This article discusses whether fire doors must be repaired or replaced despite an existing occupation certificate, explaining ongoing safety obligations and fire door compliance occupation certificate requirements in Queensland.
Question: At a recent fire inspection, we found out the unit entry doors in our building are not compliant due to the gap around the door frames. We have the certified Certification of Occupation from when the building was constructed in 2010. Do we need to replace the doors?
I own and reside in a unit that is in a complex of six. There is a main entry to the foyer and all unit entry doors are off the foyer. It is a two level building. We had a fire inspection and each unit entry door has compliance issues, particularly with the gap around the door frame.
One unit door has a much bigger gap and the whole door requires replacement. Do we need to have each door repaired/replaced if we have the Certification of Occupation signed by a building certifier when the building was constructed in 2010?
Answer: The owner/occupier must repair/replace any fire door to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants.
The simple answer is yes, the owner/occupier must repair/replace any fire door to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants. This is set out in the Building Fire Regulations and penalties apply.
In regards to the gaps around the door and frame, it is important to check the allowable gaps that the door has been approved to. There are fire doors that have been certified with a gap greater than that prescribed in AS1905 on the day of construction and may therefore be compliant. If the information is not on site, the fire door certification is part of the building’s approval process and the information should be available in the approval documents.
This post appears in the June 2022 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.
Stefan Bauer
Fire Matters
E: sbauer@firematters.com.au
P: 07 3071 9088
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