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Nick
 
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Default Internal fire doors / slamming ! & Shower problems

Hi,

I've recently purchased and moved into a new flat (built 1999), and am
looking for some advice on some DIY to smooth out a few issues.

It is in a block of about 10 others, and they are all built of light
(?) brick with plasterboard walls - making it a bit of a cardboard
castle.

All the doors are fire doors with those chains between the frame &
door (hinge side) to automatically close.

Thing is - whenever a door closes in the flat, it shakes the whole
flat and the neighbours.

Even if you close it yourself, the frames tend to shake the walls!

Is there any way to cushion these doors? They're a tight fit against
the frame, so rubber insulation won't let them close.


Water pressure.
The way it's plumbed means that the shower stops if anyone flushes the
loo or uses the dishwasher etc.
Can this be replumbed so the shower is on a separate feed? (if so, I'd
call in a professional)
Is it possible to install a pump to increase the water pressure (I
have a feeling that he shower head is above the level of the water
tank - will this make a difference?)

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Nick
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BigWallop
 
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Default Internal fire doors / slamming ! & Shower problems


"Nick" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I've recently purchased and moved into a new flat (built 1999), and am
looking for some advice on some DIY to smooth out a few issues.

It is in a block of about 10 others, and they are all built of light
(?) brick with plasterboard walls - making it a bit of a cardboard
castle.

All the doors are fire doors with those chains between the frame &
door (hinge side) to automatically close.

Thing is - whenever a door closes in the flat, it shakes the whole
flat and the neighbours.

Even if you close it yourself, the frames tend to shake the walls!

Is there any way to cushion these doors? They're a tight fit against
the frame, so rubber insulation won't let them close.


Water pressure.
The way it's plumbed means that the shower stops if anyone flushes the
loo or uses the dishwasher etc.
Can this be replumbed so the shower is on a separate feed? (if so, I'd
call in a professional)
Is it possible to install a pump to increase the water pressure (I
have a feeling that he shower head is above the level of the water
tank - will this make a difference?)

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Nick


The doors can be fitted with things called door catchers. These are like a
cup and ball which go together as the door is closing and they have a piston
inside which slows the door down before it bangs against the frame. Only
ever seen them sold in hardware wholesalers so you might have a bit of
searching around to do.

The shower problem needs a bit more information from you to be sure of a
proper remedy. You say you think the shower head is above the height of the
tank. If the shower is fed from a tank within your flat, which I presume is
all on one level with no loft space, then where is the tank sited in
relation to the shower ?

If you don't have a cold water storage tank, or the shower is an instant ele
ctric style, then the problem is that the mains water supply to the flat
isn't large enough to supply two or more appliances with the flow rate they
need to work properly, and the appliance that is closer, or just lower down,
is taking precedence over the shower. It might, therefore, be possible to
have a separate supply taken from the mains pipe directly to the shower.
But this is only feasible if the shower is an instant electric style.


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Nick
 
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Default Internal fire doors / slamming ! & Shower problems

Thanks for the reply,

I had another look at the set-up last night:

Shower is on the same level as the boiler and is a direct feed from
the hot water (ie not electric).
There is no cold water tank in the loft - is it possible that a) I'm
blind, b) I need a stronger torch, or c) there's one to service
several of the flats?

I also had a closer look at the door problem even letting the door go
from 1" from the closing position is enough to shake the frame - the
frame is connected to the light wooden frames behind the plasterboard
which tend to shake every wall they're connected to.
Is there any where to put nails, screws, or other bits of metal to
stop it doing that?

Cheers
Nick
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BigWallop
 
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Default Internal fire doors / slamming ! & Shower problems


"Nick" wrote in message
m...
Thanks for the reply,

I had another look at the set-up last night:

Shower is on the same level as the boiler and is a direct feed from
the hot water (ie not electric).
There is no cold water tank in the loft - is it possible that a) I'm
blind, b) I need a stronger torch, or c) there's one to service
several of the flats?


This probably means that the mains supply isn't giving enough flow rate
(amount of water) into the flat and will need replaced with a larger
diameter pipe and a bit more pressure if possible. Contact your water
supply company for advice on this.


I also had a closer look at the door problem even letting the door go
from 1" from the closing position is enough to shake the frame - the
frame is connected to the light wooden frames behind the plasterboard
which tend to shake every wall they're connected to.
Is there any where to put nails, screws, or other bits of metal to
stop it doing that?

Cheers
Nick


It sounds as though you have a cheap and cheerful renovation or new build on
your hands. It might be possible for you to release some of the pressure on
the spring closer by extending the chain slightly by a couple of links. To
stop the whole partition wall from shaking is almost impossible unless
you're allowed to rebuild it in breese block, so I don't think you'll be
able to stop this at all. The only solution is remove the closers
completely, but this will probably violate your tenancy and the local
by-laws for fire safety. Not a good idea.


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Christian McArdle
 
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Default Internal fire doors / slamming ! & Shower problems

Shower is on the same level as the boiler and is a direct feed from
the hot water (ie not electric).
There is no cold water tank in the loft - is it possible that a) I'm
blind, b) I need a stronger torch, or c) there's one to service
several of the flats?


Or (d) you have no tank at all. Most flats, particularly new ones, will have
a combi boiler to heat the water. This requires no tanks or cylinders at
all. Everything runs off the mains. However, if the water supply is a bit
flaky, or all the internal pipework is off a 15mm run snaking around the
house, then you can easily get problems with outlets affecting each other.

The solution depends on whether the supply is the problem, or the poorly
designed pipework inside.

Christian.


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Owain
 
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Default Internal fire doors / slamming ! & Shower problems

"BigWallop" wrote
| I also had a closer look at the door problem even letting the
| door go from 1" from the closing position is enough to shake
| the frame
| It sounds as though you have a cheap and cheerful renovation or
| new build on your hands. It might be possible for you to release
| some of the pressure on the spring closer by extending the chain
| slightly by a couple of links... The only solution is remove the
| closers completely, but this will probably violate your tenancy
| and the local by-laws for fire safety. Not a good idea.

I wonder if it would be worth trying disabling the chain closer and fitting
an over-door closer - the sort with separate adjusters for close and latch
speeds. They might have rather more sophistication than simply slamming
shut.

The mechanism will probably have to go on the outside of the door, as it's
probably intended to keep the stairwell clear of smoke in the event of a
fire in the flat.

Owain


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