FIRE SAFETY
Fire Door Safety
More than Robust Specification
» FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK reiterated the importance of the responsibility for specifiers , contractors and building owners in ensuring that fire doors meet current fire regulations and legislation . Using a registered architectural ironmonger ( RegAI ) is essential to ensure correct specification is met . Carlisle Brass have nine employees currently with RegAI status , with a further two undertaking the CPD program to become RegAI .
A specifier ’ s responsibility is to deliver the correct specification of products that exceed the minimum regulatory requirements , whilst maintaining all aesthetics and design needs of the building / project . An issue specifiers face is selecting door hardware from different manufacturers that will be compatible with one another , whilst carrying fire evidence to suit the type of door and frame combination that they are being installed . Warringtonfire Certifire is a 3rd party accreditation scheme that helps a specifier obtain a scope of approval for any product that is listed within Certifire certification . There is a matrix on each certificate that lists approved door and frame material type and duration of coverage .
Also detailed are restrictions that highlight what type of door and frames that can be used , along with any fire protection product to protect the door / frame integrity where door hardware has been installed , i . e ., intumescent kits behind hinge leaves , and around locks , letterplate assemblies etc . Correct installation of a door set / assembly and regular maintenance is essential for any door , but critical for a fire door . It is imperative that care and maintenance of fire doors is conducted regularly .
Fire door inspections are necessary for highlighting any potential issues and / or remedial works that may be required .
Fire Door Safety Week , 5 Step Fire Door Check is the perfect starting point , which covers door certification , door / frame perimeter gaps , seals , hinges , and door closing devices .
On top of the 5-step check , the following must always be done :
• Check all fixings of door hardware , and tighten where necessary
• Lubricate hinges , locks , closing devices , or other hardware , as per manufacturer ’ s instructions , wiping away any excess
• Clean dust and contaminants from all surfaces , including door hardware to ensure aesthetics and operation are not compromised
A common misconception during fire door inspections is that any hinge showing a blackened congealed mass on the knuckle is deemed to have failed . In most instances , this is factually incorrect . The mass is the result of the hinges not being cleaned , and dust has landed on residual engineering grease . Through time , more dust particles will stick to the other particles and will spread .
Residual engineering grease on a ball bearing type hinge is entirely normal , and it is not a sign of the hinge failing .
The engineering grease is not present to lubricate the bearings , merely to allow ease of insertion of the pin within the knuckle during assembly .
At the meeting points at each knuckle joint in this type of hinge , it is natural that the engineering grease may work into the meeting surfaces , and when dust attaches to the grease , the dust will take on a blackened hue , but this can be wiped clean .
What appears like a mass seepage is the result of dust particles in the atmosphere attaching to the grease within the knuckle bearing / meeting surfaces – through time ,
additional dust particles will stick to the original particles .
The dust particles absorb the moisture from the engineering grease , and this is what gives the illusion of a large amount of grease seepage .
The appearance of the engineering grease in no way affects the operational performance , or the hinges ’ ability to hold the door into the frame , as required on a fire door , however , it looks terrible aesthetically .
Within EN1935 performance testing , a single hinge is subjected to 200,000 cycles on a test door of the maximum mass for that grade of hinge .
During the durability , the hinge is lubricated at intervals of approximately 25,000 cycles and the knuckle joints become blackened , but it has not failed . There is a wear tolerance chart and any hinge to carry CE marking must remain within tolerance . Example of movement ( red cross ) of a grade 13 hinge on 120kg door mass after 200,000 cycles .
For Fire Safety and Specification enquiries contact our dedicated specification team on 01254 274176 or specification @ carlislebrass . com
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SEP / OCT 2021
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