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SEPTEMBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER
TOP TIPS UNLEASHED
www.proinstaller.co.uk
Six top tips for installing
fire doors safely
So you think you know about fire doors?
A fire door is a vital safety device
designed to save lives and property.
Specifying the right fire doors and installing them correctly are absolute musts. The
installer is an essential part of the critical
chain of responsibility – don’t be the one to
break the chain.
Selecting good quality
fire doors
When you’re under pressure to come in or
under budget, it can be tempting to select
cheaper, untested products to save the customer money. But, if a fire breaks out, it will
cost far more in lives and property.
The best way to prove that you have supplied a fire door is by a current fire certificate, confirming testing is relevant to the
supplied product and has been performed
by an independent, accredited third-party in
accordance to British or European standards.
All certified fire doors are provided with
installation instructions. If they aren’t, demand to see them. Instructions should be
followed to the letter in order to validate a
fire door’s certification.
And it’s not just the door that matters. To
make sure the whole door assembly works,
fit compatible and certified components and
hardware as per the installation instructions
and fire certificate.
Installing fire doors can be a daunting
task, so here are six top tips to help you get
it right:
2. Getting started
4. Put a premium on preparation
5. Pay attention
The installation of fire doors is as important as the product itself and should only
be carried out by someone who is competent and understands their responsibility in
getting it right. Any minor mistake in fitting
can have disastrous consequences.
Handle delivery and storage with the utmost care. You are responsible for training
employees on the manual handling of heavy
objects. Also make sure fire doors are stored
in suitable areas, away from damp, direct
sunlight, standing water or significant heat.
For the long term performance of the door
and finish, the appropriate moisture content
must be maintained during storage on site
and during construction.
If doors are to be finished on site, decoration should be started as soon as possible
after delivery.
Always follow the installation instructions
to maintain certification.
You are responsible for only ever making
alterations as per the certificate guidelines.
Altering the doo r for glazing apertures and
air grilles or resizing outside of the parameters of the certificate will make certification
void.
1. It’s all in the label
Look for the BWF-CERTIFIRE label.
This ensures you can always contact the
manufacturer for further information if
required.
Never paint over the label that identifies
the door. Damaging, defacing or removing
the label will result in the door no longer
being accepted as a fire door.
3. Stick to the spec
Once you have confirmed your design and
specification, demonstrate due diligence.
Only use certified products. Always check
that the specification detailed on the fire
certificate matches the door supplied. Order
the right door and stick to the specification
at all times.
6. Get a copy of the BWF Fire
Doors Best Practice Guide
This new pocket size guide takes you stepby-step through the fire door process, from
specification to installation, use and maintenance. You can benefit from helpful installation checklists and advice ensuring you
meet the legal and regulatory requirements
governing the installation of fire doors.
In summary
Fire Door Safety Week, a national
award-winning campaign, aiming to raise
awareness of the critical importance of fire
doors in saving lives and property, is set to
take place on 14-20 September.
Instigated by the British Woodworking
Federation, the BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door
Scheme and the Fire Door Inspection
Scheme (FDIS), Fire Door Safety Week is
also supported by the Government’s Fire
Kills campaign.
Helpful videos and technical checklists
offering more tips on installing third-party
certified fire doors properly can be found
within the free online toolkit on the Fire
Door Safety Week website, firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk.