Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal summer 2024 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security too, as you can easily order a replacement if one door gets damaged on site. “Don’t get me wrong - high spec bespoke doors can make an incredible impact and are well worth the investment in the right circumstances, but in cases where the bespoke door is only marginally different to the standardised option, the pragmatic solution is probably best.” Any old ironmongery? Another mistake people make is ordering their ironmongery separately to their doors, adds Richard: “I can see their logic – by cutting out the middleman and going directly to the ironmonger they think that will save them money. “But we order direct from the manufacturer and at such volumes that, more often than not, we get the best price. So not only are you creating extra work for yourself, but you’re also not saving any money. In fact, when we are working on an order using ironmongery supplied by a third party, we need to levy an administration fee to check and manage the stock – so it might even end up costing more. For me, the obvious choice is one order, one invoice, less hassle and potentially less expense too.” Fire Door Specification When it comes to ordering fire doors, “the most important thing to remember is to opt for door sets as opposed to traditional hung doors or door kits” says Richard, because in order to be compliant, all the components, including the frame, handles and closer, must be tested and certified together. Reliability is not guaranteed when doors and frames are assembled on-site using components from various suppliers. Explains Richard: “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 too 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. “Door sets, on the other hand, are precision-cut and built off-site, arriving complete with all ironmongery installed. This streamlines the installation process, reducing the potential for human error. They might seem pricier on paper, but they are easier and faster to install, making them more cost-effective when accounting for skilled labour time on site. “While a traditional hung door might look cheaper upfront, it can cost much more overall – especially if it doesn’t pass inspection and you have to pull it out and start again!” Choosing wisely By taking a pragmatic, ‘big picture’ approach when choosing between standard and bespoke options and focussing on compliance and safety for fire doors, it is possible to optimise a budget and still get the look you want. Informed decisions at specification are key to saving time, trouble and expense down the line. 111
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