Fire Doors
With over twenty five years experience specialising on the technical aspect of timber fire doors, CCH Joinery boast a vast array of knowledge and expertise enabling us to provide solutions for all your requirements.
Fire Doors
Buildings are compartmentalised to delay the spread of fire from one area to another. These compartments are usually linked by fire doors to allow the flow of traffic around the building. Fire doors have two important functions in a fire; when closed they form a barrier to stop the spread of fire and when opened they provide a means of escape.
A well designed timber fire door will delay the spread of fire and smoke without causing too much hindrance to the movement of people and goods.
Every fire door is therefore required to act as a barrier to the passage of smoke and/or fire to varying degrees depending upon its location in a building and the fire hazards associated with that building.
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A fire door required to provide resistance to the passage of a well developed fire must be fitted with intumescent seals. These seals remain dormant under normal conditions but expand greatly in the heat of a fire to close the gap between the door and its frame.
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As smoke spread is an even greater threat to life and property than flames, particularly in the early stages of a fire, fire doors should also be fitted with a ‘cold smoke’ seal to prevent the ingress of smoke around the door edges. Combined smoke and intumescent seals protect from all aspects of fire in a single unit
Some fire doors only require intumescent seals (specified as FD fire doors). Others may have to resist the the passage of smoke as well as the spread of fire (specified as FDs fire doors).
Specifications of timber fire doors
The performance of timber doors is assessed by subjecting them to the standard test procedure specified in BS 476: Part 22: 1987 or BS EN 1634-1: 2000. Tests are made on complete door assemblies: ie. the fire door and doorframe with all the requisite hardware (e.g. locks, latches, hinges, etc). The assembly, or doorset, as it is also known, is then fixed in a wall representing its use in practice. It is important that the actual frame to be used is tested as well as, should a door be tested in one type of frame and then used in another, no guarantee could be given of its performance under fire conditions. The test procedure is fully described in the Standard and consists of exposing one face of the door to the heat conditions anticipated in a fire while observing the door for stability and integrity. The Standard requires the tests to be carried out with the upper part of the door under a small positive pressure, to simulate the conditions likely to occur in a fire. It also provides an objective method of establishing the loss of integrity of a fire door by the use of a combustible fibrous pad on the unexposed side of the door to see when it ignites. As a fire door should be tested from each side to establish its performance with either face exposed to fire conditions, two specimens are required. It is reasonable to assume that all fire doors and doorframes manufactured to the same specification as the two specimen doors and frames will achieve the same fire resisting properties. A technique has been developed for minimising the susceptibility of door edges to early penetration by fire. It consists of applying intumescent seals to the edges so that a rise in temperature will cause the material to swell and close the gaps. Intumescent paints have been used but the most successful and reliable technique is the intumescent seal, about 4mm thick by 10mm wide, cut into a groove in the door or the frame edge or, in some cases, surface mounted. As soon as the temperature in the vicinity of the strips exceeds 200°C, usually about 10-15 minutes after the start of a fire, the seal swells and seals the gaps. One fire door seal is adequate for a half-hour (30-minute) fire door and for the increased protection needed with one-hour (60-minute) fire doors two of these seals will be necessary. The intumescent material is soft and cellular in structure and will not prevent warping of the door. There are fire doors that are able to resist the passage of fire for more than 30/60 minutes but these are more likely to be used for the protection of property than for means of escape from fire.
Fire resisting doors – door type for means of escape purposes
Integrity
Minutes [1]
Stability
Minutes [2]
Half-hour fire-resisting3030
One-hour fire-resisting6060
[1] Integrity failure is deemed to occur when cracks or other openings develop through which flames or hot gases can pass or when flaming occurs on the unexposed face.
[2] Stability failure is deemed to occur when collapse of the specimen takes place.
Certified Fire Doors
Manufacturers can certify fire doorsets, both for identification purposes and to guarantee their performance in a fire situation. The first step for the manufacturer is to construct a fire doorset designed to a specification that, in their opinion, will resist a fire for a specified length of time. This doorset will then be tested by an approved fire testing centre and, if it is passed, any doorsets constructed to that specification can be considered for certification.
Once the certification is approved, each similarly constructed doorset will be identified by a label identifying the manufacturer, the date of manufacture and the designated fire rating of the door type. This identification label is usually affixed to the top edge of the door. A colour-coded plug may be inserted into the door, instead of or in addition to the label. For hospitals, fire doors display a disc at the top of each face of the door showing the designated fire performance (see HTM58).
Identification marks can sometimes be removed or painted over during the installation or adjustment of a fire doorset but, if the work has been professionally carried out under the auspices of the BWF/FIRAS Accredited Fire Door Installers Scheme, the chance of this happening can be avoided. There are two associations that have certifiable fire door systems, namely:
TRADA Q-Mark fire door scheme
The woodworking association BM TRADA uses a system known as Q-Mark, in which a series of coloured plugs is inserted into the door to indicate the fire door type, member details, the scope of certification during specification and installation, and service history.
For more details visit the BM TRADA website at www.bmtrada.com, The colour coding information is summarized on a laminated plastic card, available free of charge from BM TRADA: contact enquiries@bmtrada.com.
British Woodworking Federation Certifire fire door scheme
The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) is another major organisation that provides fire door ratings. BWF fire ratings for fire door assemblies are stated in minutes and prefixed by the letters ‘FD’: e.g. FD30 refers to a 30-minute fire door or fire doorset; in other words, one that offers at least 30 minutes of protection against fires.
The most commonly specified integrity levels are:
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FD30 – 30 minutes
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FD60 – 60 minutes
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FD90 – 90 minutes
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FD120 – 120 minutes
As part of the steps being taken by the BWF to simplify fire door identification and eliminate confusion in specification, the existing FD20 rating is no longer available.
Every BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door Assembly carries a permanent and tamper evident label. For more information, visit The British Woodworking Federation website or download the latest Scheme Directory for a listing of all members of the BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door & Doorset Scheme.
The former system used by BWF utilizing plastic plugs has been superseded but may still be in evidence in older buildings. The obsolete fire door identifications can be seen on the BWF obsolete card.
Fire Door Seals or Fire and Smoke Seals
Intumescent fire door seals with or without cold smoke seals should be fitted to the stiles and head of a fire-resisting doorset. The following is information on the type or size of intumescent fire door seal that should be used.
Not all intumescent materials act in the same way. Low pressure seals expand in all directions but provide little help to the door in resisting distortion under fire. Some high pressure seals exert pressure mainly in one direction and provide some resistance to distortion of the door leaf under fire. A further type of intumescent material, available in different grades, acts in all directions and generates some pressure. Fire door seals activate at temperatures that are above human survival levels.
Type of fire door
Intumescent Seals
Intumescent Fire and Smoke Seals
30/30 Single action door
30/30 Double action door
10mm x 4mm
(Both sides and top)
10mm x 4mm
(Both sides and top)
30/30 Double pairs of doors
10mm x 4mm on one centre stile
10mm x 4mm on other stile, heads and back edges
60/60 Single action door
60/60 Double action door
20mm x 4mm
(Both sides and top)
20mm x 4mm
(Both sides and top)
60/60 Double pair of doors
20mm x 4mm on one centre stile
20mm x 4mm on other stile, heads and back edges
In most circumstances, the retention or control of smoke is required. Where this is the case, fire doorsets must be fitted with appropriate smoke seals. These prevent the leakage of air and therefore smoke through the most vulnerable places, e.g. the gaps between a door and its frame or around a glazed opening. Installations fitted with such seals are designated by the suffix ‘s’ after the integrity rating: e.g. FD30s.
To achieve such classification, the seals are tested in accordance with BS 476 Part 31.1 or CERTIFIRE approved to TS21.
Most modern fire door seals combine the intumescent and cold smoke elements in one seal.
Grooves should be made slightly wider than the seals to allow for the pre-painting and shrinkage of timber.
All hardware (e.g. hinges, locks and door closers) should be of fire resistant standard and have intumescent material fitted between it and the door.
Please refer to fixing and installation instructions.
Note: – It is advisable to ask fire door manufacturers what type of seal to use.
Fore more detailed information visit the Intumescent Fire Seals Association website.
Fire Resisting Glazing
Glazing may range from a small vision panel in a door to a glazed screen for maximum light transmission and safety. Ordinary glass cracks when exposed to heat and is liable to fall out fairly early in a fire. Fire resisting glass can withstand exposure to the heat condition in a fire test for at least 60 minutes before it reaches a temperature high enough to soften it. This is mainly because, with clear FR glazing, nearly 50 per cent of the incident heat is transmitted through the glass by radiation.
The size of the glass and the method of its retention are important factors that influence its integrity. As the temperature approaches the softening point, a large sheet will tend to collapse earlier than a smaller one. On the unexposed face, beading retaining the glass is subjected to radiant and conducted heat through the glass and to convection currents at the top of the pane.
