Fire doors · Clearances
What do gaps around a fire door mean?
Short answer
Clearances matter, but the correct limit is not a number to guess from a photograph. The acceptable condition depends on the applicable doorset evidence, the location around the leaf, and the project requirements.
What changes the answer
- head, stile or bottom location
- single leaf or pair
- threshold condition
- door system and era
- smoke-seal arrangement
- floor finish changes
- frame movement or leaf sag.
What to check on site
- measure with a suitable gauge where the inspection scope requires it
- photograph the measurement location
- record floor finish and threshold
- check hinge and frame condition
- compare against the applicable evidence.
What to do next
If a gap has been raised as a defect, send the measured location, the door identity and photographs. We will assess the rectification path rather than applying a generic number found online.
General information only. A conclusion about a specific condition requires the actual construction, the evidence behind it and the site condition to be reviewed.