COMMERCIAL SECURITY & SAFETY
FIRE SAFETY AND IRONMONGERY
Hand in Hand
Daniel May , Director at Consort Architectural Hardware explores the close relationship between fire safety and ironmongery and how compliance becomes compromised without essential hardware components .
» DANIEL MAY , DIRECTOR AT Consort Architectural Hardware explores the close relationship between fire safety and ironmongery and how compliance becomes compromised without essential hardware components .
Unpredictable and untameable , fire is a beast that we can ’ t afford to ignore . It doesn ’ t prejudice against any building type , and as we ’ ve seen most recently in Whitechapel , London , it can cause immeasurable damage and loss when fire safety isn ’ t prioritised .
Fire safety itself is a complex topic , covering a wide range of subjects and themes , from prevention to containment and evacuation - all of which carry great significance when designing and maintaining a fire-safe building . For a building ’ s architects , specifiers , inspectors and owners , it ’ s imperative to provide an acceptable level of fire safety for occupants and visitors alike . And for this , fire doors play an integral role .
Recognised as part of a building ’ s passive fire protection system , fire doors are a means of escape and are tasked with compartmentalising smoke and fire during a fire incident . In doing so , they protect the property and its people for a specified time , most commonly resisting for 30 ( FD30 ) or 60 ( FD60 ) minutes . Yet , fire doors aren ’ t the only piece of the puzzle .
Combined protection
As is outlined by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers ( GAI ), ironmongery and fire safety share a distinguished relationship . To assure performance and compliance , all dedicated fire doors , other than those to locked cupboards and service ducts , must be fitted with the necessary ironmongery components . This includes hinges , door closers , locks and latches .
Each of these hardware components are designed to operate in tandem with a fire door – without them , the door is made redundant . In fact , the integrity of a fire door could immediately be compromised should one area become damaged or fail to meet strict performance standards . To eliminate vulnerabilities , hardware , in accordance with the UK Construction Products Regulations ( CPR ) must be CE marked ( or UKCA after the 1st January 2023 ) to prove fire performance , and it is a criminal offence to supply products that do not comply .
Fire door closers for example , whether concealed or surface mounted , are required to perform what is considered an essential function in closing a door to completion from any angle into its frame or until the latch engages . In facilitating the closing motion , door closers play an active role in ensuring a fire door accomplishes compartmentation . Because of their significance , controlled closing devices must be tested to BS EN 1154 and fire rated to BS EN 1634 . Upon application , a closer must also be compatible with a door ’ s existing mechanisms and in addition to CE marking , it is highly advised it should be approved by a third-party scheme such as CERTIFIRE , providing the detail needed for its application .
Similarly , hinges and latches play an important role in ensuring the integrity of a fire door . Commonly , three hinges are applied to fire doors , and at all times must remain adequately attached , repressing any charring or damage to the door ’ s timber in the event of a fire . Locks and latches are also essential , assuring a door remains closed within its frame , and thus , provides an effective barrier in the event of a fire . Because of their significance , locks and latches must also be CE marked and tested to BS EN 12209 , with many professionals , such as architects , also demanding CERTIFIRE approval for the hardware they use .
Maintaining safety and compliance
Under the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order 2005 , should a building fall short in its fire safety practices , the associated party is under risk of receiving heavy penalties and fines . Compliance is a continuous process and so , fire doors and their fitted hardware must remain operational and effective throughout the entire lifecycle of a building .
To preserve fire performance , regular maintenance is vital . Aside from being up to code , the operational functions of all door furniture items should be checked regularly , including any additional mandatory components such as the operating furniture , intumescent seals ( designed to expand and hold the door within its frame in the event of a fire ) and relevant door signage . If basic maintenance is neglected , a fire door ’ s operational life can be significantly reduced - even with the correct hardware in place .
Sources : https :// www . theguardian . com / uk-news / 2022 / mar / 08 / whitechapel-tower-fire-london , https :// www . nationalfireltd . co . uk / fd30-and-fd60-fire-doors /, https :// www . gai . org . uk , https :// www . gov . uk / guidance / ce-marking , https :// www . firesafe . org . uk / explanation-of-the-coding-system-for-fire-door-closers-in-bsen-1154-1997 /, https :// www . firesafe . org . uk / british-standard-476-fire-tests /, https :// www . warringtonfire . com / certification-services / fire-certification / certifire ,
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MAR / APR 2022
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