Explanation of the Coding System for Fire Door Closers in BS EN 1154: 1997

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, product markings are the easiest method to demonstrate compliance. The Building Control Officer, approved inspectors or a Trading Standards Officer will require this proof of 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 new 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.

This summary only relates to Controlled Door Closing Devices (door closers). The appropriate British Standard is BS EN 1154: 1997: Building Hardware Controlled Door Closing Devices. This article enables you to interpret the coding system. If a greater understanding is required then it will be necessary to study the standard in depth

THE CODING SYSTEM

Door closers have to be classified according to the six digit coding system:

DIGIT 1 – CATEGORY OF USE

Grade 3 – For closing doors from at least 105 degrees open

Grade 4 – For closing doors from 180 degrees open

Note 1:   Grade 4 classification assumes standard installation according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Note 2:  Applications subject to extreme abuses or for particular limitations of opening angle, doors closers incorporating a back check function or provision of a separate door stop should be considered.

DIGIT 2 – DURABILITY/NUMBER OF TEST CYCLES

Only one durability grade is identified for door closers manufactured to this standard.

Grade 8 – 500,000 test cycles

DIGIT 3 – DOOR CLOSER POWER SIZE

Seven door closer power sizes are identified according to table 1 of this European standard.  Where a door closer provides a range of power sizes both minimum and the maximum sizes should be identified.

DIGIT 4 – FIRE BEHAVIOUR

Grade 0 – Not approved for use on fire/smoke resisting door assemblies.

Grade 1 – Suitable for use on fire/smoke resisting door assemblies, subject to satisfactory assessment of the contribution of the door closer to the fire resistance of specified fire/smoke door  assemblies. Such an assessment is outside the scope of this European standard.

Annex A indicates additional requirements for fire door closers manufactured to grade 1.

DIGIT 5 – SAFETY

Grade 1 – Satisfies the safety-in-use requirements contained in the “Construction Products Directive” issued by the EU.

Note 1:   Door closers are required to satisfy the essential requirement of safe use. Therefore only grade 1 identified.

DIGIT 6 – CORROSION RESISTANCE

Five corrosion grades are identified in accordance with BS EN1670:

Grade 0 – No defined corrosion resistance

Grade 1 – Mild resistance

Grade 2 – Moderate resistance

Grade 3 – High resistance

Grade 4 – Very high resistance

Example of Classification

The following example denotes a door closer capable of closing fire doors from at least 105⁰ open, with durability grade 8,with power size range from size 2 to size 5, suitable for fire/smoke door assemblies, with safety grade 1 and with moderate resistance to corrosion.

Table 1: Power sizes for door closers

Note 1: The door widths given are for standard installations. In case of high doors, windy or draughty conditions or special installations, a larger power size of door closer might be required.

Note 2: If the door leaf width and the weight of the door fall in different power sizes, use the larger power size of the two.

Categories:Fire Safety Equipment

March 7, 2019[Last updated: March 7, 2019]