Technical Tuesday updates

Under the Fire Safety Order (FSO) 2005, there is a duty to maintain fire doorsets in sections 17.110 & 38.1. A regular maintenance routine should be carried out by third party certified maintainers referencing manufacturers’ instructions or by the manufacturer. Any repairs should be recorded and carried out in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. For further information read DHF's A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets.

To ensure effective fire compartmentation in buildings, it is essential that the individual leaves of pairs of doors with rebated meeting stiles close in the correct sequence. This function is achieved by the use of door coordinator devices. Door coordinator devices, conformity marked in accordance with BS EN 1158, are recommended for use wherever there is a requirement for reliable sequential closing of double leaf fire/smoke doors incorporating rebated meeting stiles. For further information read DHF's Door Co-ordinator Devices.

It is preferable that fire doorsets are installed by third-party certified installers referencing the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The importance of good, qualified installation is crucial to how the doorset will perform in the event of fire. BS 8214:2016 lays down guidance and references the importance of adhering to manufacturers’ instructions. These will include the fire stopping materials that can be used as per primary test evidence. For further information read DHF's A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets.

The BS EN 13637 standard covers electrically controlled exit systems that are either manufactured and placed on the market in their entirety by one manufacturer or assembled from sub-assemblies produced by more than one manufacturer and subsequently placed on the market as a kit in a single transaction. It is important that the correct hardware is applied commensurate with the escape risk applicable and that both emergency and panic risks are considered. For further information read DHF's Electrically Controlled Exit Systems.

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 there is a duty for the Responsible Person in any multi occupied residential building in England above 11m in height to undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors, (including self closers) in the common parts of the building, and also to carry out on a best endeavour basis annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self closers) that lead to common areas. The Responsible Person is also required to provide residents with information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s safety. For further information read DHF's A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets.