Notice Board
Selecting the right fire door closers
Fire doors are an essential part of the fire safety strategy for buildings in every sector . Here Scott Copeland , Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect looks at why selecting the correct door closer is essential to ensure the effective operation of fire doors .
» FIRE DOORS OFFER LIFE-SAVING protection in the event of a fire and allow safe and swift evacuation by keeping escape routes clear of smoke and fire . This is why it is important that the door itself and all the hardware fitted allows the door to perform this vital function . In particular , the door closer is essential in ensuring that the door closes effectively and stays closed .
Selection criteria
Choosing the correct door closer for a fire door requires careful consideration . The first criteria to look at should be compliance with BS EN1154 “ Controlled Door Closing Devices ”, or BS EN1155 for electromagnetic closers and fire door holders , and ensuring it is CE or UKCA marked to this standard . It must also be fire tested and approved in line with the rest of the doorset , which includes the door and all hardware . The fire doorset , which must be fully certified with a CE or UKCA mark , should be approved by an independent third party , such as CERTIFIRE . Therefore , any door closer selected should also be CERTIFIRE approved , as fitting a closer without this approval will invalidate the certification of the doorset as a whole .
The fire door closer must have enough power to reliably close the door and keep it closed in the event of a fire , but not be restrictive to people moving through the building . Devices should be selected based on the weight and width of the door , the level of traffic through it and the type of building . To find out more about how to choose the right door closer , visit our website www . ironmongerydirect . co . uk / door-closer-guide .
Door closers that produce too much closing force , and are therefore difficult to open , will not comply with the Equality Act 2010 , which ensures the physical features of the building are not a barrier to access . The simplest way to ensure this is achieved is to select variable power door closers , which allow the closing force to be adjusted to suit on-site conditions . This is the approach recommended by BS8300 , the Code of Practice for designing buildings to create an accessible and inclusive environment .
‘ Choosing the correct door closer for a fire door requires careful consideration ’
Alternative approaches
For certain types of building , a self-closing door may impact the day to day movement of occupants . For example , in healthcare facilities such as hospitals and care homes where beds and wheelchairs must be moved through the building regularly , similarly for schools , where large numbers of students are moving between classes multiple times a day . Doors that become frustrating to users are more likely to be propped open . This is a fire code violation which renders them ineffective in the event of a fire , so another approach may be needed .
One possible solution is to utilise a hold-open device that will keep the door open , allowing free movement until a fire alarm is triggered , at which point it releases the door to close using a standard fire door closer . A simple option is a standalone hold-open device , such as the Agrippa Magnetic Door Holder that activates on detection of the sound of the fire alarm and fails safe by releasing the door if the battery runs low .
In addition , there is also the option of an automatic door closer with a free swing function , such as the GEZE TS4000EFS Electromagnetic Door Closer . The ‘ free swing ’ function enables the door to be opened and closed with minimal force during everyday use but delivers safe automatic closing when the fire alarm is triggered , or in the event of power loss , using an electro-hydraulic mechanism . To comply with regulations , all delayed action fire doors are required to close within 25 seconds .
IronmongeryDirect ’ s team of GAI trained advisors are on hand to assist with fire-rated product queries as well as the rest of its wide range of over 18,000 ironmongery solutions . IronmongeryDirect has also produced an in-depth guide which can be found at www . ironmongerydirect . co . uk / blog / fire-protection-buyers-guide as well as informative videos to help customers understand the legislation and make the correct product selection .
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JUL / AUG 2022
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