This article discusses whether replacing a unit entry door triggers new fire safety obligations, clarifying replacement entry door fire compliance requirements under Queensland building standards.
Question: A lot’s entry door needs to be replaced. It was not required to be a fire door at the time of the building’s construction and it does not open onto a fire escape. Does the legislation require the doorway to be made fire compliant?
In Queensland, if a lot’s entry door is replaced, and it was not required to be a fire door at the time of the building’s construction, and it does not open onto a fire escape, is there legislation requiring the doorway to be made a fire compliant doorset?
If so, can a security screen which was fitted to the original door frame be re-fitted to the frame of the fire doorset? If no and Australian Standards do not allow this, would it be prohibited in all States?
Answer: A building should be inspected and maintained to the standards and the building code it was originally designed to comply with.
It is impossible for me to comment in-depth on this, without having inspected the building.
A building should be inspected and maintained to the standards and the building code it was originally designed to comply with.
Screen doors are not tested on a fire door assembly, and therefore not considered compliant with AS 1905.1 and would be prohibited in all States.
This post appears in the March 2021 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.
Peter Pedersen Scanline Fire Doors peter@scanline.com.au P: 07 5597 2444