Fire Doors The Role of a Fire Door

Fire Doors

The Role of a Fire Door

BWF-Certifire Fire Door and Doorset Scheme

Presented by John Fletcher John Fletcher Consulting Ltd.

Fire doors – main messages

1. Fire doors are essential in passive fire protection

 A requirement in compartmenting a building  Protecting escape routes

 Save Lives – Save Property

2. Must be tested to show the design will work in a fire.

 What do we mean by certification?

3. Fire doors can only work correctly when . . . .

 Fitted with the correct compatible components for the door

 Door leaf + frame / linings

 Closers, Hinges and other ESSENTIAL ironmongery  Seals

 Glazing

 I.e. the fire door assembly / or doorset must comply with regulations

4. Where to go for help & information

If in doubt - DON”T GUESS!

A partnership

BWF - a Trade Association

The BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door and Doorset Scheme

 Began in 1997

 Around 200 members

 An alliance across the Fire Door Industry  Door leaf and doorset manufacturers  Frame manufacturers

 Licensed modifiers

 Ironmongery manufacturers/distributors  Seal manufacturers

 Fire door glass / glazing system providers  Suppliers

 Door blanks / cores  Glass

 Merchants and Distributors

CERTIFIRE - A Certification Body

Other 3rd _{party certification schemes}

Industry Aims & Challenges

• To improve the standard of fire doors installed in the UK • To educate the construction industry about the importance of

third-party certification of fire doors and passive fire protection

systems

• To raise awareness and educate the consumers, and users of the critical importance of Fire Doors

• To move the market progressively towards fire doorsets as the best way to achieve the Scheme long-term objectives

Our Challenges

• 3 million fire doors sold per year

• Common supply route via merchants - approx 80%

• Changing the spec “to save the client money”

• Cutting costs / cutting corners

• Poor understanding, poor maintenance, poor workmanship

• Fire doors are an engineered safety device – not ‘just an ordinary door’

Poor workmanship

Does someone REALLY believe this will work in a fire?

Photos by kind permission of CheckMate Ltd

Poor understanding

Adapting / accommodating fire doors to suit

premises

What fire doors do

2. In the event of a fire

• A requirement in compartmenting a building

• Protecting escape routes

• Restricting initial development of a fire.

E.g restricting the amount of oxygen feeding the fire

Fire doors serve 2 purposes

1. Everyday activity

• Allowing passage in and out of a building / section of a building or a room

2 types of fire door installations

• In the UK, a fire door installation is achieved in one of two ways:-

Doorset:

o frame, a pre-hung door leaf (with any vision panels) and essential ironmongery, all matched and pre-assembled in the factory

Door Assembly:

o a fire door leaf, frame and

additional components needed to install them, supplied and fitted separately.

In the latter case, the components that are fitted MUST match the test evidence. I.e. They MUST be compatible with the door leaf

Door leaf – standard practice

Fire door assembly

Fire door leaf / approved frame / casing Compatible Approved Components Door leaf

Door frame / casing / lining

CE marked Certifire Approved components – compatible with door test

Regulations

The Building Regulations

 Fire doors should have the appropriate

performance - given by

 Test BS 476 Part 22

 Classification BS EN 13501 / Test BS EN 1634 – 1/2/3

 Any test evidence used to substantiate the fire resistance rating of a door or shutter should be carefully checked to ensure that it adequately demonstrates compliance that is applicable to the

complete installed assembly.

