» THANKS TO FIRE DOOR Safety Week and its efforts to raise awareness of the crucial role that fire doors and closers play in protecting buildings and their occupants , the correct specification of ironmongery is fresh in people ’ s minds . Fire Door Safety Week , which is organised by The British Woodworking Federation , is an important event in the calendar and emphasises that fire door safety should be a top priority for all projects and is not just a consideration for high rise or high-risk buildings .

As highlighted by Fire Door Safety Week , it is not just the fire door that serves a vital role in saving lives ; door closers are a key feature of their assembly , as these devices ensure the door closes and remains closed in a fire situation .

This enables the fire door to perform as it is intended - to prevent the spread of flames and smoke , as well as providing an escape route for building occupants .

When specifying door closer solutions for your customers , there are some key factors that should be taken into account :

Legislative requirements

It is critical to ensure fire door products are manufactured and tested in line with the necessary regulations . The Building Regulations and the Regulatory Reform Order offer advice on how to mitigate fire risks in all areas of the building . If a fire door is self-closing , Approved Document B of the Building Regulations in England and its equivalent standards in Scotland , Wales and Northern

Ireland , outlines that it should be fitted with an Automatic Self Closing Device which is : `a device that closes a door , when open at any angle , against a door frame ’.

To ensure quality , door closers should comply with BS EN1154 Controlled Door Closing Devices and be either CE or UKCA marked to this standard . The CE / UKCA mark demonstrates that the product is mechanically sound and has undergone fire testing . In order for the CE / UKCA mark to be valid , the product must also have a Declaration of Performance ( DoP ) detailing the characteristics of the component .

However , the CE / UKCA mark alone does not provide the detail regarding the door closer ’ s suitability for use on a fire door , such as whether the door is timber or metal , its fire rating or whether it is latched . As such , it is recommended to only specify products that have been tested by third party certification schemes , such as Certifire . These evidence the applications for which the closer is suitable and in turn , guarantee that the fire door closer is fully compliant .

Accessibility

In order to make the correct specification , always speak to the customer about how the building operates and who is likely to need access . For example , adults , small children , the elderly and

disabled people will all have various physical capabilities and so the closing device installed needs to be able to meet their needs . The 2010 Equality Act provides the guidance for this and although it does not reference door closers specifically , the Building Regulations Approved Document M and BS8300 do outline the maximum opening forces for doorsets and general door closer requirements . Meeting the opening forces with a compliant door closer will satisfy the requirements for ease of access set out within the 2010 Equality Act .

Usage and maintenance The correct specification of the door closer will also be determined by its application . For example , the level of use and footfall through the door , the size and weight of the door , whether the door is subject to heavy draughts , or whether the door has a latch .

Due to their key role in a fire door ’ s performance , regular service and maintenance checks should be completed . If the door closer itself or any aspects therein need to be replaced , it is important that the parts adhere to the requirements of the original specification and the correct regulations . If they do not , it could lead to the fire door failing to perform – and this can put building occupants at risk .

www . dormakaba . com / gb-en