Door Industry Journal - Summer 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk ARE SAFETY ISSUES HOTTING UP? FIRST HALF OF YEAR BRINGS HUGE RISE OF INTEREST IN FIRE DOORS Fire door safety experts have noticed a huge increase in interest in the first six months of the year, according to new figures from the BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door and Doorset Scheme. The BWF-CERTIFIRE website has received more than 26,000 visits from 21,215 unique visitors in the UK since January 2013, an increase of more than 350% on the same period last year. Since the end of March, the time of the Lakanal House fire inquest verdict, there has been a particularly marked increase in the unique page views for information regarding the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and other fire safety regulations. The latest BWF-CERTIFIRE video, with tips on installation of fire doors, was published on YouTube last month and is already attracting hundred of views. These figures indicate a serious and growing demand for information about fire doors, especially through online channels. In order to reach a wider audience BWF-CERTIFIRE has also become one of the first organisations to make its CPD content available on the Building Academy website, an online learning platform tailored specifically to those working in the built environment. The content consists of a series of videos explaining the vital role of fire doors and what needs to be done to ensure they work correctly and fulfil their purpose in protecting lives and property. Advice is provided on current legal regulations, technologies, and strategies for fire door maintenance and assessment. For more information about fire doors: www.bwf-certifire.org.uk To see BWF-CERTIFIRE videos, go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/BritishWF For the fire door CPD videos, visit www.thebuildingacademy.com and search for BWF NEW CE INTUMESCENT ACOUSTIC SEALANT FROM LORIENT Lorient, respected designer and manufacturer of acoustic, smoke and fire seals for door assemblies has introduced a CE marked Intumescent Acoustic Sealant. From 1st July 2013, under the Construction Products Regulation it will become mandatory to CE mark a construction product placed on the market that has a European Technical Assessment or a Harmonised Product Standard - this includes intumescent sealant for linear and penetration gap seals. The sealant is suitable for a number of applications including: linear gap seals in wall and floor constructions and as a linear joint seal where wall and floor constructions abut. It is also ideal for penetration seals around metallic pipes and electrical cables to reinstate the fire resistance performance of wall and floor constructions. As well as sealing the perimeter around fire and smoke resistant damper/air transfer grilles in doors, walls, ducts, floors and ceilings. Lorient’s CE marked Intumescent Acoustic Sealant is tested in accordance with EN 1366-3 (2004 & 2009) - fire resistance for penetration seals and EN 1366-4:2006 fire resistance for linear joint seals and has been classified in accordance with EN 13501-2. The sealant also provides effective acoustic containment; up to 240 minutes fire protection; and offers improved flexibility to allow for differential movement in everyday service. For further details please visit www.lorientuk.com or call our Technical Services team on 01626 834252. 53 THE door industry journal summer 2013 fire & security