Small differences in detail (such as glazing

apertures, intumescent strips, door frames and ironmongery etc.) may significantly affect the

Building Regulations

New buildings

- Where a fire door is required - The fire resistance period expected

- Specific requirements e.g. smoke seals and signage

B 2 E

Sound - Minimum sound resistance _{performance of the door} E 5 G Ventilation - Minimum air transfer gap _{required under the door} F 3 K

Thermal - Minimum thermal performance

of the door if required L 6 F

Accessibility

- Access to buildings for disabled people, including door width, hardware locations, opening forces, provision of vision panels and light reflectance values required

M 3 R

Safety Glazing

- Where safety glass is required

Regulatory Reform Order (2005)

Existing buildings

Applies to England and Wales:

Fire (Scotland) Act

• Premises that provide care including care homes and hospitals

• Community halls, places of worship and other community premises

• The shared areas of properties occupied by several households

• Pubs, clubs and restaurants

• Schools and sports centres

• Tents and marquees

• Hotels and hostels

The Missing Link

- Building handover requirements

(

Regulation 38 – England and

Wales)

New build

Client Ownership

Handing over the correct information about the certification of the fire door and components is extremely important for future inspection & maintenance

Understanding certification

What does it tell us?

How do we know it’s correct or up-to-date?

Doors should be tested & certificated?

 You need proof of performance  Comply with building regs.

 A test certificate indicates that the complete door

assembly can withhold fire for a defined period of time

 What many fail to realise - that the complete assembly

must be installed as it was tested  Components as well as door

 Applies to each door configuration

 requires a proof

 How do I know if the door is a fire door?  Label

 Plug

 Proof of test evidence

 What if you have none of these?

 then there’s a doubt about the door’s ability to perform  An ‘expert’ assessment can be made

3 ways of demonstrating compliance

The difference . . . .

reached the correct standards

May not have been tested

Was the test impartial? What about ongoing

manufacture?

Test certificate

“My product was tested.” “I have a certificate” Only a SNAPSHOT test

Was the test sample representative of what

is ALWAYS produced?

What if manufacturing changes? What if designs change?

What if materials change?

3rd _party

certification

Not only demonstrates product conformity Audits the company’s production & product

Ensures the product is supplied to the SAME specification / design

AS TESTED

= CONFIDENCE

Uncertain? = RISK

3

rd

_{party certification}

Warrington Certification is the UKAS test laboratory who conduct independent

testing of doors and components and audit check members

Doors +

components can be traced up or down the supply chain

The performance of timber doors is judged by subjecting them to the standard test procedure specified in BS 476 : Part 22: 1987 or BS EN 1634-1: 2014. Tests are made on complete door assemblies, the door and frame with all the necessary hardware.

Fire Door Certificates

What to look for . . .

1. Does the door have any identity or marking to validate compliance / certification?

• A plug

• A label

• A specific door reference

2. Is the certification number / evidence relevant to the door leaf / door set?

• Obvious!! But you’d be surprised how rarely it’s checked

3. Is the door type / configuration correct?

• Single / pair

• Panel / flush etc.

1. Who glazed the door?

• If not done correctly, the certificate will be void

Door types

You may have specified an FD30 door, but . . .

 Each door type below requires a different construction - AND a different

test

 It MAY NOT be suitable some configurations, certain components or for glazing

Panel Moulded

Each door

configuration is

subjected to a different fire door test.

You cannot assume that any 2 single doors will work in a double leaf system

Ironmongery for Fire Doors must

be compatible with the door

Essential Ironmongery

• Hinges

• Closers

• Locks and latches

Non-Essential Ironmongery

 Handles

 Knobs

 Spy holes

Where do I find the information

about the door leaf and components?

Installation & maintenance instructions supplied with EVERY door

Where do I find the information

Checking the assembly

The Door Leaf

 Does the door have a certificate?

Is it 3rd_{-party certificated?}

 Does the door leaf sit in the door frame?

 Is it free from distortion?

 Is the door leaf free from damage?

 No cracked / split panels

 If the door leaf is veneered or lipped, is the glue still holding these

products firmly in place?

 Don’t consider upgrading an ordinary door with intumescent paints

 It’s a very specialised job

 You can’t apply the paint accurately enough with a paint brush

Door Frame

 Is the door frame made from the right material?

