DESIGN FOR HEALTHCARE & EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT 55 Safeguarding school doors


Kate Jones of Ahmarra outlines the key pointers for safe specifi cation of fi re doors for education settings – balancing life safety, compliance and performance with the practical demands of busy learning environments.


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pecifying fi re doors can be one of the more complex elements of a construction project. As a life safety


measure, fi re doors must meet stringent legal and performance standards to ensure the protection of building occupants and property. In education environments, where buildings are occupied by children and young people, the role of fi re doors becomes even more signifi cant. By helping to contain fi re and smoke, fi re doors provide vital time for staff to manage safe and orderly evacuation. However, fi re performance is only one aspect of the specifi cation. In schools, colleges and universities, fi re doorsets are required to meet a wider set of demands. These can include acoustic control for effective learning environments, enhanced durability to withstand high traffi c, hygienic fi nishes to support infection control, carefully selected ironmongery, and compliance with accessibility requirements. This article explores the key considerations when specifying fi re doors for education settings – helping navigate regulatory requirements, performance needs and practical design factors to ensure safe, compliant and effective solutions.


Third-party certifi cation UK fi re door manufacturers are legally required to demonstrate that their products can resist the passage and spread of fi re to a defi ned performance standard. Specifying third-party certifi ed fi re doors is widely regarded as the most reliable way to ensure compliance with the fi re safety standards outlined in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations.


Fire doorsets that have been


independently tested by a UKAS-accredited testing facility and certifi ed under a recognised third-party scheme offer an additional level of assurance beyond minimum legal requirements. Continuous auditing ensures that the products which


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are fi nally selected will remain consistent with the original tested specifi cation, providing confi dence that they will perform as intended in the event of a fi re. One example is the BM TRADA Q-Mark Timber Fire Door Manufacture scheme, a third-party product certifi cation programme for construction products. Operated by BM TRADA, an independent certifi cation body, it is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous fi re door certifi cation processes in the UK. The most effective way to ensure that fi re doors meet the necessary safety standards is to specify independent third-party certifi cation for both the manufacturer and the installer.


Acoustic performance


Doors play a critical role in limiting the transfer of noise between classrooms, helping to create an environment conducive to concentration and effective learning. Acoustic performance is achieved through a combination of engineered door cores and


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Fire doorsets which are independently tested by a UKAS-accredited facility and certifi ed under a recognised third-party scheme offer an additional level of assurance


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