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Fire Door Fittings and Ironmongery
Introduction It is a criminal offence to supply products that do not comply with the UK Construction Products Regulations. For fittings intended for use on fire, smoke and escape doors marking will be the easiest method to demonstrate compliance. The Building Control Officer or other approved inspectors or a Trading Standards Officer will require proof of this compliance. Across the UK construction industry and in Europe, construction products are being tested to the new EN Standards to ensure that fire, safety and performance requirements are met in future building projects. Door hardware will eventually have 21 new EN Standards. For many ironmongery items you will need to ensure that only marked products are used on all fire resisting, smoke control and escape doors. Index Self Closing Devices Hold Open Devices Single Axis Hinges Locks and Latches Letter plates Panic & Emergency Exit Device Costs Definitions Additional Information Self Closing Devices All dedicated fire doors, other than those to locked cupboards and service ducts, should be fitted with automatic closing devices. To be effective these must be capable of closing the door from any angle of opening and should be strong enough to overcome the resistance of any latch or sealing system. They should conform to BS EN 1154:1997 Building hardware. Controlled door closing devices. Door closing devices fitted to fire-resisting doors are required to perform one of two functions, dependent on whether or not a latch is fitted to the door. These functions are considered "essential" in terms of the ability of the doorset to achieve its intended fire resistance rating. Latched door: To close the door in a controlled manner into a position where the latch engages. In this case, once the latch is engaged, such closer's will have no further essential role to play. Unlatched door: To close the door in a controlled manner into its frame or, in the case of double swing doors, to its dead centre closed position, and maintain this condition for a period during fire exposure until the heat activated sealing system takes over the role of maintaining the door in the closed position. Door closing mechanisms are divided into the following categories: face-fixed closer's - overhead mounted face-fixed closer's - jamb mounted concealed closer's - overhead mounted concealed closer's - jamb mounted floor springs - floor mounted spring hinges rising butt hinges. Self-closing devices can suffer damage and consequently become inoperative if they are surface mounted on the exposed face. If their sole function is to close the door with a latch, when they have done so any damage suffered need not be critical for the integrity of the door. Recessed self-closing devices will suffer less damage, but in the top of the door panel can produce a local weakness. The ideal place is within the sill where it will cause the least interference with the performance of the door. A self-closing device used with double swing doors should not only close the door but also hold it firmly in the closed position. It needs to be strong enough to keep the door closed against any pressure to which the door leaf may be subjected in a fire. The only type of device which has been shown to be successful is a spring type mounted in the sill. Return Door Coordinator Devices Fire-resisting doorsets (other than those to locked cupboards and service ducts) are usually required to be self-closing, in accordance with building regulations. When pairs of doors are used for fire resisting purposes, the door closing device fitted on each individual leaf should be able to close the door leaf reliably from any angle to which it has been opened and overcome the resistance of a latch or any seals when fitted. When these pairs of doors have rebated meeting edges it is essential that the individual leaves close in the correct sequence, to maintain the fire integrity of the complete doorset assembly. In these circumstances there is a need for a door coordinator device (also known as a door selector) to ensure that after opening, the first opening leaf of a pair of doors is held back from closing fully, until the second opening leaf has closed back fully into the frame. Door coordinator devices are divided into the following categories: • gravity arm coordinators • swing arm coordinators • double arm swing coordinators • coordinators incorporated into door closing devices Note: This list does not imply suitability of any particular device for fire door. The door coordinator device and its accessories should be CE Marked to BS EN 1158 - Building hardware - Door coordinator devices or preferably should be provided with additional product certification by an approved third party certification body. Return Hold Open Devices Introduction Doorsets are a weak point in any fire barrier because their primary function is to allow traffic to pass from one side of a wall to the other it is important for doors to be kept closed when not in use. Fire-resisting doors (other than those to locked cupboards and