TESTING & CERTIFICATION
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 of a doorset fit 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 .”
Door Closers
“ Door closers facilitate the operation of a fire door and must be UKCA and CE marked and tested to EN 1154 . When opened , a fire door should fully engage into the door frame every time , shutting tight by use of its own self-closing device . When conducting checks , the trick is to open a door to 5 ° or 75mm , and upon letting it go , it should close and engage the latch successfully . Failing to do so could indicate the door closer has been incorrectly installed or damaged and , therefore , needs adjustments or replacing . Adjustments can be made to the closing power and speed of door closers , and in busy environments such as schools and hospitals , a prolonged closing action is useful , giving people extra time to pass through the doorway .”
Hold Open Devices “ Buildings with high footfall may benefit from approved , electromagnetic hold-open devices tested to BS EN 1155 , which permit open fire doors that automatically release to close in the event
Sources : https :// www . ifsecglobal . com / fire / beginners-guide-to-passive-fire-protection / | https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents / made | https :// www . gov . uk / private-renting / houses-in-multiple-occupation https :// www . firesafe . org . uk / fire-doors / | https :// www . gai . org . uk / GAI / News / News-Items / 2022 / fdis-survey-finds-three-quarters-of-uk-fire-doors-do-no-mete-the-required-standard . aspx | https :// fdis . co . uk | https :// www . gov . uk / guidance / ce-marking
68 NOVEMBER 2022 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM