Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal winter 2023 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security • Glazing (although this is not necessary) • Signage • Door hardware, such as hinges, door closers, locks and latches “Fire doors must work in tandem with each of these components, so they do not compromise the integrity of the doorset. Intumescent fire and smoke seals, for example, frame the edges of the fire door and are chemically designed to expand into the frame when exposed to temperatures beyond 200°C. In doing so, the seals close the gaps between the frame and the door itself, eliminating any possibility of fire - and if required, smoke - from passing through. Intumescent seals, along with clear ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’ signage - usually found towards the top edge of the door leaf - are some of the most unmistakable visual marks found on a fire door. “From an operational viewpoint, fire doors work differently than regular doors too. Fire door hardware is indispensable to fully operational doorsets, where during a fire incident, an open door is rendered useless. To be able to form an effective barrier against fire, a door must close to completion from its open position, and as part of this process, it will call upon its hinges, locks, latches and door-closing devices. Door closers, whether concealed or surface-mounted, use spring-loaded hydraulics to effectively close and engage the door into its latch, where it is held firmly in place by the frame, whereas regular doors rely on manual control. “For buildings with high footfall, an electromagnetic hold-open device may be present on a doorset. These systems are permitted to keep certain fire doors open until a fire alarm is activated, aiding ease of movement until the first sign of a fire incident, in which the system will automatically release and close the doors to completion. Equally, panic and emergency exit devices can be found on some fire doors that are positioned throughout a building’s escape routes. All exit devices are meant to be operated with minimum effort to help users successfully escape through the doorway, meaning reliability is key every step of the way.” Testing and standards To certify fire performance, the complete fire doorset is put through periods of standardised destructive testing in accredited laboratories and workshops. The standard fire performance test method complies with BS EN 1634-1, and in conjunction with product standard BS EN 16034, it provides the supply chain with manufacturing guidelines, and as a result, gives responsible persons and end users peace of mind that their doorset will function in a fire scenario. Kirk Smith continues: “Fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties and houses of multiple occupancy and with updated fire safety regulations now in effect, third-party testing and product traceability is as crucial as ever. Upon testing, certified fire doors are given a fire-resistance rating which details the length of time the door and its hardware components can withstand fire and smoke, with the most common FD ratings being FD30 and FD60, which declare the doorset can withstand fire for 30 or 60 minutes respectively, and FD30S and FD60S if the doors have been tested with smoke control. A regular door with no fire-resistance characteristics would not be able to withstand these tests and as such, would fail in a real-life event. “What’s more, fire resistance tests are conducted on representative samples, and as such, components should not be substituted post-specification and installation. Fire door hardware for example, in addition to rigorous fire safety testing, must go through stages of performance testing to ensure they function properly and can sustain a level of durability that makes them fit for purpose. Mechanical door closers must be tested to the appropriate British Standard EN 1154, which classifies hardware over its category of use, number of test cycles, power size, fire behaviour, safety and corrosion resistance. Equally, emergency exit devices and panic exit devices are tested to BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 respectively and electromagnetic hold-open devices to BS EN 1155. A fire door’s hinges must also be tested to BS EN 1935. “For traceability purposes, end-users can review the UKCA and CE marks on a fire door and its hardware to find its fire rating, certificate numbers and the manufacturer’s details. Furthermore, for those looking to find additional information on a doorset’s components, the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) can be referred to for clear, accurate and up-to-date product information - helping people to review and select trusted hardware that conforms to UKCA and CE certifications.” 105
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