service ducts) are usually required to be self-closing and door closing devices fitted to these doors to achieve this function can pose significant obstacles to the young, elderly, infirm or disabled. This self-closing function can also be an inconvenience in high traffic areas and cause difficulties where large numbers of users have to pass through the doors. Experience shows that convenience often takes precedence over safety and building users may seek to disable or otherwise undermine devices that inconvenience them in carrying out their work. Doors are often held open by wedges or fire extinguishers so that the building users, particularly if they are moving loads, can pass easily around the building. To overcome these problems, electrically powered hold open devices can be used to hold a self-closing fire-resisting door in the open position. These devices are linked either into a building fire/smoke alarm system or controlled from locally positioned smoke detectors. Depending upon the intended use of the door, there are two basic functions available: Hold open: This function holds the door leaf in an open position for as long as the device is energised, thus permitting free passage through the door. When triggered by the fire/smoke alarm system, local detector control, and local pushbutton or by power failure, the device releases the door leaf and allows it to close under the control of a door closing device. With power subsequently restored, the leaf will again be held once it has been returned to the hold open position. These devices are usually used on cross-corridor doors and circulation routes. Free-swing: After priming, by moving the door leaf to the fully open position, this function prevents the door closing mechanism from re-closing the leaf, but enables the leaf itself to be moved freely without the need for the user to overcome any force from the closer. In effect, the door leaf will then behave as though there were no closing mechanism fitted. When triggered by the fire/smoke alarm system, local detector control, and local pushbutton or by power failure, the device releases the closer mechanism, allowing it to close the door leaf in a controlled manner from whatever position it was in at the time. With power subsequently restored, the leaf will again achieve this free-swing function once it has been returned to the holding position. These devices are usually used on doors opening into individual rooms and are not recommended for cross-corridor doors or circulation routes It can be seen that the use of these devices will make access around a building much easier, particularly for the young, elderly, disabled or those manipulating trolleys etc, without compromising the fire compartmental function of the fire-resisting doorset to which they are fitted. Electrically powered hold open devices are divided into the following three categories: Separate hold open devices (Self-Contained Release Devices (SCRD) Hold open or Free-swing devices incorporated into an overhead closer (with or without an integral smoke detector) Hold open or Free-swing devices incorporated into a floor spring mechanism. The following information is produced to give advice on the suitability and use of automatic door release mechanisms. It aims to set acceptable standards of safety and at the same time leaving scope for flexibility and the exercise of judgment in relation to individual circumstances. General Principles Hold Open Devices The holding open of self-closing fire doors should be discouraged in most cases however where they cause serious restriction in the free movement of people within a building, you may need to consider and install, where appropriate, automatic door release mechanisms. A site-specific risk assessment should be carried out and the following criteria should be appropriately applied: - The door release mechanism should conform to BS EN 1155: Electrically powered hold open devices or be accredited as part of the European Construction Product Directive. All doors fitted with automatic releases should be actuated by an appropriate automatic fire detection and alarm system. BS 5839 Parts 1 or 6 detail an acceptable standard. If devices are fitted to fire doors protecting the means of escape then the automatic detectors should be positioned in accordance with British Standard 5839 Part 1, for a Type L3 system as minimum, for example suitable detectors on the means of escape routes and in adjacent rooms opening onto those routes. If the means of escape route is fire protected then either smoke or heat detectors are considered suitable in the adjacent rooms, whilst if the route is unprotected, only smoke detectors should be used. The practice of using dedicated smoke detectors either side of corridor doors that are to be held open by a door release mechanism should be discontinued. This is because studies have found that smoke entering the corridor from an adjacent room may not have sufficient buoyancy, movement and directional flow to actuate the dedicated detector heads. All automatic door releases should be triggered by each or any of the following: - The