This article discusses fire door modifications compliance, explaining whether fire doors approved in 1999 remain compliant after owners install deadlocks or other hardware.
Question: If our fire doors were compliant in 1999 and owners have since installed deadlocks, are the doors still compliant, or do they need to be replaced?
The Certificate of construction for our building states the build as 1999. It’s a Class 2 build with eight units and two stairwells. Our doors are now classed as non-compliant because they all have deadbolt locks with a knob set below. Owners can’t afford to replace the doors.
How do we know if the fire doors passed compliance at the time of the build? If the doors were compliant in 1999, do they have to comply with the current standard?
Answer: The deadbolt may be able to be replaced with a compliant door lock mechanism.
After the installation of a prescribed fire safety system, the installation is required to be certified, stating that the material and installation methods comply with the requirements of the day. This certificate would be required to confirm if the door hardware was compliant on the day of construction.
Deadbolts could prevent the fire door from latching in the closed position and are therefore not permissible.
Door knobs may be compliant as per AS1905.1-1997. However, this would need further investigation to be confirmed.
The fire doors may not need to be replaced unless they contain asbestos. If not, the deadbolt may be able to be replaced with a compliant door lock mechanism.
This post appears in the July 2023 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.
Stefan Bauer Fire Matters E: sbauer@firematters.com.au P: 07 3071 9088