Under current Building Regulations, Approved Document B for Fire Safety, self-closing fire doors in normal two storey dwellinghouses are not required with the exception of doors that lead to an integral garage.

Flats do require internal fire doors, but they are not required to be self-closing as residents are expected to close their internal doors at night. When a residential property is refurbished and/or altered and where fire-separating walls have been removed they will require additional protection for the means of escape and as such they will need to be self-closing.

Because fire doors often do not provide any significant insulation, there should be some limitation on the proportion of doorway openings in compartment walls. Therefore no more than 25% of the length of the compartment wall should consist of door openings unless the required insulating factor, at least 30 minutes, with a smoke rated performance is achieved as recommended in Approved Document B. The product shall be self-closing in the event of a fire.

Using active fire curtain/barriers instead of doors:

Whilst they could be closed each night, the likelihood is that they will not be as unlike a door, they are out of sight, whilst the curtains could be closed manually when a fire is detected, the likelihood is that sleeping occupants will not awake in time to close them, if they awake at all. Therefore the use of self-closing fire curtain/barriers activated by smoke/heat detectors are recommended in all residential properties.

Where the fire curtain/barrier is replacing a wall it has to be deployed upon detection of a fire to reinstate the fire-separating element or keep the wall. Any deviation from these recommendations should be agreed in writing with the Local Building Control.

Active Fire and Smoke curtain/barriers are LIFE SAFETY products, Suppliers, Designers and Purchasers have a duty of care to protect life and install a system that is there when needed.