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Windows & Door fitting

2. Is a kitchen fire door required for a small, low risk two -storey shared HMO Victorian house

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.43 PM

It’s a shared Victorian house of no more than two storey. A house with kitchen and living room on the ground floor and bathroom on the first floor. The whole house is let to four tenants, A, B, C and D, who have exclusive possession of the whole house. The house will therefore be used as a private dwelling by A, B, C and D jointly, as domestic premises and the FSO (Fire Safety Order 2005) will not apply. It presents no additional risk factors then no high standard of fire precautions may be necessary, having regard to the fire risk assessment. In addition, there’ll be interlinked smoke alarms on each of the floor levels and in the lounge and a heat alarm in the kitchen. This will reduce the hazards or chances that may cause a fire and reduce the risk factors, then a fire door in the kitchen shouldn’t be necessary. I believe that having the kitchen door closed, • presents additional risk factors • the tenants won’t be able to react quickly to stop a burning item that may cause a fire before it spreads throughout the kitchen or leave the house quickly before fire spreads throughout the whole house But if the kitchen door’s open, then the tenants can smell the smoke or see a burning item in the kitchen, they’re more likely to be able to stop that ‘burning item ’ before fire spreads throughout the kitchen and then the whole house. Among our friends, family and including ourselves we’ve experienced first-hand that we’ve avoided ‘possible’ kitchen fires on many occasions by simply being able to smell burning food and to stop the ‘burning item’ because we’ve got distracted or we’ve forgotten cooking appliances on the cooker or in the microwave.

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4 Answers

Ray Merridan

Rating: 5 out of 5
Erith
Good practice within houses of multiple occupation would ensure that Kitchen doors have some form of door closer fitted to it, therefore reducing the spread of fire , as a fire alarm system is already fitted this will warn residents of any issues within the property.
Answered23 November 2021
1

Gary Martin

Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Sutton Coldfield
In my opinion, the kitchen should definitely have a fire door fitted, including a door closer. I would also suggest the each of the tenants rooms also be fitted with a fire door also, but if you are any doubt, then you should call in a fire officer and get expert help/ advise, as a landlord you should always go the extra mile to protect those who live in your property.
Answered12 November 2021
0

Anonymous user

For the minimal additional costs of using an FD30 in this instance I would always recommend using a fire door along with the intumescent strips. My approach. Is belt and braces. You can then be comfortable knowing the job was undoubtedly done correctly. I hope that helps.
Answered1 December 2021
0