Door Industry Journal - Winter 2021

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 114 THE door industry journal winter 2021 Fire Doors, Safety & Security self-certification or claims of compliance. One challenge is that fire doorsets are often installed on projects near completion, and it is generally only in the closing stages of a project, immediately before handover, that product conformity information is requested and submitted. By this time it is often too late to address any concerns with non-conforms or ambiguities, leading people to compromise or believe that liability lies elsewhere in the supply chain. This is why it’s recommended to source certified doorsets as complete systems. Should the door and door components come from different suppliers, then there should be an audit trail to prove compliance and track performance. Monitoring installation and maintenance All fire doorsets must be installed in line with the manufacturer’s instructions and meet their testing stipulations (into blockwork but not steelwork, for example). If not installed properly, there may be knock-on effects. If the installed hinges, for example, do not perform as intended then the door leaf itself could drop, which may mean there are incorrect gaps between the leaf and the frame, locks are not aligned or the door leaf drags along the floor, all of which requires additional force from the door closer, so the door doesn’t operate as easily as it should, and so on. Once installed, a fire doorset is subject to varying demands and pressures, depending on the building’s use and type. Its performance should always be assessed with these in mind. If neglected, these issues can cause fire control systems to fail, increasing the risk to both property and, ultimately, lives. Common fire doorset maintenance issues include damaged door closers; wear and tear over time, which can lead to open gaps, door leaf warping, and cracked glazing; damaged seals; incorrect ironmongery being installed; and impaired hinges and latches. Most specifications take into account the ongoing cost and management of an asset, and fire doorsets are no different. In fact, they should be viewed like tyres on a car. As a result, they require a tailored maintenance programme, which considers how often and where within a building they are used, as this may have implications on the expected lifecycle of a fire doorset and its need for refurbishment, maintenance and even replacement. For example, a system installed in a high traffic route, subjected to hard use or occasional abuse, will need more regular maintenance reviews than other installations. In addition, a more regular maintenance programme can help identify potential issues before they become so serious they might compromise safety. We’re all in this together. Let’s all play a part in creating buildings that protect against fires, helping to save lives and properties. To help meet this need, ASSA ABLOY has published a new best practice guide on how to specify, install, maintain and inspect fire-certified doorsets, which can be downloaded for free from www.assaabloyopenings olutions.co.uk/en/whitepapers The guide has been compiled based on the knowledge and expertise of ASSA ABLOY’s FDIS-trained inspectors, as well as insights and information from a range of third-party accreditation bodies and trade associations, including the Door & Hardware Federation, Fire Industry Association, and Secured By Design. For more information on ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, please visit www.assaabloyopening solutions.co.uk, email A ASS-Forum@assaabloy.com or call 0845 223 2124. 1 IFSEC Global, ‘Fire extinguishers: your legal obligations’: https://bit.ly/DIJ1121-1 2 Business Sprinkler Alliance, ‘£1 billion cost of warehouse fires to UK Plc’: https://bit.ly/DIJ1121-2