 Softwood (possibly MDF) for FD30

Hardwood for FD60 hour and above

 Is the door frame firmly attached to the

wall?

 Any SMALL gaps should filled with mineral wool or fire rated material

 Is the frame’s planted stop firmly attached

to the frame?

The gap is important

The frame to door leaf gap should be 3 to 4mm at the two sides and top

Threshold Gap

 If a Fire Door – the permissible

threshold gap is ~ 10mm.

(Check the manufacturer’s instructions / evidence)

 If a Fire and Smoke Door – the

permissible threshold gap should be

3 to 4mm – the same as the

perimeter gap.

 Does the door freely swing, without

Intumescent and smoke seals

 Must be tested to BS 476: Pt 22

 (OR BS EN 1634-1:2014 AND a separate test for smoke leakage under BS 476:

Pt 31.1)

 Typically fitted into groove in door leaf OR PREFERABLY frame.  Fitted along 2 vertical sections and top edge

 not fitted to threshold

 Ideally, should be supplied, fitted by doorframe manufacturer.  If replaced due to repair MUST be equal to original doorset /

assembly

 Save lives, and property - prevent flow of cold / hot smoke  Many doorsets now need to provide fire, smoke and acoustic

containment

Fire & Smoke Seals

 Is the Fire Door an FD30(S) or an FD60(S)?  There is very limited substitution on FD30’s

and no substitution allowed on FD60’s

 Are there any seals present in the door leaf or

frame?

 Are the seals free from damage?

 Are the seals continuous around the door leaf’s

perimeter?

 Are the intumescent seals, graphite or sodium

silicate?

 Don’t mix them

 If combined fire and smoke seals, are the fins

or brushes free from damage?

Intumescent Materials

3 main types

Exfoliating Graphite

 Most common type, 17 different types.  Expansion between 170 – 300 °C

 High pressure seal, multi directional expansion

Hydrated Sodium Silicate

 Chemical formula, consistent in its performance  Expands at 100 °C , consistently

 High pressure seal, multi directional expansion Mono-Ammonium Phosphate

 Referred to as MAP

 Low pressure, high volume expansion

Glazing Detail

 Are the glazing beads well attached to

the door leaf and free from damage?

 Is the glass free from damage and

cracking?

 Is the intumescent glazing seal

continuous and attached to both the glass and bead?

 If the glass is below 1500mm from the

bottom of the door is the glass a fire- rated safety glass?

 Who cut the vision panel & installed

the glass?

Unprotected slots and apertures

Other apertures

in doors

Air transfer grilles Spy-hole viewers

Should be cut & fitted by approved installers

Fire Rated ATG’s

 On an FD30 or FD60: remove cover grille

and check that a Fire Resistant air transfer grille has been fitted (giving hot smoke protection)

 Ensure the ATG is free of blockages, replace

if necessary.

 If an FD30S or FD60S: ensure

electro-mechanical device has been fitted (giving cold smoke protection) and works!

 Periodic checks must be conducted with the

fire/smoke alarm tests weekly (as required in RRO).

 Does the vent automatically shut down

when the power to the door is cut?

 Ensure the electro-mechanical ATG is free of blockages

Check / maintain the ironmongery

Replace if necessary

Essential Ironmongery

• Hinges

• Closers

• Locks and latches

Non-Essential Ironmongery

 Handles

 Knobs

 Spy holes

Conclusion

The role of fire doors?

Conclusion

1. Only specify / use 3rd_{-party certificated fire doors}

2. Ensure they are installed / maintained by competent persons

3. Get them checked or inspected by competent personnel

4. ONLY use the correct compatible components for the door leaf

5. Don’t play with fire - don’t cut corners

Further Information

www.bwfcertifire.org.uk

Consistent approach to inspections

Look out for 2 further initiatives

15–20 SEPTEMBER 2014

A national register of third-party certificated fire door installers

www.firedoorinstaller.co.uk

THANK YOU