Fire Door Installs & Upgrades
Installation of fire doors is as life critical as the product specification itself and should only be carried out by someone who is competent, has been specifically trained to install fire doors and understands their responsibilities in getting it right.
All fire third party certified fire doors should be supplied with installation instructions that are specific to the product. Installation methods and materials can change depending on a number of factors, including product type and installation environment and so it is vital that these are referred to and adhered to.
There are several key things to remember when installing a fire door:
- Any individual installing a fire door should be fully trained and competent to do so.
- Look for a label or a plug to show that the door is certificated and check the instructions/certificate supplied.
- Essential Ironmongery such as locks, latches, closers and hinges must be CE marked, firmly fixed with no missing screws and compatible with the door leaf’s certification.
- The choice of frame/lining/casing and intumescent/smoke seals should also be compatible.
- The instructions on the door – they should be followed to ensure correct installation.
- The frame specification – should be correct for the door’s fire rating.
- The Building Regulations – are you following all of them correctly.
- Never cut glazing apertures on site. Cutting apertures for glazing and air transfer grilles on site will invalidate certification. This should only be carried out by a certificated licensed processor
- The gap between door and frame at the top and sides should be 2-4 mm and the threshold gap as per manufacturers instructions (typically around 8-10 mm) – the certificate will include details of this.
- Ensure any voids between door frame and wall are tightly packed with mineral wool.
- Check the certificate to ensure that you are only using compatible ironmongery (hinges, closers etc) and intumescent seals (in all the right places).
- Once complete. check that the closer shuts the door onto the latch from any position.
A common problem throughout the UK is the integrity and safety of fire escape doors within all types of buildings. In effect, fire doors act as both a barrier against fires as well as a means of escape in a burning building. By upgrading doors to a fire rated standard means fires become compartmentalised to the room where the fires are formed, preventing serious rapid fire spread throughout a building. In order to achieve this, intumescent products must be used to protect against fires.
Envirograf products are able to provide effective passive fire protection to the hinges, panels, gaps and surface of the door. We manufacture a range of products such as intumescent seals, hinges, intumescent paint and more to upgrade doors to fire-rated standards. Our products also comply with current UK Building Regulations.
Certification is provided upon completion of upgrading doors to BS and EN fire standards. A label is placed onto the door as verification of completed upgrade works.
In the event of a fire, metal heats up and damages the door, causing the door to penetrate. Once the door becomes damaged, it loosens from the hinges and falls away, allowing serious fires to spread.
Product 71 – Intumescent hinges, locks and door closer protection provides an effective barrier against flames. The intumescent expands to protect metal and keeps temperatures minimal to avoid early door breakage.
Gaps present between the door and frame do not prevent fire or smoke from passing through the door. Gaps larger than 4mm will require upgrading.
Our Product 69 – Intumescent Brush Seals provides a suitable upgrade for doors, with the intumescent expanding to seal the gap in the event of a fire. Alternatively, Product 73 – Rebated acoustic, draught, smoke and weather seals provide additional protection against elements that may damage doors.
We also manufacture Product 49 – Intumescent Letterbox Unit which provides protection against arson attempts.
Different types of doors will require intumescent products to provide effective passive fire protection. The risk side of a door will need to be cleaned from all grease, oils and other dirt before application of fire protection paint.
Our Product 103 – Intumescent Coating Kit comes with a primer, intumescent coat and top coating. Allow enough time for the primer to dry before applying the base and top coating.
Due to the fabric of doors within Historic and Listed buildings, old doors cannot be replaced as this would retract from historical value and significance of a building. Envirograf manufactures a range of fire-resistant products that preserve and protect historical doors, resulting in high performing doors and safer buildings.
Our Product 103 – Intumescent Coating Kit provides a protective layer to historical doors, without impairing its aesthetic or original fabrics.
