68 • FIRE SAFETY & SECURITY
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THE LATEST FIRE DOOR SAFETY STANDARDS
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SECUREFAST IS ONE OF THE UK ’ S leading providers of a comprehensive range of fire rated locking solutions all fully tested to EN1634-1 , for 30 minute and 60 minute timber fire doors . This includes the company ’ s range of Electro Magnetic locks specifically designed for internal doors that also operate as fire doors .
Securefast has not only fire tested its Electro Magnetic Lock range but has also had them tested by an independent test house to TS010:2016 , a performance standard that ensures that there is a consistency in the holding force of the magnet and to give customers the confidence that the product does what is claimed by the manufacturer . These products all have a Declaration of Conformity which can be downloaded from http :// www . securefast . co . uk / technical / certification- & -doc/
Kevin O ’ Reilly of Securefast outlines below key factors that specifiers need to consider when commissioning fire safety access controls .
Every fire door is 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 therewith .
It is important to note that any product installed does not affect the integrity of the door , so Securefast has ensured that its face to face and transom-housed electro-magnetic locks have been fully tested and fire rated for use on 30 and 60 minute fire doors . It is also relevant that the intumescent used is the same as that tested with the product . Securefast specifies Interdens intumescent wrap around the bolt fixing through the door to ensure that when heat is transferred during a fire that it fully seals and ensures that the door stays intact for the duration intended . Any substitute intumescent may not react in the same way ; may not fulfil the aperture as intended and may compromise the performance of the fire door .
Several regulations apply to both new and existing buildings in the UK .
In the case of new buildings , or those which include alterations , extensions or change of use , the appropriate Building Regulations apply . Existing buildings , other than domestic properties , are governed by the requirements of the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order : 2005 – known as the RRO . Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations ( England and Wales ) links the Building Regulations to the RRO for those buildings to which the RRO applies .
‘ several regulations apply to both new and existing buildings in the UK ’
NEW BUILDINGS
Building Regulations are known as Approved Documents ( or equivalent ) and designed to help meet the minimum standards required for construction in the UK .
Because fire doors are functional items and are necessary in all buildings and structures , they must meet various regulations such as sound , accessibility , ventilation , thermal efficiency and safety glazing as well as fire safety .
The Approved Document regulations in England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are :
• England and Wales - Approved Documents
• Scottish Building Standards - Technical Handbooks
• Northern Ireland - Technical Booklets
• Other Regulations and Codes
In addition , fire doors may also be required to comply with other codes and standards to meet BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes criteria , as well as procurement requirements for
responsible sourcing of materials such as those provided by forest certification and chain of custody required under CPET regulations , which apply to ALL projects undertaken by UK Government Public Sector and its agencies .
EXISTING BUILDINGS
The Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order 2005 replaced more than 70 pieces of fire safety law and came into force in 2006 .
The responsibility for fire risk assessment in all non-domestic buildings , including the common parts of flats and houses of multiple occupancy falls to the so-called ‘ responsible person ’. Under the FSO ( Fire Safety Order ), the responsible person must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and implement and maintain a fire management plan .
This applies to you if you are :
• responsible for business premises
• an employer or self-employed with business premises
• responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
• a charity or voluntary organisation
• a contractor with a degree of control over any premises
• providing accommodation for paying guests
Fire doors play a major role in the fire safety and protection of ALL buildings covered by the FSO and must be inspected correctly and maintained to ensure compliance .
Failure to do so can place lives and property at risk and may result in criminal prosecution .
www . securefast . co . uk
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | NOV / DEC 2017