Intumescent strips and smoke seals in March: what's involved
Our intumescent strips and smoke seals service in March is simple: a survey, a fixed quote, certified products and an installation finished to the manufacturer's evidence.
Buildings in and around March range from family homes after loft conversions to houses with integral garages and small offices. Whatever the building, the standard is the same: certified products, correct gaps, seals and closers, and a frame sealed to the wall.
Painted and missing seals are among the most common fire door defects nationally; in March we replace them with the type and size the certification specifies. We check that each door in your March building closes and latches against its new seals before signing it off.
Why seals fail
Seals are the most common defect on fire door inspections. They get painted over, pulled out, damaged by cleaning or simply worn by years of use. A painted brush seal no longer seals, and a strip of the wrong size may not close the gap in a fire. Our guide to seals explains the different types.
On a typical job that means:
- Check of gaps and closing after fitting
- Brush or blade smoke seals
- Identification of the specified seals
- Intumescent pads to hinges and locks
Which fire door rules apply in March?
The rules that apply to fire doors in March 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 March 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.
Who needs intumescent strips and smoke seals in March?
The need for intumescent strips and smoke seals usually arises in HMOs or blocks of flats, and sometimes offices. Each has its own pressures, such as residents at home or a building that must stay open, so we plan the sequence of work in March to keep escape routes protected throughout.
What happens after you enquire
- Identify door certification and seal specification
- Remove failed seals and clean the grooves
- Fit new strips and seals to the specified positions
- Fit missing pads and lock linings
- Check the door closes and latches against the new seals
- Record the products fitted
Prices for intumescent strips and smoke seals in March
As a guide, budget £45–£110 per door to supply and fit strips and seals, ex VAT for intumescent strips and smoke seals. The figure for your March 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.
Around March
March is about 22.9 km from Peterborough, and we cover both, along with nearby Wisbech and Ely. Send us your postcode and we'll confirm survey dates.
Questions
Is March within your coverage area?
It is. We cover March in Cambridgeshire and neighbouring towns such as Wisbech. There is no charge for the survey.
Can you work from an existing inspection report for my March building?
Yes. Send it over and we can often price straight from it, then confirm on site. We report back against the same door references so you can close actions off.
Can smoke seals be painted?
No. Paint stops brush and blade seals working. If seals have been painted, they should be replaced.
Do all fire doors need smoke seals?
Only where the door is specified for smoke control, such as FD30S doors. Many doors on escape routes and flat entrances are specified this way.