“We want all our customers to have this level of peace of mind
and it is our intention to conduct fire testing from both sides on
all the products in the Profab range. Testing on the 1000 Series
access panels is already under way.”
Warrington Fire, now a part of the Element Group, is a UKAS
accredited laboratory which specialises in fire resistance
testing for passive fire protection products. The testing process
is stringent, from start to finish. The testing personnel from
Warrington Fire come to the Profab Access manufacturing facility
to personally select the riser doors they wish to test. Both the
doors and frames are signed by the testers to ensure the correct
products are delivered to them for testing.
Once at the laboratory the riser doors are tested to BS EN 1634-
1:2014+A1:2018, the standard for fire resistance and smoke
control. The testing process involves the riser doors being held
in a rig in front of a kiln. The size of the rig, 3 metres high by
3 metres wide, enables testing of single, double or triple riser
doors to be carried out.
The riser doors are tested to measure the integrity of the door
and frame when subjected to fire. The process involves ensuring
that flaming cannot occur on the unexposed face of the door for
longer than 10 seconds and that a 25 mm rod cannot be passed
through the specimen. The transfer of radiant heat though the
surface of the doors is also measured. Limiting the transmission
of heat from one side of the door to the other to protect building
occupants so they can safely exit the building is paramount.
Amendments have already been made to the Building
Regulations Approved Document B (Fire Safety), notably the
ban on combustible cladding on all new buildings over 18
metres in height. Further changes are expected as a result
of the call for evidence for the technical review of Approved
Document B, which closed in March. By taking the lead in fire
testing both sides of the 4000 Series riser doors Profab Access
is future proofing the products being used in the construction
sector. When it comes to riser doors building professionals now
have the opportunity to specify products that exceed the legal
requirements.
To find out more about the range of fire rated products
available from Profab Access please visit
www.profabaccess.com or call the Technical team on
01827 719051.