Fire Door Frame Damage: When Fixing the Gap Creates Another Problem

When you inspect a fire door, it is very easy to concentrate on the measurement. Is the margin right? Is the gap consistent? Is the door closing? But there is another question I think is just as important: What has somebody done to the frame to get that measurement? I've come across frames where the final gap can look reasonable, but when you look properly at the timber, you can see that the frame has been altered to achieve it. Before accepting the result, measure the gap pattern and compare it with the wider fire door frame guidance. That's a completely different problem. A fire door frame can be damaged, split, chiselled or distorted in an attempt to correct a door gap. If you only measure the finished margin, you can miss what has actually happened to the frame. Don't…