PROTECT YOUR PROPERTIES
The FDI help to protect some of the UK’s most exceptional properties, from high end residential developments to exclusive office space within the commercial / public building sector.
If you find yourself being one of the following:
- Landlord
- Building owner
- Facilities manager
- Building manager
- Managing agent
- Risk assessor
Then it is your responsibility to keep those within the building safe and secure, with fire safety being amongst one of the most important areas to consider the above should not underestimate their legal responsibilities when it comes to fire safety as this really can make the difference between life and death of those that fall under your responsibility.
One area often overlooked with regards to fire safety is the importance of fire doors. Far too often fire doors are not given a second glance, but in the event of a fire they can & will be a vital lifeline for the occupants of your building as well as minimising the damage to the property within and the actual building itself by being a vital component in the passive fire protection of your building.
OUR SERVICES
Fire door inspections consist of extensive checks of each individual fire door component.
Inspections should be completed by a fully certified fire door inspector who is able to carefully assess each door sets key components for faults, damage or wear.
At the FDI each fire door inspection begins with focusing on each door sets structural integrity & correct operation, this consists of assessing the door leaf, door frame, self-closer, door hinges, door selector, locks and handles, panic hardware, apertures and glazing. The inspection also covers passive protection features surrounding the door such as intumescent door strips and cold smoke seals. The gaps between the door and frame and the threshold gaps are measured. In addition, fire safety signage is checked for clarity and compliance, in line with current regulations.
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
LEISURE & HOSPITALITY
EDUCATION
MEDICAL
TYPICAL SAFETY CHECKS
In the inspection process we aim to gather as much information about the fire door sets as possible, by doing so we can make an informed, competent decision around the fire doors suitability for use and whether it is fit for purpose in its current state.
Below are some some key factors in each inspection…
HINGES
Hinges have an important role in ensuring the integrity of a fire door. Fire door hinges must remain adequately attached. CE marks ensure hinges are manufactured to British standard BS EN 1935: 2002, whilst the correct installation & maintenance of these hinges are vital to the integrity of a fire door set/assembly.
INTUMESCENT / SMOKE SEALS
Smoke inhalation kills in just a few minutes and also quickly obscures vision, creating disorientation that can prevent a safe escape. A victim may be rendered unconscious very quickly, leading to rapid death. An intumescent seal is a strip of intumescent material encased in a rigid casing, that when exposed to heat, expands, closing any gaps around the door to stop the fire & smoke spreading for a period of time. A separate seal is sometimes incorporated into the frame or combined with an intumescent seal to provide ambient temperature or ‘cold’ smoke sealing which restricts the issuance of smoke prior to the intumescent seals reaching the temperature at which they expand.
GLAZED APERTURES
Commonly used in communal door sets, Glazed apertures provide added safety in everyday use and in the event of a fire they aid detection of fire and smoke, whilst providing visibility to potential escape routes. Doors should only be glazed in accordance with the door manufacturers test evidence and the glass should be permanently marked as a minimum with the glass name, glass suppliers name and the applicable glass performance classification.
DOOR & FRAME GAPS
Ensuring the correct gaps between door and frame & Threshold gaps which is the gap between door and FFL (finished floor level) are vital in the performance of a fire door set being signed off for fit purpose of use. Ensuring gaps between door and frame are no bigger than 4mm and that threshold are no bigger than 8mm or else, in accordance with the door manufacturers tested evidence, is vital to the fire door performance.
DAMAGE FREE & LABELLED
With the door leaf being the main component of a fire door set, it is vital there is traceability back to the manufacturer, a certificated door set will have either a label or plug which relates to its individual certification and fire testing report. Should damage be present to the door leaf in which a replacement will be required, this will assist the client in keeping costs down with only having to replace the door leaf instead of the whole door set providing the frame remains in accordance wth the door leaf manufacturers test evidence.
OPERATING FURNITURE
For many ironmongery items you will need to ensure that only marked products are used on all fire doors and escape doors, just like hinges this comes in the way of a CE marked item which falls in line with the relevant British standard. The correct installation and maintenance of these items are necessary for the door set to be approved.
OUR COMMITMENT
The FDI is committed to ensuring the highest possible standards and safety measures are met and maintained…
Our team of fully qualified & certified fire door inspectors, have an extensive background knowledge & experience with fire door sets… Ranging from the involvement of the factory line manufacturing process at one of the UK’s leading fire door manufacturers to overseeing several extensive door installation packages on residential and commercial projects. The team at the FDI have gained a wealth of knowledge in the understanding of the importance of the correct specification, installation and maintenance of fire door sets.
