https://fredduncombe.co.uk/Fred Duncombeen-gbSat, 31 Oct 2026 22:29:03 +0000https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-does-fd30-and-fd60-mean-on-a-fire-door/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-does-fd30-and-fd60-mean-on-a-fire-door/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:29:03 +0000FD30 and FD60 tell you how long a fire door will resist fire and smoke before it fails. The number is minutes of protection: an FD30 door holds for half an hour, an FD60 for a full hour. You find these codes stamped on the door edge, printed on the certification label, or written in the frame rebate. Fred Duncombe explains what each rating means in practice, where each is required, and how you…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-fix-a-sticking-fire-door/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-fix-a-sticking-fire-door/Fri, 30 Oct 2026 22:30:13 +0000A fire door that sticks, drags or closes slowly puts your property at risk. When a fire door does not close properly, it cannot do its job – compartmentalising smoke and heat in an emergency. The problem is usually straightforward to fix, and you can address most common causes without professional help or losing your door's fire rating.https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-tell-if-your-fire-door-is-compliant/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-tell-if-your-fire-door-is-compliant/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:28:13 +0000A fire door that passes a visual inspection and carries the right documentation meets the baseline for compliance in most UK properties. You look for intact seals, a functioning closer, a visible rating label and proof of original certification. The checks below let you assess your own doors without specialist equipment, and the final section covers when to call in a surveyor.https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-measure-for-a-fire-exit-door/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-measure-for-a-fire-exit-door/Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:27:09 +0000You measure for a fire exit door by recording the exact frame opening, the wall thickness, the floor-to-head height and the swing clearance before you order anything. Get any one of these wrong and a certified door can arrive and still fail to fit, or fit but lose its rating once the installer trims it to make it work. Fred Duncombe put this guide together so you can take accurate measurements…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-are-the-rules-for-fire-exit-signs/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-are-the-rules-for-fire-exit-signs/Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:28:49 +0000Fire exit sign rules come down to three requirements: a sign has to be visible from the route it serves, it has to stay readable when the ordinary lighting fails, and it has to point at a door that opens without a struggle. Meet those and the detail falls into place. What follows from Fred Duncombe works through placement, design, lighting and door hardware, then closes with a walk-round check…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-a-panic-bar-and-when-is-it-required/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-a-panic-bar-and-when-is-it-required/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:24:10 +0000A panic bar is a horizontal push mechanism fitted across the inside of a fire exit door, designed to release the latch when pressure is applied from any point along its length. It allows people to leave a building quickly without fumbling for a handle or key, even in darkness or when carrying something. This guide explains how the device works, where regulations require it, and how to choose th…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-stop-a-fire-door-slamming/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-stop-a-fire-door-slamming/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:35:19 +0000A fire door that slams disturbs everyone nearby and wears out its hardware faster than it should. The noise comes from a door closer set too fast for the final swing, and you can reduce it by adjusting the closing speed without compromising the door's ability to latch securely. Below you will find the four settings that govern how quietly a fire door shuts, how to change them safely, and when t…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/can-you-fit-a-cat-flap-in-a-fire-door/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/can-you-fit-a-cat-flap-in-a-fire-door/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:34:22 +0000No, you cannot fit a cat flap in a fire door without voiding its fire certification. Any modification that cuts through the door's core—whether for a pet door, additional glazing or altered hardware—destroys the tested integrity that earned the door its rating. Fred Duncombe explains what happens when you alter a fire door, why certification protects you in ways standard doors cannot, and which…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-an-electromagnetic-door-holder/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-an-electromagnetic-door-holder/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:33:14 +0000An electromagnetic door holder is a device that keeps a fire door open during normal use whilst releasing it automatically when the fire alarm activates. It combines everyday convenience with the legal requirement that fire doors close when needed. Fred Duncombe explains how these devices balance access and safety, where regulations require them, and what you check before installing one.https://fredduncombe.co.uk/can-you-paint-a-fire-door/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/can-you-paint-a-fire-door/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:31:57 +0000You can paint a fire door without voiding its fire resistance, provided you use intumescent-compatible paint and avoid thick, heat-blocking finishes. The fire rating depends on the door and frame working together as tested, so any coating that interferes with the intumescent strips or alters the door's behaviour under heat will compromise protection. Fred Duncombe walks you through which paints…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-a-drop-seal-and-when-is-it-used/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-a-drop-seal-and-when-is-it-used/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:30:57 +0000A drop seal is a retractable barrier fitted to the bottom of a door that lowers automatically when the door closes. It seals the gap between the door and the floor, preventing smoke, sound and draughts from passing underneath. Drop seals are essential on fire doors, acoustic partitions and anywhere tight environmental control matters. Fred Duncombe explains how they work, where regulations requ…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-choose-handles-for-a-fire-door/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/how-to-choose-handles-for-a-fire-door/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:29:53 +0000Fire door handles must carry the same certification as the door itself, tested as part of the complete assembly to maintain the fire rating. A standard residential lever or knob will compromise the integrity of an FD30 or FD60 door, rendering its protection worthless. This guide explains how to identify appropriate fire door furniture, what to look for on product labels and which common residen…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-a-thumb-turn-lock/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/what-is-a-thumb-turn-lock/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:28:32 +0000A thumb turn lock is a keyless mechanism fitted to fire exits and emergency doors that allows anyone to leave a building instantly by rotating a small lever with their thumb. It eliminates the need to search for keys during an evacuation. This guide explains how thumb turn locks work, where regulations require them, and how to choose the right hardware for Fred Duncombe fire exit installations…https://fredduncombe.co.uk/do-internal-doors-need-to-be-fire-doors/https://fredduncombe.co.uk/do-internal-doors-need-to-be-fire-doors/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 22:27:32 +0000Most internal doors in a typical UK home do not need to be fire doors. Building regulations require fire-rated doors only in specific situations: when a door separates a habitable room from an integral garage, when it protects an escape route in a loft conversion, when it encloses a staircase in a three-storey house, or when alterations to the property trigger compliance updates. Fred Duncombe…