This can raise the temperature sufficiently to ignite timber beading after approximately 20 minutes. To delay the ignition of beading to 30 minutes, it is necessary either to provide protection by impregnation of a surface coating or a surface covering of non-combustible material or to fit a fire resistant glass secured using a fire resistant glazing system. This will hold the glass firmly in place during normal use, but in the event of fire, allows the intumescent material to expand, thereby securing and insulating the glass and protecting the surrounding timber.
For longer periods of fire protection, an improved retention system for the glazing is required. The glass panel should be small and the method of fixing must ensure that no direct path can be created for the transference of hot gases.
Fore more detailed information, visit the Glass and Glazing Federation and download the Fire Resistant Glazing Best Practice Guide.
Fire Door Furniture and Ironmongery
An important aspect of ensuring fire doors meet the required standard is the fitting of certified door furniture, or hardware, which is overlooked on many occasions. If you go to our page Fire Door Fittings and Ironmongery there is a detailed description of all the door furniture suitable for fire doors and the appropriate standards.
Maintenance of Fire Doors
Fire doors are engineered products that provide life and property saving functions in the event of fire. It is important that they are regularly inspected and maintained to permit them to perform at their best on the one and only occasion when they are called upon so to do.
Doorsets fitted with hold open devices or swing free type closers should be closed daily, particularly overnight when there is likely to be low building occupancy. For busy 24/7 buildings (e.g. hospitals) fire doors should be closed at least weekly. All fire doors should close effectively from any angle of opening, using only the door closer.
There are a number of reasons why doors may fail to close:-
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Foreign bodies or other objects may be obstructing the door.
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The smoke seals may be incorrectly fitted or damaged.
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If a latch is fitted, it may be malfunctioning or require lubrication.
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The closing device may need adjustment but this must only be done as a last resort and very carefully, to ensure that the door can be opened without undue force.
Intumescent seals should be checked regularly, at intervals not greater than 6 months, and damaged or missing ones replaced. To maintain the designated performance potential, replacement seals should be of the same brand, size and type as the original. Any intumescent seal of the same size as the original, however, is better than none.
Mechanical items such as hinges, locks, latches, closer, floor springs etc are likely to wear over time. Maintenance provisions should comply with the hardware supplier’s recommendations where these are known. Otherwise, locks and latches may require occasional light lubrication.
Some hinges use self-lubricating bearings that will not need additional lubrication.
Where it is necessary to replace worn hardware on a fire door, the essential items should be replaced with products to the same specification as the original where possible. Otherwise, hinges, latches, locks, flush bolts, closers and other items of load-bearing or securing hardware should be of the same type and size as the original items and should have been proven for use in timber fire rated doorsets of the required performance. Hardware that has been successfully tested in metal doorsets may not be suitable for use with timber doorsets. Intumescent gaskets may have been used under hinge blades, locks/latches for end plates, strike plates, and/or with closer fittings and in flush bolt recesses. These gaskets should ideally be replaced if possible with gaskets of the same material; alternatively, if undamaged, they should be retained and reused with the new fittings. Intumescent gaskets or mastics used for these applications are usually the low pressure type.
Redundant hardware should be carefully removed.
Decoration
Unglazed areas of any fire door leaves are generally not required to provide a specific surface spread of flame requirement and may therefore be decorated as desired. There is no evidence to suggest that over-painting of heat-activated seals has any detrimental effect on the ability of the seals to perform efficiently. There are some benefits in over-painting the seals as they are less likely to absorb atmospheric moisture. There are limits, however, on how much paint can be applied without there being a risk of the seal being rendered inoperative. It is recommended that over-painting be limited to a maximum of five coats of conventional oil bound paint or varnish. When preparing a frame for redecoration, the use of heat or chemical strippers should be avoided if intumescent seals are incorporated. If seals are damaged by either of these processes, they should be replaced. If glazing beads have been painted with intumescent paint, it is essential that they are repainted with a similar paint.
British Standards
The following is a list of documents relevant to timber fire doors BS 476: – 20: 1987 Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction (general principles)
BS 476 – 22: 1987 Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of non-loadbearing elements of construction
BS 476: – 23: 1987 Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for the determination of the contribution of components to the fire resistance of a structure
BS 476: – 31.1: 1983 Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method of measuring smoke penetration through doorset and shutter assemblies – method of measurement under ambient temperature conditions.
BS 8214:2008 Code of practice for fire door assemblies