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THE GAI GUIDE TO
RETROFIT FIRE DOORS
» » DOUGLAS MASTERSON, B.A.(HONS)
DipGAI RegAI M.InstAI, technical
manager at the Guild of Architectural
Ironmongers (GAI), provides guidance
on the current legislation relating to fire
doors as well as some common retrofit
mistakes and potential risks. EFFECTIVE FIRE DOORS
BS 9999 contains the following
significant comment on fire doors:
“Doors in fire-separating elements are
one of the most important features of a fire
protection strategy . . .”
Annex B of Approved Document B states:
“Any test evidence [for] a fire door . . .
should be carefully checked to ensure that
it . . . is applicable to the complete installed
assembly. Small differences in detail (such
as glazing apertures, intumescent strips,
door frames and ironmongery etc.) may
significantly affect the rating.”
We can therefore conclude that fire doors
are specified and supplied to provide a
quantifiable and predictable performance.
This performance can be adversely affected
by apparently minor changes. The correct
fitting of door hardware is critical to a fire
door’s performance.
LEGISLATION
Below is some of the legislation and
guidance that applies when planning a
new building or extension. Those involved
in its design and construction will be
governed by Building Regulations. These
are regional, and might vary in detail, but
in all cases, the building must offer safe
and immediate escape in case of fire.
The following are documents used in
England and Wales:
• Approved Document B (ADB): Fire
safety
• Approved Document 7: Materials &
workmanship
• BS 9999: 2017: Code of Practice: Fire
safety - design, management & use
buildings
After the building is occupied, the
following legislation applies:
• Building Regulations - the
management must maintain the
standards which were in place at
planning permission as a minimum.
• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
2005 - a Responsible Person must
organise a fire risk assessment.
• Health & Safety at Work etc. Act -
employers must look after the welfare
of employees and visitors, including
the provision of safe egress. MODIFICATION OF FIRE DOORS
The Fire Safety Order states that when a
new building is handed over, or an existing
building undergoes a change of use, the
“Responsible Person must ensure that . . . any
facilities, equipment and devices provided .
. . are . . . maintained in an efficient state, in
efficient working order and in good repair.”
This applies to fire doors and their
hardware: hinges, closers, locks and
latches, and perimeter seals.
Common unauthorised modifications
include:
• Pushbutton locks being fitted onto
fire doors without fire test evidence
and without intumescent protection,
therefore compromising the integrity
of the fire door.
• The pushbutton lock often introduces
a second level handle on the door,
thereby failing to comply with the
recommendation of one hand
movement only to open a door on an
escape route (referenced in Approved
Document B).
• Electro-magnetic locks where the
armature plate is usually bolted
through door being fitted without
fire test evidence. This still needs
test evidence if it is only screw-fixed.
There is also the issue of wiring being
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drilled through the frame
• Where electrically released strikes
are used, a chunk of material is taken
out of the frame. There must be
relevant fire test evidence for these
products, together with details of any
intumescent protection needed.
The fitting of door hardware with no test
evidence constitutes:
• Unauthorised modification of fire
protection equipment.
• A fire door that is no longer “as tested”
therefore of unknown and potentially
compromised performance.
• Nullification of any 3rd party
certification for the door.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE REQUIRED
Extra items can be retrofitted if:
• There is fire test evidence for the door
with product fitted, or
• There is fire test evidence for the
product on a very similar door, or
• There is an assessment by a
competent authority, based on test
evidence.
SPECIALISTS
Qualified architectural ironmongery
specifiers such as GAI Diploma holders
(DipGAIs) and Registered Architectural
Ironmongers (RegAIs) are essential when
it comes to the correct specification of
hardware for fire door assemblies, both in
installation and retrofit scenarios.
They will work to ensure fire door
hardware is standards-compliant and
appropriate. They will check performance
classifications including CE marking; fire test
evidence and its applicability; and relevant
3rd party certification offering Factory
Production Control (FPC) and audit testing.
This is highly critical, detailed work and
needs to be done by trained specialists.
WARNING
Always remember that fire doors are an
essential part of a building’s passive fire
safety strategy. They are highly engineered
fire protection products and therefore
must be treated with respect. Fire doors
- when correctly specified, fitted and
maintained - save lives!