Fires in buildings often result in irreparable damage to people and property. These facts show the responsibility of all professionals of the sector involved in the process of fire safety, which include several steps from the specification to the maintenance of the doors, which, if duly complied with, will guarantee the safety and protection of all occupants and property. With regard to fire doors below some key factors are identified for the correct selection, purchase and maintenance of these products.
What is the purpose of fire doors?
As a passive protection element, fire doors play a crucial role in the fire safety plan, as they can prevent or delay the spreading of fire and smoke between compartments, thus allowing the evacuation of people, reducing material damage and maintenance of activity.
When closed, these doors will have a fire resistance during the time for which they have been certified.
How are fire doors classified and which Standards should they comply?
Fire door solutions must be tested and classified according to the certification schemes of each country's specific standards.
In European Community member states, fire doors must meet classification according to EN 13501-2 and must be tested according to EN 1634 for fire resistance and/or smoke control.
Example: EI30 determines the resistance to fire (E-integrity; I-thermal insulation) of the door for a period of 30 minutes. An additional Suffix (S) is added when restriction of smoke passage is needed.
Example: FD30 determines the integrity of the door for 30 minutes. Suffix (S) is added when restriction of smoke passage is needed.
Also in the UK, fire doors can meet classification according to BS EN 13501-2 and must be tested according to BS EN 1634 for fire resistance and/or smoke control.
Example: FR20 means the door is resistant to fire for a period of 20 minutes.
It also may happen that some countries of the European Community request specific tests held in their own markets (eg: Switzerland or France) and other countries that accept products certified by foreign accredited laboratories.
In which laboratories does VICAIMA conduct its fire tests?
The wide range of Vicaima fire doors include solutions tested and certified according to European standards (EN 13501-2), British (BS476 Part 22) or American standards (UL10b and UL10c), in accredited international laboratories such as Exova BMTrada, Chiltern, Tecnalia, Afitilicof, Efectis, Intertek, among others. This range is suitable for different application sites according to legislation and with different performances such as fire resistance for 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes.
Why fire doors should be seen as a complete installed assembly?
Fire doors must be produced exactly as their certification, i.e. they must always include door, frame, hinges, lock and intumescent materials, which fall within the scope of the classification report.
Small alterations, either on the door (e.g., glazing), frame (e.g., intumescent seals) or ironmongery (e.g. hinge type) may affect performance and invalidate product certification.
Choosing integrated solutions ensures that all components are compatible with each other and that their dimensioning is optimized for the right performance.
What type of integrated fire solution does VICAIMA provide?
VICAIMA has fully tested fire doors, frames and ironmongery that are available with a comprehensive choice of door configurations including single and double leaf, swinging, overpanel, glazing, etc.
Everyone involved in the door supply chain, including manufacturer, specifier, buyer, installer, maintenance or inspector is responsible for protecting people and saving lives.
Avoiding potential problems with fire safety is possible if all parties involved take a methodical joint approach to fire safety while fulfilling duties and responsibilities.
The importance of regular inspection and maintenance. What to check on an installed fire door?
Mostly subject to intensive use, fire doors need to be regularly checked to guarantee that their important task will be performed if a fire occurs.
Door leaf – Does it have any damage or warping? Are the gaps around the door within the tolerances?
Glazing (if applicable) – Is the glass damaged, loose or clogged?
Door frame - Is it properly attached to the wall? Is there any damage or warping?
Intumescent, smoke and acoustic seals – Are they properly applied? Are they damaged?
Hinges, Lock and Latch – Are they properly fixed and functioning correctly? Are the hinges a minimum of 3?
Door closers – Is it properly fixed on the door and frame? Does the door fully close and engage the lock latch?
Hold Open Devise – Does it keep the door open? And does it release the door when required?
Signage - If applicable, is it in good condition and does its fixing not damage the door?
Any of these conditions will compromise the performance of the door and can put lives at risk!
Why VICAIMA Fire Doors are the safest option?
Fire Doors play a crucial role both in terms of saving lives or reducing risk to property.