When considering the FRA content for a building where floor coverings have been changed the issue of the fire door must be considered so as to ensure that there is not a gap under the door where a previous covering has been removed and/or replaced and if the new covering does not carry the same depth which creates a gap under which smoke can travel in the event of a fire.
If, from within a bedroom door you are able to see the lighting provision in a corridor or landing then there is already clearly an issue with the fire door, and it will need to be assessed by your service provider to see what approved repair techniques (ART’s) may be needed to reinstate the fire efficacy of the door/frame.
These types of changes should be discussed with your assessor before they are undertaken to establish if the FRA needs to be re-visited if there is a potential compromise in the fire protection as a result, it may of course be a short-term issue where a new floor covering is replacing an old one and over the period of say 30 days there might be an issue which needs to be managed within the building.
The fire door should never be modified or an attempt to “trim” a fire door before consultation with your incumbent fire door TPC partner as the trimming of a door may invalidate the certification of the door.
It is of course essential that both the RP/Accountable person and the assessor need to agree what is or is not a reasonable time period and, include your door partner in these to ensure time scales when required.
Discussions with your third-party certified fire door partner in advance of any changes to the floor coverings would be prudent to ensure that any alterations or modifications to the door leaf or frame can be done under the TPC program without compromising the integrity or efficacy of the door/door set.
New floor coverings must not inhibit the closing of a door via the door closer mechanism so it should be considered if one covering is going on top of another i.e., carpet going over a laminate floor or a deeper carpet pile than was in place previously where this might inhibit the firm closing of a fire door when required.
In respect of the support for the building and its infrastructure it is a requirement of the 2006 fire safety order that fire doors along with fire alarm, emergency lighting etc. are all supported under the mandatory service provisions covered within their specific British Standards and this should be part of your rolling service package for the different elements.
Keeping on-top of the ongoing issues within a buildings structural requirements is a key part of keeping the FRA accurate and up-to-date and it is also to be remembered that identified but uninstructed non-compliance issues are subject to disclosure to the main commercial insurance provider as has been the case since 2018.
