Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal spring 2024 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security Size matters The architectural and construction industries are in a constant state of evolution, with changing design trends and client demands leading to increasingly challenging fire safety applications. With glass a popular building material, it’s important to look for cuttable products that can deliver exceptional fire protection even at larger certified pane sizes and with a high tolerance to variations in glazing media. While fire doors traditionally feature a rectangular strip of glass, it is increasingly common for doorsets to feature a side glazed partition or even an elegantly designed top-lite. Timber and composite While timber fire doors are perhaps the traditional choice, composite fire doors are also an increasingly popular solution for external applications, although not without their challenges. Following the Grenfell disaster, there was a clear industry shift, looking instead for EI15 (Integrity & Insulation) fire safety glass, as opposed to E30 (Integrity). Composite fire doors can also present different complexities when testing the fire safety glass used, with a range of factors to consider, from the plastic edged glazing cassette to the door’s GRP exterior skin. As a result, consider looking for a manufacturer who can provide tested and independently certified solutions for both timber and composite fire doors, offering a single source of supply. Preparing for the future As we look ahead to the future, it’s important to take a proactive approach and actively work to safeguard our businesses against potential industry shifts. Recently, there has been much discussion around a potential transition from British Standards (BS) to European Standards (EN). If actioned, this will mark a significant change for the industry, particularly within the timber door market, which has long relied on BS standards for testing. While undoubtedly a positive step forward in terms of fire safety, the adoption of EN standards is renowned for posing more rigorous testing requirements. As a result, any shift from BS to EN could necessitate the redesign and retesting of numerous products, potentially leading to the temporary removal of door systems from the market during this transitional phase. At Pyroguard, we’ve been testing to the EN standard for many years, including Pyroguard Advance, our new, high-performance fire safety glass. Certified for use across a wide range of steel and timber profiles, it provides EW classification with a fire resistance of 30 or 60 minutes, even at larger certified pane sizes. The Pyroguard Advance range also includes a multi-functional double-glazed fire safety glass that has been composite door approved, in accordance with EN1634-1 for external doorsets. For more information, please visit: www.pyroguard.eu 113 Interested in appearing in the Summer Edition? SAVE THESE DEADLINE DATES: Features Editorial Advert Artwork 15th June 25th June 5th July
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