Getting fire door frames right in Thatcham
We provide fire door frames in Thatcham (RG19 and the surrounding postcodes), from the first survey through to a documented handover.
Buildings in and around Thatcham range from schools to light industrial buildings and small blocks of flats. Whatever the building, the standard is the same: certified products, correct gaps, seals and closers, and a frame sealed to the wall.
Frame-to-wall gaps on Thatcham jobs are sealed with materials supported by the test evidence, as BS 8214:2026 sets out. In older buildings the frame can be the weak point even where the leaf is sound, so we check it on every Thatcham survey.
BS 8214:2026 and the frame-to-wall gap
The 2026 revision of BS 8214 strengthened its guidance on sealing the gap between the frame and the surrounding structure, listing material types such as stone wool, mastic and fire-rated foam, and putting the emphasis on using what the evidence supports. We fill and seal that gap with materials covered by the doorset's or sealant's test evidence and photograph it before the architraves go back on.
Each installation includes:
- Architraves and making good
- Photographs of fixing and sealing before covering
- Frame-to-wall gap sealing with evidenced materials
- Fixing at specified centres with packing
What the rules say for Thatcham
The rules that apply to fire doors in Thatcham are England's. The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 must keep fire doors in non-domestic premises and the common parts of flats in working order; the Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that this includes flat entrance doors onto common parts.
Where a Thatcham block is above 11 metres, regulation 10 of the 2022 regulations means communal doors are checked every three months and flat entrance doors annually on a best-endeavours basis. Replacement doors must also satisfy the Building Regulations, with Approved Document B as the guidance most building control bodies work from.
Where fire door frames fit in Thatcham
From offices to schools, the requirement for fire door frames in Thatcham comes from the fire strategy or risk assessment for the building. We work from that document, or help you interpret your inspection report, before quoting.
What happens after you enquire
- Remove architraves and inspect frame fixing
- Decide repair, re-fix or replace
- Prepare the opening and fit the frame
- Pack and fix at specified centres
- Seal the frame-to-wall gap
- Photograph, fit architraves and make good
Budgeting for fire door frames in Thatcham
As a guide, budget £250–£600 per frame replaced, fixed and sealed, ex VAT for fire door frames. The figure for your Thatcham building depends on the number of doors, the rating, the condition of the frames, finishes, hardware and access. We confirm a fixed price after the free survey.
Covering Thatcham and nearby
Neighbouring towns such as Newbury, Basingstoke, Reading and Didcot are covered too, so clients with several buildings can use one installer and one evidence format.
Questions from Thatcham
Do you cover RG19 and nearby postcodes?
Yes. We cover Thatcham including RG19, and nearby towns such as Newbury and Basingstoke. The survey and written quote are free.
Do I need to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to give us access to the doors. For blocks and commercial buildings, a caretaker or site contact is fine; for HMOs and homes, we agree a time with you or your tenants.
Can a new frame be fitted to my existing door?
Sometimes, if the frame is compatible with the door's certification. Often it is simpler and better evidenced to replace the whole doorset.
Can I use expanding foam around a fire door frame?
Only a fire-rated foam with evidence for that use and gap size. Ordinary expanding foam is not suitable.