Door Industry Journal - Winter 2020

103 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Fire Doors, Safety & Security restrict access to people with disabilities. Therefore, doors must not have excessively high opening forces, and door closers fitted to fire doors must have enough power to reliably close the door, but not restrict day to day access for any group of users – or this could result in tampering. Approved Document M in England and Wales, Section 4 in Scotland and Part R in Northern Ireland outline the specific requirements for door opening forces. There are a range of door closers available that offer compliance with fire and accessibility regulations, and also offer adjustability that allows the force to be modified onsite depending on evolving occupant requirements. An alternative is electro-mechanical door operators, which will ensure the door can be opened with minimal force. This can provide fully automatic opening using a push pad button or assisted operation to minimise the force required. These must be CERTIFIRE Approved and CE Marked, as with all fire door hardware. Building Use Self-closing doors can be, in certain environments, a hinderance to normal operations. Hospitals are a clear example of this as beds and wheelchairs must be moved through the building frequently. Also, in schools, colleges and universities, during classroom changes there will be a high-level of traffic moving around the building. Self-closing doors will impede the smooth movement of staff and students, causing frustration, whilst the high levels of use increase wear and tear on the closer. One possible solution is a door closer with a delayed action feature, allowing more time for people to pass through the door before it begins to close. On a fire door, it should not take more than 25 seconds to close from 120 degrees to comply with EN1154. Another option is to select hold-open devices that will keep the door open unless the fire alarm is triggered. Should the fire alarm activate, or if there is a loss of power, the device will disengage and allow the door closer to fully shut the door. As per legal compliance, these must be CE marked EN1155. These delayed action and hold open devices are also advantageous in that they will reduce temptation for building occupants to prop or wedge the door open to prevent it closing automatically. Damage and vandalism Reducing the risk of damage to the door, closer and surrounding area is important, regardless of whether this is likely to be accidental or deliberate. This is especially true of fire doors, where damage can compromise performance in the event of a fire. A concealed closer – with the mechanism hidden when the door is closed, minimises temptation and opportunity for damage. This is ideal in areas that are accessible to the public but not consistently monitored. There are a range of these concealed closers, including overhead and jamb mounted, that suit a variety of applications while meeting building regulations. Selecting the right door closer involves knowledge of building legislation and recognising the best solution for buildings depending on footfall and use, whilst keeping repair and maintenance costs down. To help select the right closer, Ironmongery Direct has recently launched its Door Closers Buyers Guide, which outlines a range of compliant door closer options from its 18,000 strong product base, and provides more in-depth detail on requirements. To find out more, visit www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog. THE door industry journal