ALL ABOUT THE DOOR
Inaccurate Installation : A Route to Non-Compliance
The performance and reliability of fire doors can be undone by inaccurate hardware installation . Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explains the significance of installer competence and how responsible persons should approach fire door hardware fittings to ensure lives aren ’ t put at risk .
» FOR A BUILDING TO BE CONSIDERED fire safe , it must have functioning fire doors . A crucial element of passive fire protection , fire doors are recognised as a legal requirement in non-domestic properties and houses in multiple occupation ( HMOs ), and as such , careful attention is frequently placed on standardised testing , specification and ongoing maintenance .
Perhaps less understood is the importance of accurate door hardware installation . Certified fire doors are tested with - and are reliant on - several components , including hinges , locks , latches and door closers for example . Though , where ironmongery products must be CE or UKCA marked , Certifire accredited and tested under separate standards , there is less regulatory emphasis placed on fire door installation specifically .
Should hardware be improperly or inaccurately fitted to a fire door , its fire resistant capabilities become compromised , leaving a building and its occupants at risk . Without functional hardware components , a fire door is rendered useless and with onus being placed on responsible persons , decision makers simply can ’ t afford to neglect any stage of fire door safety - including installation .
Competence and collaboration
Installation remains a pain point for the fire safety industry . Evidence suggests that incorrect installation is one of the leading causes of fire door failure , and despite a wave of regulatory framework updates in other areas , there still remains a level of ambiguity towards the proficiency required for fitting fire door hardware .
As per the Fire Safety ( England ) Regulations 2022 : fire door guidance , it is assumed that responsible persons possess evidence that the design , specification and installation of a fire door is adequate for its location . Section 6.7 of the legislation expands on installation further , stating that upon inspection , if there is any doubt that a fire-resistant flat entrance door has been replaced , the resident will need to confirm that the new fire door has been ‘ installed by a competent person ’.
It ’ s clear then that fire door installation is a critical aspect of our built environment , yet , there is currently no legal requirement for fire door installers to possess a specific qualification or accreditation . For some , this presents a
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 / guidance / ce-marking | https :// www . gov . uk / guidance / using-the-ukca-marking | https :// www . gai . org . uk / GAI / GAI / News / News-Items / 2022 / fdis-survey-finds-three-quarters-of-uk-fire-doors-dono-mete-the-required-standard . aspx | https :// www . firesafe . org . uk / fire-doors / | https :// www . gov . uk / government / news / new-fire-safety-guidance-comes-into-force-on-1-october-2023
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JUNE 2024
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