Fire is one of the most fundamental performance criteria for doors and doorsets and Part B of the Building Regulations sets out requirements related to the escape of building occupants and access for fire-fighters. However, insurers and advisory organisations are also particularly concerned with the protection of property.

Approved Document B Volumes 1 & 2 are one of a series of Approved Documents that have been published by the Government for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the requirements of the Building Regulations.

• Approved Document B – Fire Safety: Volume 1 – Dwelling houses
• Approved Document B – Fire Safety: Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwelling houses

Other application-specific recommendations are also available including BS 9999, ‘Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings'. In addition, the ‘Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) order’ came into force during 2006, which consolidates over 100 existing pieces of legislation with fire safety provisions and eliminate the need for fire certificates. This requires information on fire precaution measures, including fire doors, to be made available to a ‘responsible person.’ 

Approved Document B – Volume 2 does direct users to other specific guidance where the buildings use is more specialised, these include:

• Health care premises –Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05-02, ‘Guidance and support of functional provisions for healthcare premises.
• Unsupervised group homes – HTM 88, ‘Guide to fire precautions in NHS housing in the community for mentally handicapped (or mentally ill) people.
• Schools – Building Bulletin (BB) 100

Part B of the Building Regulations will typically be satisfied where the guidance in these documents is followed.

Part B refers to fire doors in terms of tests carried out to BS 476; Part 22, in parallel with European standard BS EN 1634 - 1, 2 and 3. Achieving the same fire protection levels in the real world as for laboratory tests and related assessments remains a challenge that is being met by independent conformity schemes. It is now generally acknowledged that, in the event of fire, it is smoke that is the major risk to occupants. Only ambient (or “cold”) smoke is identified in Part B of the Building Regulations, which refers to testing in accordance with BS 476 : Section 31.1. and European standard EN 1634-3.

All new buildings and material changes of use to existing buildings are governed by Part B. Designers may also consider guidance from the insurance industry or other organisations, and building specific information (notably for healthcare and schools) for both new and existing buildings. The contents of this guide represents Leaderflush Shapland interpretation and opinions of the documents discussed. No responsibility or liability can be accepted for any loss or damage arising from any error or omission contained in this guide.