Third party certification
internal corridors or stairways to the outside in an emergency. Some manufacturers have been carrying
out a large amount of research and development to work towards products that are both fire and security compliant. Some of these companies have overcome the challenges and become market leaders, whilst others have fallen behind, preferring to perpetuate the argument that there is conflict between fire and security. This has left a marketplace with relatively few manufacturers capable of supplying both requirements.
Access protocol
To help the fire service gain unrestricted access to all floors in an emergency, the police and fire services have collaborated to create a secure emergency access protocol. This involves the creation of a secure external switch protection box, mounted near the main entrance of the building (and other locations in larger developments) with a firefighter’s switch inside. Once the switch is operated, the access or door control system is rendered safe (open). This includes all internal compartmental doorsets operating on the system. The switch protection box is certificated to a minimum of STS 202 BR2.
Grenfell Tower
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in West London on 14 June 2017, the then Department for Communities and Local Government (renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 8 January 2018), issued an important statement. It told local authorities and housing associations that doors deemed to be fire resisting at the time of construction of the block would be satisfactory. But importantly, it instructed them to replace any ‘non-fire- resisting doors, such as non-fire-resisting uPVC doors, immediately with doorsets that are third-party certified as providing at least 30 minutes fire resistance’. The following month, SBD told its member companies and recognised certification authorities that doors that are described as fire doors, or where fire performance is declared or implied, are required to have third party certification for both security and fire performance to achieve its Police Preferred Specification accreditation.
This means SBD accredited products will need to be covered for both fire and security within a single Technical Schedule.
DHF campaign
At the end of 2017, the DHF launched a national campaign to ask government to enforce the use of complete doorsets in fire compartmentation, to help prevent the spread of fires in multi occupancy buildings, such as tower blocks and office buildings. DHF is calling for complete doorsets on individual flat entrance doors, and those used in escape corridors and stairways to be manufactured, installed and maintained through UKAS accredited third party certification. Chief executive officer Bob Perry
explained that fire doors are made up of many different components, ranging from specialised smoke seals around the frame to fire resistant glazing. Failure of just one of the many components, or an incorrect assembly of the door could severely reduce its effectiveness. A complete doorset would ensure it is tested and certified as a unit. ‘Properly installed and maintained, a fire doorset will hold back fire and smoke from 30 minutes to more than four hours. These extra minutes can be lifesaving,’ he said. The work done with the police service
shows that third party certification can make a huge contribution towards reducing crime in new build developments. In addition, work with the fire service has proved that fire and security can work well together without conflict and that the challenges have been overcome by a number of leading manufacturers. In residential multi occupancy blocks
of flats, SBD continues to require all entrance doorsets to flats to be dual certified for fire and security, and the DHF has an additional strong moral argument for third party certification for installation and maintenance of all fire doors too. During 29 years of working with local communities, SBD has adapted its techniques and guidance to changing patterns of criminal behaviour and has distilled its knowledge and practical guidance in a range of building guides available at
www.securedbydesign.com
Jon Cole is chief operating officer at Secured by Design. For more information, view page 5
www.frmjournal.com MARCH 2018 31
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