detection of smoke by automatic detection; or the actuation of an alarm by a manual fire alarm call point; or Failure of the fire warning system. If the power supplies should fail Each automatic door release should be provided with means of manual operation from a position at the door, closing door by hand/foot is considered unsuitable. In sleeping risk premises each door fitted with an automatic door release should be closed at a predetermined time each night and remain closed throughout the sleeping hours. The method of achieving this may be either automatic or manual, depending on the type of release mechanism installed, but compliance with this will be a matter for the management regime of the premises/workplace. Any remote or unsupervised release of self-closing fire doors may injure occupants. The responsible person should only carry out fire alarm tests and/or remotely release self-closing fire doors if arrangements, so far as is reasonably practicable, are in place to safeguard the occupants from injury, for instance if an occupant was struck by a door closing. The release mechanisms should be operated at least once each week to ensure that the mechanisms are working effectively, and the doors are not warped and close effectively into their frames The release mechanisms should operate within 20 seconds of the fire alarm operating. Doors fitted with release mechanisms should be provided with appropriate sign. Automatic Fire Door – Keep Clear. The devices must be tested weekly, in association with the testing of the fire alarm system, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. A record should be kept of all testing and maintenance activities. Doors fitted with such devices should be kept closed during periods when the fire alarm system is isolated for maintenance purposes. Self-Contained Release Devices (SCRD) SCRD are not normally directly connected to a fire alarm system and it is important that additional points are taken into account and/or considered when these types of devices are to be installed. These points are set out below: Acceptance depends upon the outcome of a site-specific risk assessment. They should not normally be used on doors protecting single stairway buildings or protecting other critical means of escape. The fire alarm system should have a secondary power supply to a standard as detailed in BS 5839: Parts 1 or 6. The fire alarm audibility level at the position of any acoustically actuated device must be sufficient to ensure that the mechanisms will release the door upon the actuation of the fire alarm system. The management of the premises/workplace should ensure that there are procedures in place, either manual or automatic, to de-activate any or all of the devices in the following circumstances: When there is a fault in the fire warning system When the fire alarm system is isolated for any reason e.g. Maintenance. Any other circumstances when the sound of the fire alarm will not trigger the device Self-contained devices should have their batteries replaced at least every 12 months or when the low voltage-warning device sounds. BS 7273-4:2007 Code of practice for the operation of fire protection measures. Actuation of release mechanisms for doors and BS EN 1155 - Electrically powered hold-open devices for swing doors are relevant standards. Return Single Axis Hinges Hinges and latches have an important role in ensuring the integrity of the door. The hinges must remain adequately screwed, in spite of the charring of wood in the vicinity. It is common to use three hinges although tests have shown that with some doors two hinges may be adequate for the half-hour period. Steel and brass hinges are effective for a half-hour door, but only steel hinges will be satisfactory for a one-hour door. For the latter, it may be necessary to use hinges with extended flaps (broad butts) so that fixing is maintained even when severe charring has taken place. BS EN 1935: 2002: Building Hardware Single Axis Hinges is the current european standard for single axis hinges and being able to understand the CE markings, provided when purchasing hinges, is of some importance. Guide to interpreting Markings for Single Axis Hinges. The Building Regulations set out the circumstances in which rising butts may be used but not recommended, compensation must be provided for the cut-out from the top edge of the door by increasing the depth of the stop. Locks and Latches In order to provide an effective barrier to a fully developed fire, a door has to remain closed within the frame. In the case of single action doorsets, this role might be undertaken by a latch. Where the latch does not perform this role, there is a need for a lock to be fitted. This might be on a duct door which is normally kept locked with only occasional access to service equipment, or doors to cupboards. which for security reasons are locked for periods of time. Where security is in conflict with easy egress, consultation with the regulatory authority or fire officer should be made in order to reach a satisfactory solution. Sometimes a turn operated lock might suffice whilst in other cases