INDUSTRY NEWS
The Importance of Smoke & Mirrored Test Evidence
Mark Alton , Head of Product Management at Winkhaus UK guides us through the changes to fire doorset legislation and the requirements for a compliant residential fire doorset .
Fire safety and fire door legislation has changed significantly in recent years , with changes impacting every stage and aspect of a fire doorsets lifecycle , from design and testing to ongoing inspection and maintenance . The most recent changes include defining the role and responsibilities of responsible persons ( RB ’ s ) and accountable persons as covered in the Fire Safety Order ( October 2023 ) and Social Housing acts ( April 2024 ), which completes the sequence of changes identified by the Grenfell enquiry .
For RBs to meet their responsibilities , it ’ s appropriate to remind specifiers of the initial legislation changes that changed the way fire doorsets are designed , tested and how this test evidence is verified . This critical first stage in a fire doorsets specification becomes the thread of evidence that must be maintained through the lifecycle of a doorset , the Golden Thread . Mistakes at this initial stage mean a non-compliant solution will be specified , manufactured , installed , and maintained .
LEGISLATION REQUIREMENTS
The 2019 MHCLG ( Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government ) guideline identified the 3 critical performances for a fire doorset as Fire , Smoke & Security . The MHCLG guideline , along with the independent review of building regulations and fire
The Golden Thread
Fire Doorset legislation has changed significantly in recent years , with the Golden Thread one of the most important changes . The Golden Thread of information is for all higher risk residential buildings ( HRRBs ), so that their original design intent is preserved and changes can be managed through a formal review process . There are five steps in the life cycle of compliance for a Fire Doorset , with the first ( Design & Test ) also the reference point for all others to ensure the original design intent is preserved .
1
DESIGN & TEST The 3 critical performances of a Fire Doorset – Fire , Smoke & Security Tested to EN 1634-1 ( Fire ) Doorsets Tested from both sides Tested to EN 1634-3 ( Smoke ) Enhanced Security – PAS24 Full range of products under a Field of Application The Field of Application is 3 rd Party Certified
2 SPECIFY Site surveyors are 3 rd Party Accredited
3
Surveyors receive specific product training
Surveyors have the skills and knowledge to ensure the Fire Doorset is suitable for the installation
MANUFACTURING Operators trained in Fire door specific characteristics Factory specific Fire Door procedures 3 rd Party certification as part of a Factory Process Audit
Factory Process Control establishes constancy and traceability through manufacturing
safety , also states that these critical performances should be 3rd party audited and certified .
DESIGN AND TEST EVIDENCE
These are a specific standard ’ s that fire doorsets should be tested against :
• Fire Performance – EN 1634-1 or BS 476-22
• Smoke Performance – EN 1634-3 or BS 476-3
• Enhance Security Performance – PAS24
All Winkhaus fire and smoke testing is caried out using EN 1634 as this is viewed as the more onerous of the two standards .
SPECIFY
MANUFACTURE
DESIGN & TEST
INSTALLATION
MAINTAIN
4
5
INSTALLATION Site installation team are 3 rd Party Certified Installation team receive specific product training The installation is fully documented , detailing products used Homeowner / Tenant sign over on completion Full audit trail for Responsible Person
MAINTENANCE POST INSPECTION
Maintenance is covered by a 3 rd Party Certification Scheme
Maintenance team receive specific product training Maintenance team replace defective / damaged items Warranties are not effected by approved work Ensure that door components are Current & Correct
Provides full traceability for the Life Cycle of the Fire Doorset
PLANNED ANNUAL INSPECTION Inspector 3 rd Party Certified Inspector has received specific product training Inspections carried out against the Field of Application
For further information about Winkhaus Fire , Smoke & Security Doorset Solutions , support creating your specifications or to register for our free training , please visit firetraining . winkhaus . com
THE IMPORTANCE OF SMOKE
Earlier this year the Home Office published the latest detailed information on incidents attended by the Fire & Rescue Services , which provides a stark reminder of the importance of smoke as a key performance for a fire doorset . From the recorded fatalities just over half were overcome by smoke or the combination of burns and overcome by smoke .
As a business we have always tested our fire doorset solutions against all three performances , becoming the first to achieve three separate 3rd party accreditations for these performances and the first to receive this for mirrored Smoke
14 JUNE 2024 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM