Internal fire doors in new builds

[witsd]

Hi all, having a bit of a nightmare with this one.

Here is the scenario:

It's a domestic new build (circa 2020) in Scotland. A three storey building, but the flat in question is ground floor only, with an external front door and no internal links to other properties.

All internal doors except for the bathroom are fire doors, and are fitted with this type of concealed self closer (with which I'm not familiar at all!) This includes a very small cupboard off of the main hallway.

These are particularly heavy doors, and are proving a serious problem for residents with disabilities, causing accidents and delaying egress in emergencies.

So my questions:

1. Where specifically is it written that internal fire doors are required in Scotland? I've spent half an hour trawling various things, but I'm clearly missing it.

2. I'm seeing a lot about 'three storey buildings', but does that still apply when this flat is entirely self-contained with no links to other storeys?

3. Can the above type of self-closer be adjusted to minimise the resistance and slow the closing down?

4. Can I justify removing the self-closers if the alternative is risking the occupant's health?

5. What other more outlandish solutions are there? Fitting motors / dorgards? Anything else?

[Messy]

Firstly, I am not competent in Scottish fire safety legislation so I cannot be that useful in specifics.

But are you working professionally here or 'off duty' as it were? In England and Wales your duty in terms of a risk assessment is only common parts - which assuming there's no common external cladding, there doesnt seem to be any common areas

Maybe its different in Scotland, but internal fire doors would not be subject to a FRA in a single dwelling - except for the front door, so I am intrigued what you are doing?

I know a family in London who installed a water mist system to allow them to open plan their tiny 3 storey cottage . As soon as the LA inspector had signed it up, they disconnected it and were not breaking any laws as far as I could surmise (at least at that time).


BS8300 lays down standards of opening forces required to operate and open doors. Have a look here at guidance https://door-view.co.uk/resources/bs-8300/. It might help you change the doors or their mechanisms

[witsd]

But are you working professionally here or 'off duty' as it were? In England and Wales your duty in terms of a risk assessment is only common parts - which assuming there's no common external cladding, there doesnt seem to be any common areas

Maybe its different in Scotland, but internal fire doors would not be subject to a FRA in a single dwelling - except for the front door, so I am intrigued what you are doing?

The general answer to your question is that we do targeted person-centred risk assessments for tenants who are identified as 'higher risk', and this is one of them. If it were an unprofessional situation, I'd just tell the guy to remove all the self-closers, and close the doors manually overnight, but I can't (officially) do that here.

I need to make recommendations to our repairs team, and I need them to fall within guidance, but I can't find the blinking guidance!

I was hoping it would just say 'fire doors' without specifying that they need to self-close or some similar loophole.

The 30N stat is already helpful though - the hallway cupboard is a ~3/4 width door, so there is a much higher turning force involved at the leading edge.