Detailed fire door recommendations

BS 8214 : 2008 is the current standard, ‘Code of practice for fire door assemblies with non metallic leaves’ deals with most aspects of fire doors. For the purposes of Part B, required performance is expressed in terms of integrity only (disregarding insulation) with the prefix ‘FD’: ratings of FD20, FD30, FD45, FD60, FD90 and FD120 (or E20, E30, E45, E60, E90 or E120)are identified. As stated earlier, FD20 is not considered practicable whilst FD45 is not commonly used. It is the building designer’s responsibility to ensure that all fire doors have satisfied appropriate fire resistance requirements and that certificates exist to that effect.

The importance of evaluating the complete door assembly including essential ironmongery to give an accurate picture of performance is stressed is
BS8214. Where testing is impossible or impracticable, ‘competent assessors’ can provide an assessment of performance based on existing test evidence. They must be suitably qualified fire safety engineers or laboratories accredited by UKAS for the purpose. The standard includes useful guidance on storage, installation and maintenance, although sections on design and manufacture are less important when using fully finished, independently certified doorsets. Important recommendations on protecting the gap between frame and wall are summarised in Tables
2 and 3 within the standard.

Approved Document B – Fire Safety gives specific requirements for the self-closing of fire doors. Volume 2 – ‘Buildings other than dwelling houses’ requires all fire doors to have self-closing devices (except cupboards and service ducts, normally locked shut), the use of self-closing on fire doors to flats is specifically identified. However, Volume 1 – ‘Dwelling houses’ only requires self-closing devices to be fitted to fire doors serving an attached or integral garage.

Requirements for closers on fire doors should also be considered in terms of escape and access for the disabled. The specification of the door-closer should also take into account the needs of the residents, in particular where they could present an obstacle, in such situations the use of free-swing closers, or hold-open devices could be considered.