Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 110 THE door industry journal winter 2022 Fire Doors, Safety & Security Fire Door Failure: Spotting the Faults Kirk Smith of Allegion UK discusses fire door neglect and how to spot the potential faults that could be compromising your fire safety procedures. Purpose-built to compartmentalise fire and smoke, fire doors are recognised as a critical element of passive fire protection and exist in practically every building where we work, sleep and live. Such is their importance; they are acknowledged by several professional bodies and are a legal requirement in non-domestic premises and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Day to day we use them without a thought, yet fire doors consist of much more than a simple piece of furniture. A fire door is a complete door assembly, comprising a doorset fitted with a door frame, leaf, essential hardware, edge seals and integral panels. In the event of a fire, not one of these elements can fail, and so to meet the necessary standards, a fire doorset must pass one or more of a series of standardised tests, confirming its certification and FD ratings. So why can fire doors experience failure in critical moments? Between neglect, misspecification and a misunderstanding of their significance, 75% of fire doors fail to meet the required standard, as has been revealed by the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS). To combat this, a conscious effort is needed, with more attention given to fire doors and their components. Once installed, simple checks can help ensure a fire door is safe to fulfil its role, but where should you start when spotting a door’s potential faults? Fault checks explained Upon operation, a fire door calls upon its many elements - all of which must function in tandem to ensure the door is effective in a fire situation. Generally, there are eight core areas to consider when conducting regular risk assessments and spotting potential faults. Kirk Smith of Allegion UK explains more: Door Furniture “When opening or closing a door, our hands instinctively reach out for the handle. Should it be absent, or even loose, it could affect whether a door can be opened in an emergency. Because of this, a handle should always remain installed on a fire door and its screws tight. Bolt-through fixings pass right through the door and the lock or latch case and will strengthen the installation of handles by preventing the screws from moving or becoming loose. Check whether the handle operates smoothly and returns freely to a horizontal position after use, too. Finally, if the fire door in question is on an escape route, it must open in the direction of travel, without the use of a key. Keep it simple, but effective.” Hinges “Hinges are a necessary pivot action fixing that provides the movement to a door. A standard height fire door requires the installation of three hinges minimum, with intumescent pads fitted. A door standing over 2.2 metres will require four hinges. This will prevent the door from warping in a fire due to its weight, and so should you see a fire door only hung on two hinges, it must be changed. Again, screws must be fitted securely, and the hinges themselves must be free of metal fragments and oil leakage as this could indicate signs of wear. When it comes to certification, check for CE or BS EN 1935 marks. Hinges may be hidden somewhat, but they can never be overlooked.” Locks and Latches “To form an effective barrier against fire, a fire door must close fully. Locks and latches help to keep doors held shut and so must be fixed firmly and working correctly. Upon inspection, it’s important to check whether the latch engages fully into the strike plate and whether the door can be held firmly in place without rattling. Failure to do so may indicate faulty or damaged hardware. Like hinges, check for metal dust deposits - typically located on the latch bolt or strike plate - as this could also show wear or damage.”
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