plugged on to the posts.  Loads of other regs,,,,
 
My understanding is that you as a none certified manufacturer can not make a door and call it a fire door. I am fairly certain that the building inspector will not accept a door painted in a flame retardant rather than the prescribed half or one hour fire door and frame that the regs call for. There are loads of regs around this area ,door clearance to where hinges are placed and type of hinge to mention just a few. Before you go any further get advice from your building inspector . Most fire doors these days are solid core laminate or chipboard then wrapped in a finish. They are not of traditional construction.
 
Peshi said:
So how do I build doors?
Click to expand...

Don't.  :o

Let someone that knows what they are doing build them. Fire doors are meant to save peoples lives in an emergency situation and shouldn't be used as a learner project IMHO.  [2cents]

Have a good one,  [smile]

Vi_k
 
i think the easies way is too buy in fire door blanks and add detail to them to make them look bespoke.
im not sure about the regs etc but i wouldnt chance a law suit if anything went wrong afterwards. eventually they would want the certs for the doors and you couldnt supply them one.
any fire door we get in ireland are either strips of hardwoood glued together or chip board.
the chip board ones are hollow inside. they have holes up through the chip board. not sure why, i would think that would reduce the fire rating but you never know.

there is no harm in asking the building inspecter.
 
As already mentioned.   I would get a blank fire door and make it look bespoke.  

Making your own doors as far as I know you won't be able to call them fire doors unless u get them tested which I think would involve burning the doors you make so you would have to make a few to test! Good luck lol
 
This might be another one of those situations where it is different on other countries, but here the doors are considered assemblies and other than the required hardware - hinges, lockset, closers - anything else done to the door causes an issue.  At least where I live.

Peter
 
The door needs to be bs standard fire rated so you would have to make samples to get them approved  which would cost thousands
hinges locks and handles also have to be bs approved fire rated
rebates no longer have to be 25mm - i think it changed about 2007
 
I was at trade show a while back and this company claimed to certify your doors if you used their product to letter. http://www.envirograf.com/index.html .  Few chaps on another forum used them to make there own doors and the BCO was happy.
I'd probably just buy off peg doors myself though unless you want something special.
 
Dont think you will be able to do it as they need certifying. Also fire doors are 44mm thick
 
Thanks for all comments.

Any ideas how to make a fire door blank look better?

Can V groves be routed into fire door blanks?

I'm looking for modern clean contemporary look.
 
if i was planning on routing into the door i would first make it thicker so that the thinner area are the old thickness.
 
A link to want your trying to achieve might be best thing. Check out premdor and vicama. I think some vennering would turn a £16 firedoor into something awesome
 
Deansocial said:
Dont think you will be able to do it as they need certifying. Also fire doors are 44mm thick
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You can get internal fire doors that are only 35mm thick but if memory serves me right they do come at a premium and to mantain 30min  integrity you must fit intumescant strip or they are only 20 min rated , the slimmer doors will give you more options with regard to facing them with veneer etc
 
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