Need Fire Doors, but don’t want to lose any charm in your listed building? No problem – here’s why you should choose custom-made fire doors. 

Fire doors are an essential part of a fire prevention system and the primary preventive measure to keep fire from spreading in a building. Listed buildings are more challenging to work with regarding any fire safety measures, as they usually have everything that can be seen as old-fashioned and inadequate for modern safety standards. To protect them from potential fire hazards, it is necessary to comply with the listed building consent and maintain their special character at the same time. This article contains all you need to know about custom-made fire doors so you can make the right decision when planning your restoration project or buying new doors for your listed building.

What is a fire door?

A fire door is a type of fire-retardant door used to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through openings in a building. A fully functioning fire door can prevent a significant amount of heat and smoke from passing through a building and into adjacent buildings, especially in multi-storey buildings. Fire doors are an integral part of a fire prevention plan, and are intended to be used in conjunction with fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and other fire safety devices. In the context of listed buildings, the fire door is significantly different than the one used in commercial and residential buildings. Fire doors in listed buildings are designed to protect the interior of the building while retaining the look and feel of the listed building’s exterior.

Why are listed building fire doors different?

Listed buildings have a special character that is worth preserving. However, fire protection measures are not pleasing to the eye and can often spoil the architectural appearance. In order to retain the charm of the listed building, special fire doors with decorative features are used. This is why fire doors can be different in every listed building. They are designed to protect the building from fire while maintaining the aesthetics of the building. Depending on the architectural style of the listed building, a fire door can look like a regular door or a wooden panel.

Custom-made fire doors: The best solution for listed buildings

When it comes to fire doors, you are free to choose any of the available types – something which we can advise you of at Capital Fire Doors. However, if you want to comply with the listed building consent and retain the aesthetics of the building, a custom-made fire door is the best solution. Custom-made fire doors are a perfect solution for listed buildings, as they are specially designed for purpose. They are available in multiple styles, colours, and designs that will perfectly blend into the architectural style of your building. No matter what architectural style your listed building is, there is a door that is designed specifically for it. For example, Georgian fire doors are designed with a Georgian style in mind, while Edwardian fire doors are designed to blend with the Edwardian style.

When choosing custom-made fire doors, pay attention to:

– Fire resistance level 

The higher the level of fire resistance, the thicker and heavier the door is. The level of fire resistance is usually described in British Standards. 

– Door construction 

Fire doors are either made of solid wood or a combination of wood and synthetic materials such as fibreboard. 

– Air leakage 

Different types of fire doors are designed to fit different styles of windows. You need to make sure that the fire door you choose doesn’t compromise the fire resistance of the building. 

– Fire door installation options 

Custom fire doors are more likely to be a cut-to-size type, as listed buildings often require a custom-made fire door. Capital Fire Doors offer a full and comprehensive installation service. 

Pros of custom-made fire doors

– Fire doors are an integral part of any fire safety system. If your building doesn’t have functioning fire doors, it isn’t protected from fire in any way. 

– By installing functioning fire doors in your listed building, you comply with the listed building consent, protect the building’s structure and contents, and increase its value at the same time. 

– Fire doors are an important part of the listed building’s aesthetics. They are designed to fit the building’s architectural style, serving as a decorative element at the same time. 

Cons of custom-made fire doors

– The major downside of custom-made fire doors is that they might be too expensive for low-budget projects, due to their higher price tag than more standard fire doors. Custom fire doors are understandably more expensive, as they are designed to fit a specific architectural style. 

– Custom fire doors can take a long time to be made and installed. This is especially true for listed buildings, as each fire door needs to be designed specifically for an architectural style which could be quite unique. 

– It is a common misconception that listed building fire doors are free. They are listed as free because they are made to comply with the listed building consent. However, if you choose a custom-made door, you need to cover the entire cost of the door.

Summary

Fire doors are an essential part of a fire prevention system and the primary preventive measure to keep fire from spreading in a building. In the context of listed buildings, the fire door is significantly different than the one used in commercial and residential buildings. Fire doors in listed buildings are designed to protect the interior of the building while retaining the look and feel of the listed building’s exterior. This is why fire doors are different in every listed building. When it comes to choosing fire doors, a custom-made door is the best solution for listed buildings. It is specially designed for listed buildings and is available in multiple styles, colours, and designs that blend into the architectural style of your building.