specialist devices are available that can reduce this conflict to a minimum, such as panic escape devices to BS EN 1125: 1997 or emergency exit devices to BS EN 179: 1998. In fitting locks or latches to fire-resisting doorsets, the potential fire performance of a doorset can be reduced due to: removal of a section of the door leaf, door frame or seal leaving voids within the structure of a timber door adding materials which could cause heat transfer problems in a timber door through fixings creating thermal bridges in a timber door using materials of low melting point (less than 800ºC, or 900ºC for steel doors over 90 minutes resistance) in components which, if they should melt, could cause a failure of functionality of the device locks containing materials which might flame. Locks and latches are divided into the following categories: roller catches rim latches mortise latches mortise locks, rim locks and deadlocks bored-in knob sets Where mortise locks are provided, the cut-out in the door should be the minimum necessary to prevent any voids which fire can penetrate. After the edges, the mortise lock and latch areas represent the next zone of weakness. Filling the voids in the cut-out with intumescent paste will markedly lessen the weakness in this area. As the latch is the only holding device on the closing edge, hence it is important that it should be strong and that the nib of the latch should engage into the latch plate at least 12 mm to ensure that the closing edge will not spring open when the door deforms. Extended flap latch plates are advisable for one-hour doors. Plastics and aluminium handles and knobs will be destroyed on the fire side but this may not have a serious effect on the integrity of the door if steel spindles are provided. The lock or latch should be CE marked to BS EN 12209 or preferably should be provided with additional product certification by an approved third party certification body Return Letter plates Wherever possible the fixing of a letter plate to a fire-resisting door should be avoided. Prime consideration should be given to installing the letter plate elsewhere. Both free standing and wall mounted postal boxes are available as an alternative. Letter plates introduce a weak-ness in a door and those made of aluminium are likely to melt and even with steel flaps deformation can lead to integrity failure. A double flap of steel, one on each side of the door, is likely to be necessary to maintain integrity. There are letter plates on the market which have performed satisfactorily in fire tests in timber and steel doors. It is recommended that a product of proven performance and durability be selected, which has been included in satisfactory fire tests to B8476:22 : 1987, or BS EN 1634-1, in a door of a similar or weaker type of construction to that in which it will be fitted. Letter plates should ideally be positioned in the lower part of the door. and should conform to BS EN 13724 : Letter plates. Return Panic & Emergency Exit Device Experience relating to escape from buildings and general safety has shown the importance of fitting doors on escape routes with suitable exit devices to enable the occupants of the building to escape quickly and easily in the case of fire or some other emergency. Factors to consider include: Different groups of users will have differing requirements to enable them to make an effective escape and this has to be reflected in the type of device chosen. For example, in buildings frequented by the general public it is important that doors can be released easily by people who might have no training in emergency procedures or the use of the exit device, and might therefore panic in the rush to escape. Other buildings might be occupied predominantly by authorised personnel, who have been trained specifically in the procedures for escape, and who are therefore unlikely to panic in the case of an emergency. Where escape route doors are part of the final exit from a building, there will be some additional requirements for security of the door against intrusion and burglary. In this case there can be a conflict between the requirements of building users to be able to escape easily and the requirements of building owners to secure their building and its contents against crime Where escape route doors are part of the fire compartmentation of the building there will be additional requirements to ensure that the escape hardware fitted does not compromise the fire-resisting performance of the doorset. Therefore, exit door hardware is divided into the following categories: Panic exit devices (for use where panic situations may be envisaged) Emergency exit devices (for use by trained personnel where panic situations are not envisaged) Exit devices for use on fire-resisting doorsets Accessories for exit devices. Note: This list does not imply suitability of any device for fire or escape door use The device and its accessories must be chosen taking account of the type of user: devices intended for use by the general public should be CE Marked to BS EN 1125 - Panic exit devices operated by a horizontal bar, and preferable