IRONMONGERY
FIRED UP ABOUT RESIDENTIAL DOORS
BMJ finds out what builders’ merchants need to consider when specifying apartment entrance fire doors with pre-fitted components
W
hen specifying fire doors for the entrances of residential
apartments, there are two main elements to consider: fire protection and security. Only when an apartment entrance fire door provides excellent safety features and robust protection against burglary is it performing its primary role.
That’s accordng to Mark Kilbride, technical manager at XL Joinery, who says that the first and most important consideration is, obviously, fire protection. “Any fire door must be installed with the correct and compatible components, which will be detailed on door leaf’s fire certificate. These will be fire tested and include the door leaf, door frame or lining, intumescent seals, smoke seals, hinges, latch or lock and door closers,” he says.
All fire doors should be tested to either BS476 or BS EN1634-1. It is important that the ironmongery used has also been through the same tests and the door material and fitting methods are the same. Ordering a door as a doorset means that one team is in charge of what can be a confusing minefield and can assess any conflicting information, making your life easier. “Naturally, the door leaf should not be damaged, warped or twisted, and it is vital that the door is fitted with a door closer that will always return it to its fully closed position and ensure that it seals correctly in the doorframe when not in use,” Kilbride adds. “Equally important, the door
should include intumescent fire and smoke seals. These should be
available that provide a stunning range of styles for maximum elegance and integration into the home. “Many of these offer the ability to customise various parts of the door depending on requirements, such as the handle, the viewer and the intumescent seals.
in a good condition, fit the full length of the door and be secure in the groove. If the seals are badly fitted, damaged or painted, they must be replaced with exactly the same size and intumescent material that was originally specified, and they should be fitted in one continuous length if possible.”
He says that, in addition, the hinges on the door must be strong enough to carry the door mass, and robust enough to work efficiently no matter the level of usage. The hinges should also be fitted with intumescent pads, as these are required for the door to get its fire rating.
Robust security against intruders
“As the first barrier to the outside world, apartment entrance fire doors should provide formidable protection against burglars. This means they must be fitted with robust security hardware that has met the requirements of recognised security certifications,” Kilbride continues.
January 2022
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
“To comply with current building regulations, all new builds require doors to have test evidence showing that they have passed the security aspects of PAS24, the series of tests designed to assess the security of the door against the effects of an opportunistic burglar.” Merchants are advised to also look out for lock cylinders that have been certified with the TS007:2014 standard, ideally with the highest three-star rating. “This means they will provide maximum security against known attack methods such as cylinder snapping and lock manipulation,” he says.
Style – the secret ingredient
The final consideration when specifying apartment entrance fire doors is aesthetics. “While fire doors are traditionally seen as more functional than attractive, style is a major consideration when it comes to living spaces. After all, no one wants an unsightly door in their home.,” he adds.
Kilbride says various solutions are
“For example, our new UK- manufactured Simpli Advanced® range combines high-grade, FSC- certified oak wood with fire and security hardware from the global leader in access solutions, ASSA ABLOY (available with either FD30 or FD60 certification). This enables the doors to deliver formidable smoke and fire resistance while visually enhancing any living environment.”
The PAS24-accredited doorsets are tested as a complete unit, providing peace of mind that they are safe when together as an integrated whole, and are third-party accredited via the International Fire Consultants (IFC). The range comes with special concealed door closers from ASSA ABLOY – offering all the benefit of a door closer without any impact on the visual effect of the door – and can be matched to our wide range of internal door designs, including Suffolk, Palermo and Monza.
Kilbride says: “The nature of fire doors for apartment entrances is such that the right solution must play several roles, each of them highly important. When choosing which products to stock, make sure they offer high-class fire protection, strong security and an attractive design that you would be happy to have in your own home. With all three, you cannot go wrong.” BMJ
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