The Role of Fire Doors, Frames and Fire Seals, Door Hardware Maintenance and Replacement

John Fletcher

Technical Consultant

British Woodworking Federation

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection

Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism

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

2. Must be tested to show the design will work in a fire. How do I know?

Is a certificate enough?

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

3

Who we are.

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

BWF Fire Door Strategy

• 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% • Fire doors are an engineered safety device – not ‘just an

ordinary door’ • Poor understanding, poor maintenance, poor workmanship

5

Why the industry set up the scheme

The issues / concerns

New Build

Changing the spec “to save the client money”

Cutting costs = cutting corners

Poor skills / poor workmanship

It’s ONLY a door!

Lack of understanding of how fire doors work

Industry reliance on building control to ‘police’ new buildings

Existing Buildings

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

How can the client understand?

Poor skills / poor workmanship / poor maintenance

It’s ONLY a door!

Lack of understanding of how fire doors work

‘High profile’ fires highlight issues Heavy fines / Prosecution

Gaps - between doors, frame-to-wall, leaf to frame

Poor workmanship & poor advice

Does someone

REALLY believe

this will work in a

fire?

Poor maintenance

Photos by kind

permission of

CheckMate Ltd

Understanding what a fire door does

Wedged / held open fire doors

Understanding the label

Adapting / accommodating fire doors to suit premises

Highlighting bad practice

Keeping the pressure on the market

Dedicated campaign highlights 4 major areas where contractors and clients may be vulnerable

• Non-compliance with Building Regs

• Non-compliance with RRO

• Lack of adequate insurance protection

• Insufficient protection for life or property

Help and education

Maintaining pressure on the various stakeholders

Closer working with insurance sector

Encouraging members to cascade information to clients

Educational tools such as Videos and Fact Cards

Better engagement through merchants

Consistent messages & information

Consistent approach to inspections Competent Approved Fire Door Inspectors (FDIS)

What are fire doors for?

The Humble Fire Door

Fire Door

Essential in Passive Fire Protection

Can only work with correct, compatible

components

Must be tested to show how

the design will work

“It could be argued that the fire door is the most prevalent fire safety measure in any built environment.”

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

o as a doorset,

o or as an assembly.

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

We expect a jobbing builder or small contractor to be able to install a complex engineered fire safety device . With components bought from . . .?? . .

What he doesn’t realise is ALL of those components have to be able to work together to ensure the door assembly will work effectively in the event of a fire

Regulations

What regulations apply to fire doors?

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 rating.

Building Regulations New buildings

UK Regulatory Parts

Performance Notes

England &

Wales :

Approved

Documents

Scotland :

Technical

Handbook :

sections

Northern Ireland

: Technichal

Booklets

Fire Safety

- 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 N 4 V

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

• Factories and warehouses

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

But it’s expensive

3 ways of demonstrating compliance The difference . . . .

Self declaration

“Tested to / Designed to /

Complies with BS 476 Part 22”

No guarantee that products will (or have)

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

Uncertain? = RISK

3rd 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: 2000. Tests are made on complete door assemblies, the door and frame with all the necessary hardware.

33

The BWF-Certifire label

Permanent, Tamper Evident, Full Traceability

Fire door

rating

Mfctrs

Certifire

No.

Unique

door No.

Manufacturer and

contact details

Fire Door Certificates

What to look for . . . 1. Does the door have any identity or

marking to validate compliance / certification?

• A Plug • A label • An invoice

2. Is the certification number 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 requires a different construction - AND a different test

And it MAY NOT be suitable for glazing

Panel Moulded

Panel Flush Glazed 1 ½ pair

with screen

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

Door configuration

Ironmongery for Fire Doors must be compatible with the door

Essential Ironmongery

• Hinges

• Closers

• Locks and latches

Non-Essential Ironmongery

Handles

Knobs

Spy holes

Letter plates

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 about the door leaf and components?

Checking the assembly

What to look for – after installation and in use

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

Don’t patch up the door

Door Frame

Is the door frame made from the right material?

Hardwood for 1 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?

Is the frame-to-door-leaf gap consistently 3mm (with a tolerance of +/- 1mm)?

Does the door close evenly into the frame

The gap is important

The frame to door leaf gap should be

3 to 4mm at the two sides and top

edge of the door

Threshold Gap

If a Fire Door – the permissible threshold gap is ~ 10mm. (Check the manufacturer’s instructions)

If a Fire and Smoke Door – the permissible threshold gap should be 3mm – the same as the perimeter gap.

Does the door freely swing, without binding?

Intumescent and smoke seals

Must be tested to BS 476: Pt 22

(OR BS EN 1634-1:2000 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

Save lives, and property - prevent flow of cold / hot smoke

Should be supplied, fitted by doorframe manufacturer.

If replaced due to repair MUST be equal to original doorset / assembly

Many doorsets now need to provide fire, smoke and acoustic

containment

45

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?

If combined fire and smoke seals, are the fins or brushes free from damage?

Is the door leaf to frame gap still 3mm (+/- 1mm)?

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

Commonly used for lock/latch and hinge protection kits

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

Letter boxes

Air transfer grilles

Spy-hole viewers

Must all be cut by licensed

processors

NOT on site

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

Ironmongery for Fire Doors must be compatible with the door

Essential Ironmongery

• Hinges

• Closers

• Locks and latches

Non-Essential Ironmongery

Handles

Knobs

Spy holes

Letter plates

Code of Practice

Essential reading

Read or download this document from

www.firecode.org.uk

Conclusion

How Safe are YOUR Fire Doors?

How safe are YOUR 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

6. If in ANY DOUBT, then ASK

Further Information

www.bwfcertifire.org.uk

Directory of members - Literature and Fact Cards

Websites for more information & advice

www.bwfcertifire.org.uk www.fdis.co.uk

Check the certificate details

Look out for 2 further initiatives

15–20 SEPTEMBER 2014

A national register of third-party

certificated fire door installers

www.firedoorinstaller.co.uk

(Under Construction)

Thanks for your support in 2013

Same week in 2014

ANY QUESTIONS?

Views / Comments / Questions