WORK is set to be carried out in the buiding that houses Taunton Crown Court after a survey revealed it does not meet modern fire regulations.

The Ministry of Justice has applied for listed building consent to carry out work to upgrade the fire resistance of 42 doors at Shire Hall, Shuttern.

 

 

 

A planning application to Somerset West and Taunton Council says: "Recent assessments of the fire safety provisions in the building by the Ministry of Justice Estates Directorate have questioned the overall integrity of the doors badged as fire doors within designated fire compartment walls and identified a pressing need for substantial improvement of existing fire door installations.

 

"The conclusion of the assessments is that it is not possible to confirm the existing (historic) doors will perform to the same standard as proprietary, certified 21st Century fire doors and frames, nor to ascertain exactly what their performance in fire conditions might actually be."

Bearing in mind the building, completed in 1858, is Grade II listed, the application has come up with proposals to enhance the performance of the doors "with minimal impact on the heritage fabric of the building and doors".

The applicationo adds: "It is proposed that the works are justified by virtue of the changes proposed representing tangible and measurable improvements to the fire performance of historic doors without changing their aesthetic value and significantly improves the life-safety provisions that prevail on the site currently should a fire occur within the building.

"The upgrades proposed to doors have been carefully considered to minimise their individual and collective impact on the appearance of the doors themselves and the listed building in its entirety."

 

The works will include measures to remedy:

  • "excessive gaps" between door leafs and frames and floors;
  • glazed vision panels without certified fire resistance;
  • poor door closing devices;
  • "inconsistent installation of existing smoke seals";
  • inconsistent signages on fire doors;
  • and lack of repairs to existing doors and frames.