The Locksmith Journal Sep-Oct 2015 - Issue 40 | Page 56

56 • HARDWARE&SECURITY PROUD SPONSORS OF THIS PAGE ‘Hold open devices such as the Dorgard Fire Door Holder are a great way of legally holding open fire doors in high traffic areas such as corridors instead of using a wedge’ provide vital fire protection for the critical weak points of the lock. When choosing a latch it’s important to go for strong, quality brands as they need to hold the door firmly in place without rattling. They also need to have the correct intumescent sleeve fitted to it to retain the doors integrity. Both locks and latches should be CE marked and further product certification by a third party is recommended. ‘When choosing a latch it’s important to go for the strong, quality brands’ Door closers Another important feature to consider when ensuring a fire door is fit for purpose is its door closer. Automatic closing devices operate to ensure that doors close properly to prevent the spread of fire. They should be fitted to all fire doors and be capable of closing the door from any angle of opening. This can be tested by opening the door to five degrees and making sure it closes and engages with the latch. Fire door closers need to work unaided – if you have to help it along then it’s not working properly and this needs to be put right. Another factor to bear in mind is that most door closers are graded with a power size. This needs to be a minimum of size 3 for a fire door; any lower than this and it is not considered suitable and needs to be changed immediately. As closers for fire doors have a critical safety function, they must be able to overcome any resistance from locks, latches or sealing systems that are present on the door. They should also be CE marked to BS EN 1154 including annex A. Hold open devices Hold open devices such as the Dorgard Fire Door Holder are a great way of legally holding open fire doors in high traffic areas such as corridors instead of using a wedge or other device, which is against fire regulations. These devices, used together with a door closer, will activate after hearing a fire alarm allowing the door to close automatically. These devices need to be maintained and tested on a regular basis. The unit must be located in the vicinity of the active alarm or bell in order to operate correctly. As fire doors are a fundamental part of fire protection it’s essential to consider every detail when installing, maintaining and checking them in order that they provide the maximum protection against the spread of fires. All components need to be checked on a regular basis and repaired or replaced if they are found to be damaged or broken. ‘A good example of a quality lock is the Altro Euro Profile Sashlock which boasts a 60 minute fire rating, meaning it will withstand the effects of a f