Feature
The Burning Issue For Building
Maintenance
As stewards of the built environment, the FM industry is integral to improving and developing building safety.
Amongst the many vital responsibilities of a facilities
manager is building repair and maintenance. Nowhere is this more critical than with risk to life products such as fire doors.
Post-Grenfell there have been significant advances in the fire door industry, most notably with Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) composite fire doors, including testing, third party certification and supply chain transparency.
At the heart of this overhaul is robust testing.
Under Appendix C: Fire doorsets of the latest version of Approved Document B ‘The requirement is
for test exposure from each side of the doorset separately.’
One GRP composite fire door system supplier has raised the bar, satisfying not just the British Standard (BS 476-22 Fire resistance and smoke control
tests for door and
shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware) but also the more demanding European test method standard BS EN 1634-1.
By Dave Walker, Technical Director of Distinction Doors
Dave Walker, technical director of Distinction Doors details the progress being made in the manufacture and supply of GRP composite fire doors, and key considerations for fit-for-purpose performance, including install and maintenance.
The company subjected 44 doorsets to 22 bi-directional fire tests. The tests were conducted in three countries, using three variations of supporting wall construction – 150mm and 225mm rigid aerated block and flexible steel stud construction.
The test specimens included solid and glazed door leaf options, either with or without overhead fan lights and all doorsets were tested with letterplates, viewers and door closers included. All featured auto-throw locks.
Every fire test was filmed. The system achieved an average of 45 minutes integrity.
This level of commitment and robust testing has sent a clear message to the UK construction industry; you can achieve consistent fire resistance, compliance and peace of mind with GRP composite fire doors. It also proves that we can meet recommendations outlined in the Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Final Report:
Recommendation 7.1: A clearer, more transparent and more effective specification and testing regime of construction products must be developed. This should include products as they are put together as part of a system.
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