Alternative solution for solid core door? (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)
Solid core tight fitting doors are found in the buildings that possibly cause us the most concern for building permits
They provide our apartments with extra security. We used to think that they also provided us with some reasonable measure of safety from fire and smoke spread. Maybe they don’t? This is relevant for everything from 2 to 4 storey apartment buildings. (And with alternative solutions maybe more!)
This debate has raged on for so long that we don’t remember when it started. We have gone back to a number of sources to revisit what has been said and see if a solution has been proposed.
We think this is a classic case of the solutions in the Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions not meeting the mandatory performance requirements. But they are deemed-to-comply!
The testing and the report commissioned from Warrington Fire Research (Exova) by the Victorian Building Commission (see below for more on this report) certainly thought so to:
“A “tight fitting” solid core door did not prevent the passage of smoke”
The final word from the industry has to go to John Rakic. John has been a passionate industry advocate in the area of passive fire protection. At Lorient, who was co-sponsor of the WFRA testing, he advocated for smoke seals and “life safety door” rather than solid core doors. In an extract in Infolink of his 2002 Fire Australia Article John says:
There is a possibly a serious misunderstanding in terms of the fire resistance and smoke leakage performance of a “tight fitting” solid core door and this door solution is not appropriate for life safety consideration, even in a sprinkler-controlled fire scenario.
Whilst John is not directly criticising the DTS provisions here – the comments are made in the context of alternative solutions that accept solid core “tight fitting doors” in lieu of fire door sets – he does ask – “Should a so-called “tight fitting” solid core door be in the BCA in the first place and why did it get there?”
The immediate solution seems to be smoke seals to the entry doors? This solution is by no means trouble free. Issues of concern include:
- The likelihood longer term of smoke seals being retained on the entry doors to residential apartments is considered low;
- The Essential Safety Measure maintenance requirements do not apply to the inside of apartments in apartment buildings.
John Rakic’’s key concerns from his paper above include (more…)
