46 | OCTOBER 2020
Skills
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
NEW GUIDE TO INCREASE FIRE DOOR SAFETY
Designed with facilities managers and nominated Responsible Persons in mind , Abloy UK ’ s new and definitive fire door safety guide has been created to be a trusted source of safety and compliance information . It is free for any business to download and use to review their own fire doors . |
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Pat Jefferies , Commercial Director at Abloy UK , said : “ I understand that there are many other pressing priorities in 2020 , but to be frank you ’ ll care a lot less about these if you ’ re trapped in a burning building . That ’ s why we must never , ever let fire door safety slip , and instead find the best solutions that combine touch-free access |
along with compliance for emergency escape .”
In 2019 , the Fire Door Inspection Scheme found that 76 % of fire doors inspected were condemned as not fit for purpose , with excessive gaps , damaged smoke seals and poorly adjusted door closers the top reasons for failings . Abloy ’ s guide outlines whose responsibility fire doors
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are , along with a seven-step guide to door inspection and a printable check list to assist with record keeping . The guide is the latest part of Abloy ’ s long-term commitment to fire safety ; for more than 10 years |
it has offered free training at the Abloy Academy designed to help the market understand the importance of compliance with Building Regulations .
www . abloy . co . uk
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To download your free fire safety guide and compliance tick list , visit https :// bit . ly / 3ivOp8U
The essential guide to checking fire doors
Fire doors save lives in two ways . When they are closed , they form a barrier to prevent fire from spreading . When they are open , they provide a way to safely escape .
All fire doors must be frequently inspected to ensure they are in good condition and will act as expected in a fire scenario . You should do this as part of your building ’ s risk assessment , as regular maintenance of the door will help keep the occupants safe . At Abloy , we understand that fire door standards and regulations can be complex and difficult to manage . We ’ ve designed
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Gaps
Gaps are one of the top three reasons fire doors failed in 2019 inspections . If the gap is too large , smoke and fire can easily spread , so ensure they are limited to 3mm at the tops and sides of the fire door , and less than 8mm at the bottom . You shouldn ’ t be able to see any light coming from beneath the door . this guide to help any Responsible Persons to ensure fire doors are in an optimum condition and ready to perform .
If you suspect a fire door is damaged or faulty , or spot that the door has any of the problems listed in the guide , have it immediately checked by a competent person .
This guide provides simplified general advice . If you are in any doubt or suspect your fire doors breach any of the points , immediately seek the advice of a Fire Risk Assessor or call our experts on 01902 364 500 or email info @ abloy . co . uk .
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Seals
Intumescent seals around a fire door are a few mm thick and act as a final barrier to fire and smoke . Examine them to make sure they ’ re continuous , intact and without any damage , particularly as they can sometimes be accidently painted over .
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Certification
16 % of all fire doors inspected in 2019 weren ’ t genuine . To identify a legitimate fire door , look for its certification . You can locate the CE-marked label or plug on the top or the side of the door . Often , fire doors also have warning signage or emergency lighting above the door to indicate that it ’ s part of an escape route .
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Closing doors
Fire doors need to automatically close firmly on the latch without sticking to the floor . Open the door and wait for it to close on its own , which should take around 8 seconds . Correctly installed door closers – the metal box and lever at the top of the door – can automate this while maintaining ompliance . If a fire alarm sounds , these will automatically release the doors , and should be tested weekly .
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Obstructed doors
To perform effectively , fire doors must be able to shut firmly so regularly check they aren ’ t wedged or propped open . Likewise , they should not be blocked with furniture or other barriers . If you find this happening , immediately remove the obstruction and raise awareness with the building ’ s occupants so they understand the risk .
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Hinges & latches
Hinges are vital to a fire door ’ s integrity . There must be a minimum of three hinges that are of the correct specification to the building type . Frequently check their screws are all in place and tightly secured . Likewise , ensure the latch clicks when the fire door closes , and that it holds firmly in place without rattling .
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Doors & frames
Visually examine the doors and frames are secured and have no wear and tear . Doors should not have gaps or holes and mustn ’ t be warped . Also ensure that glass in the door is not cracked either . The frames , which are just as integral as the doors and must be bought from an appropriately licensed company , should be checked in case they are coming away from the walls or ceilings .