Door Industry Journal - Summer 2017

amongst which are successful fire testing to BS EN 1634-1 and cycle testing to at least 500,000 opening/closing cycles, which is equivalent to ten years in a high usage environment and should, reasonably, be expected to be covered by a manufacturer’s product warranty of ten years. It should also be noted that only door closers of power size three and above are suitable for use on fire doors. In addition to the areas of product performance covered by legislation and standards, the selection process should also include the consideration of other factors which can have a bearing on the door closer’s ability to perform reliably throughout its life:- Reliability Failure of a door closer can lead to failure of the fire door to perform the duty for which it is intended; to keep fire and smoke at bay. Cycle testing certainly provides some assurance of a product’s durability, but other factors can also come into play. The need to properly maintain the door closer during its life can impose an undesirable burden on building managers; some door closers, such as Powermatic are designed to be maintenance-free and come with ten-year warranties for added assurance. Additionally, if a door closer is damaged, either through some misplaced prank, tampering or a deliberate act of vandalism, this too can have a detrimental effect on the fire door’s performance, perhaps even stopping the fire door from working all together. In social housing flats, educational establishments, student accommodation, healthcare facilities and other public buildings, such risks, whether accidental or deliberate, are significantly higher than in other properties. Samuel Heath jamb-mounted door closers are a viable solution in such situations. Totally concealed when the door is closed, they fit neatly between the door and frame and, unlike surface-mounted devices, have minimal visible components. Door closers such as Powermatic are less likely to be damaged, thereby enhancing the reliability of the door closer itself as well as the fire door. Safety Wedging fire doors open will obviously prevent the fire door performing its primary function and should be avoided at all times. Despite notices, best practice guides and individual instructions, the practice still goes on, especially in care homes, but also in other facilities. Additionally, individual bedroom doors in care homes, psychiatric care facilities and similar buildings will often require the door to be capable of normal manual operation much of the time, but act as a fire door in the case of a fire or when desired by users. Recognising the risks and assessing the needs of a building’s occupants, are the first steps to providing effective fire safety. The solution is either to use hold-open devices or free swing door closers, such as Powermatic Free Swing, which allows the door to operate manually until the door closer is activated, normally by the building’s fire alarm system. When selecting the right door closer for any fire door situation, the first task will always be to ensure that the product meets relevant fire performance requirements. Once these criteria have been satisfied, skill and judgement need to be applied in interpreting regulations correctly and considering less rigid criteria, such as reliability, maintenance requirements and other factors that can have a significant influence on the safety of a building’s occupants. Both standard and Free Swing models of Powermatic carry the CE mark, assuring their suitability for use on fire doors. They also deliver additional benefits which enhance fire door reliability and provide the convenience in operation to assure a building’s fire safety British designed and manufactured to the highest standards of quality and engineering excellence, they not only deliver reliable performance but also provide safety to a building’s occupants whilst minimising maintenance costs. On a whole-life costing model, Powermatic can prove to be a worthwhile investment for fire door applications in all types of building. 117 THE door industry journal summer 2017 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk locks and building hardware feature