IRONMONGERY
TOGETHER FOREVER: SECURITY AND FIRE SAFETY
Kirk Smith, national account manager at Allegion UK, speaks to BMJ about ironmongery design
S
ecurity is always at the top of customers minds; having the latest tech and best products available is always a must for customers. After our summer of high temperatures, and for an increasingly long time, it is also important our ironmongery security is fire safe. Kirk Smith, national sales manager at ironmonmgery and security firm Allegion UK, says: “Security and fire safety don’t always go hand in hand and so, when it comes to the specification of modern ironmongery solutions, both areas must be carefully considered when selecting products. “Irrelevant of type or size, each building in our built environment must be secured from the outside and within, while also allowing for safe access in the event of an emergency. “Trusted manufacturers - such as ourselves - understand the priorities of end users and the requirements of door hardware solutions, and by focusing on product design, we can help ensure solutions deliver reliability, both from the viewpoint of security and fire safety - no matter the project at hand.
“When opened, fire doors provide a means of escape. And when closed, they form a barrier to stop the spread of fire and smoke. “Fire doors must work in tandem with each component, so to not compromise the integrity of the doorset. Intumescent fire and smoke seals for example, frame the edges of the fire door and are chemically designed
to expand into the frame when exposed to temperatures beyond 200°C. “In doing so, the seals close the gaps between the frame and the door itself, eliminating any possibility of fire or smoke from passing through.”
He explains that after the tragic Grenfell fire there has been a renewed focus on using products that are fit for purpose. Since then, end users have been placing more importance on brands and quality – knowing that trust brands will offer appropriately tested and certified solutions.
Certification clarity Smith says: “With the new building regulations that became effective from January 2023, it’s crucial that decision makers across the supply chain are clear and confident on obtaining certifications, DOPs and third-party certifications. Traceability, co-operation and co-ordination are more important than ever, and that’s why all of this information is made available for Allegion products on our website “We understand the importance of specifying the correct door hardware product. To support builders’ merchants and their customers, we issue free of charge product selectors that are designed to give precise product details and are tailored to our range of door closer and panic hardware solutions. “Allegion UK also offers comprehensive online support, with an easy to navigate website that provides guidance on door closer sizes and which ones to select, as well as
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which applications the selected hardware may be suitable for - alongside full certification and Declaration of Performance (DOPs). “For further support, our trained Briton experts also offer online or in-branch “Briton Training Presentations” which is ideal for customer trade mornings. Our technical helpline and customer case team are also available to support with any additional queries - because when it comes to fire safety and security, there’s no room for error.” Smith comments: “There’s no doubt that technology has impacted the ironmongery industry. With product specification, installation and traceability as significant as ever, we’re proud to offer one-stop hubs in the form of the Allegion and Briton websites, which make life easier for our customers and end users by making technical information and certification only a click away.”
“Innovation and considered product design is at the core of what we do at Allegion. We continually develop and expand our portfolio, reviewing and testing solutions to ensure they adhere to - and exceed - industry standards. “Furthermore, to support customers with product specification and installation, we’re always looking to develop useful tools and pools of information (such as our set of ‘Briton Best Practice Guides’) - helping to guide them to the most appropriate solutions and placing them in the best possible position to remain compliant through application.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2023
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