Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 115 THE door industry journal summer 2022 Fire Doors, Safety & Security He adds: “With a traditionally hung door you need to build your frame, architrave and door stops for every door and take care of recessing and machining of ironmongery, all of which requires specific skills - adding time to a project. “It’s also vital to ensure the use of the correct intumescent, hinges, locks, and frame materials to comply with the fire certification of the door leaf. That can be the case with door kits too. Responsibility for this is down to the joinery company making the door sets on site from these components.” All these open variables are only resolved at the point of installation on a busy site leaving multiple areas where error can creep in. Adds Richard: “When standards slip even slightly, which is easily done, that can undermine the door’s ability to withstand a fire, meaning it isn’t compliant and represents a potential risk.” Why door sets are different In contrast, a door set is precision cut and built off-site and can be delivered complete, including hinges, locks and latches. “Installation can be as quick as 15 minutes and with far less room for human error,” adds Richard. Saving so much time on skilled labour is also key to factor in when accounting for the cost of these units. He explains: “While on paper they might look more expensive than sourcing the cheapest possible component parts to fit together on-site, when you account for the skilled labour time involved, the equation looks very different. Door sets can work out not only easier, faster and safer, but cheaper too.” However, the most important advantage of a door set is the fire safety element – provided the manufacturer has implemented the right testing procedure. Adds Richard: “Testing fire door components is just as important as the fire door itself because all the components work together. Stairways fire door sets are third-party tested as one unit. That is not the case with doors and frames put together on-site, with components brought together from different suppliers. “Independent product conformity certificates – better known as third-party certificates –are available when the door manufacturer is a member of an independent product conformity scheme, as Stairways are. Membership requires regular inspections, fire test audits and factory production audits, and we must also provide installation instructions and data sheets and be an ISO 9001registered company.” Regulatory requirements Developers are bound by a number of statutory and regulatory requirements when it comes to fire doors. Commercial developments, student accommodation, and apartment blocks in particular are checked more frequently to ensure compliance. Part B of the building regulations in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings “is the main document to comply” explains Richard: “Within Part B alone there are a huge number of British standards, the main ones for fire doors are BS476 part 22 / BS EN 1634 -1 which is the standard for fire testing doors. Smoke testing of fire doors is under BS 476 part 31/BS EN 1634-1 and BS8214 goes through the installation and maintenance of fire doors. Many other standards also relate to fire doors.” Adds Richard “This is an area where it doesn’t pay to cut corners. Getting it right the first time with a door set is the soundest decision you can make.” Finishing touches Fire-compliant door sets need not be purely functional: “Door sets can be manufactured to a wide variety of specifications, not only accredited fire and smoke resistance, also acoustic and security requirements,” explains Richard. “We offer a wide range of standard and bespoke options across different materials including veneers, laminates, paints, lacquers and primed, which can be factory glazed too. Door sets work well in every setting, including standard detached and semi-detached homes. In fact, we’re finding high-end home builders are opting for them more and more for their solid, quality look, which adds to the luxury aesthetic they’re seeking to create.” To find out more on door sets, visit: https://stairways.co.uk/
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