Door closing springs on internal doors

[timotei1984]

I'm renting a modern terrace townhouse with 3 floors. All the internal doors have springs which make them shut on their own. I want to disconnect them to protect fingers etc but hear 2 separate versions of advice: Version 1 that Fire Regulations require spring doors in modern 3 floor properties and, Version 2 that Fire Regulations have been changed due to lobbying by the medical profession and spring doors are no longer required. Does anybody know or can anybody advise how I find out?

 

[Softus]

Ask your BCO.

 

[noseall]

do what the heck you like in your own home.

 

[Softus]

do what the heck you like in your own home.

That's really very poor quality advice.

 

[yandownie]

building regs say that the springs have to be fitted for fire regs when the property is first built but usually only if you have an attached garage that has direct access to the house.once you move in its your choice to disable them or not.
i assume they are the type fitted at the back edge of the door in the frame and not the overhead type that can be adjusted to prevent trapped fingers?
i certainly wouldnt remove the one on the door to house/garage though.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

If you're renting, you've no right to touch them without landlords permission.

 

[yandownie]

yes very true.

 

[noseall]

do what the heck you like in your own home.

That's really very poor quality advice.

true.

i don't have any self closers in my house though. apart from the door leading to the garage that is.

if i did, i would more than likely remove them. they can be dangerous.

they may save lives but so would fitting cotton wool padding to every hard surface on the planet. but this would be a nuisance too.

 

[timotei1984]

building regs say that the springs have to be fitted for fire regs when the property is first built but usually only if you have an attached garage that has direct access to the house.once you move in its your choice to disable them or not.
i assume they are the type fitted at the back edge of the door in the frame and not the overhead type that can be adjusted to prevent trapped fingers?
i certainly wouldnt remove the one on the door to house/garage though.

Thanks. Yes the springs are at the back of the door into the frame (look a bit like bike chain). There is no attached garage and all the doors are internal. Of course I won't disable them without the owner's permission and wouldn't want to invalidate insurance by contravening buildings regs.

 

[Softus]

if i did, i would more than likely remove them. they can be dangerous.

Their advantages outweigh that perceived danger.

they may save lives but so would fitting cotton wool padding to every hard surface on the planet. but this would be a nuisance too.

There's no law requiring the planet to be cotton wool coated, but there are laws concerning fireproofing, fire doors, fire escapes, and other safety measures. That's the difference.

 

[noseall]

there may be a million homes in this country alone without self closers fitted as standard to internal doors. building control don't enforce this rule on two storey extensions or on existing properties.
we close all our doors before bedtime, believe it or not, without the help of a closer.

i accept that fitting them may save lives.

i accept that not having them fitted may save lives.

i accept that some rule enforcements are for the common good.

i accept that some rule enforcements go too far and leave little to choice.

i think mains wired smoke detectors, or any for that matter, are a brilliant idea.

would it be a wise move to fit all new houses with a fire escape to every upstairs room?

 

[noseall]

Their advantages outweigh that perceived danger.

i disagree with this vehemently.

do you have any children Softus?

 

[Softus]

Their advantages outweigh that perceived danger.

i disagree with this vehemently.

In that case I recommend that you write to your MP and do anything you can to have the law changed.

do you have any children Softus?

I've put my opinion, and you've put yours. I'm not going to follow you into an argument that's based on who has the strongest emotional influence on their thinking.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Door closers in houses are not really required in the very latest building regs, they've been taken out because in reality most people disable them and secondly because of the large amount of kids who end up in A&E with bruised fingies.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314683726.html Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you get to this:

Appendix B

l) Self-Closing Devices: Other than doors between a dwellinghouse and an integral garage, fire doors need not be provided with self closing devices.

 

[timotei1984]

Door closers in houses are not really required in the very latest building regs, they've been taken out because in reality most people disable them and secondly because of the large amount of kids who end up in A&E with bruised fingies.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314683726.html Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you get to this:

Appendix B

l) Self-Closing Devices: Other than doors between a dwellinghouse and an integral garage, fire doors need not be provided with self closing devices.

Relevant, informative and authoritative - thank you for your advice!