The Locksmith Journal Jul/Aug 2019 - Issue 63 | Page 50

HARDWARE & SECURITY A guide to fire door compliance » » WITH FIRE DOORS BEING A crucial part of passive fire protection, David Saxby, Senior Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect, provides guidance on how to choose fire door hardware to ensure they comply with the required regulations… Fire doors are vital in any commercial, public or multi- occupancy building to protect life by preventing fire and smoke from spreading, whilst also minimising damage to the building itself. Despite their importance however, fire doors still remain a significant area of neglect, with faulty, defective or badly installed fire doors costing lives. IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery, has created a checklist which advises on the correct specification and maintenance of fire doors, with the aim of achieving the highest levels of safety in the event of a fire. Door closers As specified by Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, a door closer must be fitted to a fire door to prevent the spread of flames and smoke by ensuring it is held closed. One of the most trusted and economical options for an overhead closer is the Arrone AR3500 Door Closer. With an adjustable power size 2-4, it’s suitable for living accommodation, offices and corridors. With a 120-minute fire rating, closing and latch speed adjustments, backcheck and a 10-year guarantee, this product offers durability and flexibility. Another top choice is the Dorma TS92 Cam Action Door Closer which consists of a track arm that fits neatly against the frame of the door. The cam action mechanism makes the door easier to open, ideal for fire doors in public buildings, and is compliant with BS8300 standard, offering equal access for 50 the disabled, elderly or those less able. Electromagnetic door closers, such as the GEZE TS4000E Electromagnetic Door Closer, are a particularly good choice, providing a modern and state of the art alternative. They are wired directly into a fire detection system, allowing doors to be held open for everyday use but which will then close upon activation of a fire alarm. Hold open devices In certain situations, it may be inconvenient or impractical for fire doors to always be closed. For example, it can present hazards in a building where there is busy traffic circulation such as a school or hospital. Installing a hold- open device such as the Dorgard Smartsound is the only legal way of keeping a fire door open: on hearing a continuous fire alarm, it will release, allowing the fire door to close under the pressure of the overhead door closer. This new smartsound technology uses audio filtering to listen for an actual alarm, reducing false activations by background noise When assessing a fire door, it is imperative to check that the hold open device releases when required, the batteries are working, and if the device has been tested in accordance with BS EN1155 for electromechanical devices. Hinges, locks and latches Because fire doors are much heavier than normal doors, they should be fitted with a minimum of three hinges, although this can be more for taller doors. The hinges should always bear the CE stamp and must be the correct grade for the type of door. When checking existing fire doors, it is important to make sure the hinges are free of metal fragments and oil leakage which ‘fire doors still remain a significant area of neglect, with faulty, defective or badly installed fire doors costing lives’ could indicate signs of wear. If the door squeaks when it closes, then the hinges must be replaced. It’s also important to check that protective intumescent pads (which expand when heated) have been fitted in the correct material. As with hinges, locks and latches on fire doors must also be CE stamped to indicate conformity with protection standards sold within the European Economic Area. Locks should also be fitted with the correct intumescent and latches must hold the door in place firmly without rattling. Seals and vision panels If a fire door is made from timber, it must be fitted with intumescent material. The seals around the doors, which act as smoke barriers, must also be checked regularly to ensure they are free from damage or breakage and tested to BS 276 part 22. Furthermore, when doors on escape routes sub-divide corridors, they must be fitted with vision panels. To view the Fire Door Checklist, visit: ironmongerydirect.co.uk/ fire-door-checklist JUL/AUG 2019 locksmithjournal.co.uk Issue Takeover Magazine Sponsor