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FIRE DOORS HAVE TWO main roles ; to protect property and to save lives by protecting people from smoke inhalation . A correctly specified , installed and maintained fire door serves both functions .

When a fire door is closed it can stop fire and smoke spreading , provide a safe and protected escape route while people evacuate the building and provide some protection for fire-fighters entering the building to fight the blaze .

Fire doors must be installed to replicate their tested condition , and if any changes are made to them in any way , these are likely to negatively affect their fire performance , and nullify any third party certification or CE mark .

Fire doors rely on the vital functionality of the ironmongery used to allow them to operate daily often over many years . Only then will they perform their proper functions .

Fire doors must also fulfil privacy , security , thermal and acoustic functions which require the hardware to have a very high level of durability and performance . The ironmongery must work together as a system to ensure the fire door works to its intended purpose . So it is vital to have the correctly specified , fitted and maintained essential and non-essential ironmongery .

A specifier under price pressure by a contractor to make changes to a specification to secure an

order , ( known as “ value engineering ” is a practice fraught with risks , particularly on essentials such as hinges and door closers . The specification of architectural ironmongery is a highly technical practice involving detailed knowledge of product , standards and the correct methodology of scheduling . The GAI provides the GAI Diploma ( DipGAI ), a three stage course which trains learners in all aspects of this practice . The GAI also provides ongoing continuing professional development ( CPD ) for those who continue their education beyond DipGAI and become Registered Architectural Ironmongers ( RegAI ).

There are a number of guidance documents for Building Regulations which relate to fire safety throughout the UK and in the Republic of Ireland . Specifiers should familiarise themselves with the following with particular reference to ironmongery & fire doors .

• England and Wales : Approved Document B : Fire Safety

• Northern Ireland Technical Booklet E : Fire Safety

• Scotland : Technical Handbook Fire : Domestic and Nondomestic

• Republic of Ireland Technical Guidance Document B : Fire Safety ( new version published July 2017 )

HARMONISED STANDARDS RELATING TO FIRE DOORS ARE :

• EN 12209 for mechanical and EN 14846 for electromechanical locking devices

• EN 1125 for panic hardware

• EN 179 for emergency escape hardware

Any product specified to be installed on a fire or escape door that falls under the scope of these standards should be CE marked , and have all of the correct Declaration of Performance ( DoP ) documentation .

Relevant publications available to download include the Code of Practice : Hardware for fire and escape doors , published jointly by the Door and Hardware Federation ( DHF ) and GAI . This publication is referred to in UK and Ireland local Building Regulations – visit www . firecode . org . uk

The British Woodworking Federation ( BWF ) Certifire Best Practice Guide provides advice on selecting , installing , using and maintaining fire doors and features a range of useful checklists . The Barbour Technical Guide to Fire Precautions and Fire Protection is another useful download which covers legal requirements for responsible people under the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order 2005 ( RRO ).

The Fire Door Inspection Scheme ( FDIS ) online learning module was

developed jointly by the GAI and BWF and provides online learning leading to a Diploma in Fire Doors ( DipFD ) and a route to becoming a Certificated Fire Door Inspector ( Cert FDI ).

FDIS offers education which is essential for anyone working with fire doors and escape doors , providing knowledge and understanding about the critical role of fire doors and how they can save lives and protect property .

Maintaining life safety critical items such as fire doors and ironmongery is crucial . The RRO states : “ Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities , equipment and devices … are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state , in efficient working order and in good repair .”

For fire and escape door hardware , the correct specification of product in the right application can mean the difference between life and death .