provided with additional product certification by an approved third party certification body. devices for use by trained personnel should be CE Marked to BS EN 179 - Emergency exit devices operated by a lever handle or push-pad, and preferably provided with additional product certification by an approved third party certification body. If there is any doubt about the conditions relating to building occupancy, it is recommended that devices covered by BS EN 1125 (panic exit devices operated by a horizontal bar) be specified. Return Costs There was a time when cost of a fire safety solutions was never considered and the fire safety schemes were simple based on the current codes. It was up to the employer to consider this aspect and obtain the best cost effective solution. Since the introduction of risk assessment and the numerous solutions available to the fire safety profession it is now incumbent on the person conducting a fire risk assessment to consider costs. This can be achieved by comparing prices on the net and arriving at an average price and you must also consider the cost of installation. In this case a starting point and an idea of various types could be the Fire Door Retainers page at SafeLincs Return Definitions Accessible route - Any route that is used to approach, or move around or within a building, and is accessible to disabled people. Closing moment - Torque (Nm) generated by a door closing device which acts upon the door leaf during the closing operation. Cylinder - Key operated device containing differs, usually separate from, but engaging with, its associated lock or latch. Deadbolt - Bolt that is operated in both directions by a key, handle and/or thumb turn. Deadlock - Lock that contains only a deadbolt. Dogging mechanism - Mechanism fitted to an emergency/panic device for holding the bolt head(s) in the withdrawn position until manually or electronically reset. Doorset - Assembly of door leaf, frame, hinges and all other hardware, and including any fire or smoke seals. Escape route - Route forming the means of escape from any part in a building to a final exit. Final exit - An exit from a building where people can continue to disperse in safety and where they are no longer in danger from fire and/or smoke. Fire integrity - Measure of the ability of a specified doorset to resist and thus contain the effects of fire for a recognised period of time. (Usually expressed in minutes - e.g. FD60 or E60 implies a doorset capable of withstanding exposure to fire test for at least 60 minutes). Latch bolt - Moving part of a latch that engages the locking plate. Light reflectance value - The amount of light the surface reflects. The LRV scale runs from 0, which is a perfectly absorbing surface that could be assumed to be totally black, up to 100, which is a perfectly reflective surface that could be considered to be the perfect white. Because of practical influences in any application, black is always greater than 0 and white never equals 100. Mortise latch - Latch for fixing in a mortise, usually in the closing edge of a door leaf or window. Mortise lock - Lock for fixing in a mortise, usually in the closing edge of a door leaf or window. Rim lock - Lock for fixing on the face of a door leaf. Tubular latch - Mortise latch, which has a case shaped to fit into a cylindrical mortise. Return Additional Information The Door and Hardware Federation - Code of Practice for Hardware for Fire and Escape doors is an excellent publication and provides in depth information on many types of fire and escape door fittings and ironmongery. Home page Door & Hardware Federation The following European product Standards have been published as British Standards: BS EN 179 - Emergency exit devices operated by a lever handle or push pad* BS EN 1125 - Panic exit devices operated by a horizontal bar* BS EN 1154 - Controlled door closing devices* BS EN 1155 - Electrically powered hold-open devices for swing doors* BS EN 1158 - Door coordinator devices* BS EN 1303 - Cylinders for locks BS EN 1527 - Hardware for sliding doors and folding doors BS EN 1670 - Corrosion resistance BS EN 1906 - Lever handles and knob furniture BS EN 1935 - Single axis hinges* BS EN 12051 - Door and window bolts BS EN 12209 - Locks and latches - Mechanically operated locks, latches and locking plates* BS EN 12320 - Padlocks and padlock fittings BS EN 13724 - Apertures of private letter boxes and letter plates * These standards are "harmonised". This means that products successfully tested to them can be CE Marked. Return This handout provides a general overview and basic information on this topic. It may not apply to everyone, consequently to find out if this guide applies to you and to get more information on this subject, study all the relevant legislation, guides and British/European Standards. Also you should seek advice from an expert on the subject or your local Fire Safety Officer or Fire Safety Professional. The Fire Safety Advice Centre. Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. [Index] [Advice Centre] This page was last checked and modified on Wednesday, 29 October, 2008 14:34