Option 4: Fire resisting doors, industrial shutters and associated hardware Flashcards
Describe the purpose of fire doors. (4 marks)
Fire doors are primarily required to achieve two essential functions:
* To maintain the compartmentation of a building, which has been introduced to limit the size
and spread of fire in order to control the determined risk
* To allow access to protected escape routes, both vertically and horizontally, without any loss
of fire resistance, and limit smoke movement in the structure forming these routes, e.g.
protected corridors, lobbies, stairways and shafts
Fire doors are crucial in protecting the means of escape in any building, allowing safe escape through
the exits, and are crucial in buildings that have a stay put fire plan as they provide the means to seek
refuge in a compartment. Also allowing access by firefighters
Describe each of the following:
a) Fire doorset. (4 marks)
b) Fire door assembly. (4 marks)
A
A fire doorset is a complete, pre-assembled unit consisting of a fire-resistant door, frame, and all essential components such as hinges, seals, and glazing (if applicable), manufactured and tested as a single entity. It is designed to provide a specified level of fire resistance (e.g., 30, 60, or 120 minutes) and is typically supplied as a factory-assembled product, ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations.
Third party certified doorsets provide assurance that the doorset is the same as that tested
B
A fire door assembly consists of a fire-resistant door and its associated components, such as the door frame, hinges, locks, intumescent seals, and other hardware, which are installed together on-site to form a functional fire door system which have been fire tested and/or assessed as being capable of working
together.
A door leaf may be formed of timber or steel.
a) Describe the typical design of a timber door leaf, state the fire resistance periods possible
and give an example where a door of this type would be used. (3 marks)
b) Describe the typical design of a steel door leaf, state the fire resistance periods possible
and give an example where a door of this type would be used. (3 marks)
A
a) Timber Door Leaf
Typical Design:
A timber door leaf is typically constructed with a solid timber core, particleboard, or high-density fiberboard (HDF). The core is often surrounded by a hardwood lipping to improve strength and durability. The leaf may include fire-resistant glazing, intumescent strips (that expand under heat to seal gaps), and a veneer or paint finish for aesthetics.
Fire Resistance Periods:
Fire-rated timber doors can provide resistance periods of 30 minutes (FD30) or 60 minutes (FD60), depending on the specific design and materials used. Up to FD120 if a mineral based core is used to prevent burn through
Example of Use:
Timber fire doors are commonly used in residential buildings, such as apartment entrances or internal doors separating living spaces from escape corridors.
B
A steel door leaf consists of a steel face sheet, typically 1.2mm to 1.6mm thick, reinforced with a core material like mineral wool, honeycomb, or steel reinforcements to enhance fire resistance and insulation. It is designed with welded seams, intumescent seals, and may include fire-resistant glazing if needed.
Steel doors, depending on the design and core structure, can offer fire resistance periods of up to six
hours, therefore they are often specified in industrial environments and where high-density traffic
may be expected such as airports and shopping malls.
Such door can be made from a honeycomb core to aid rigidity, or a semi ridged construction utilising
a stone wool core, or ridged core utilising a mineral core, (which may also enable the door to meet
the additional insulation requirement).
a) Describe the purpose and operation of intumescent seals. (3 mark)
b) Describe the factors to be considered when fitting intumescent seals. (3 marks)
A
Purpose: Intumescent seals are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke by sealing gaps around the door when exposed to high temperatures.
Operation:
Under normal conditions, the seals remain inactive and do not affect the door’s function.
When exposed to heat from a fire, the intumescent material expands up to several times its original size.
This expansion fills the gaps between the door leaf and the frame, blocking fire, smoke, and hot gases from spreading through the openings.
b) Factors to Consider When Fitting Intumescent Seals
Correct Size and Type – Seals must match the fire door’s specification, considering thickness, expansion rate, and whether they include smoke seals.
Proper Positioning – They should be installed in the grooves of the door leaf or frame as per manufacturer guidelines to ensure full effectiveness.
Continuous and Secure Fit – The seals must be unbroken, firmly fixed, and without gaps to provide complete fire and smoke protection.
Describe the checks that would be completed when carrying out maintenance inspection in
relation to:
a) Door leaf and frame of a fire door. (3 mark)
b) Locks and lever handles. (3 marks)
Door leaf and frame
* The door and frame is fitted securely, square and level
* The is no distortion between the stiles (vertical members) and top of the frame
* The gaps between the door frame and door leaf must not be greater than those specified in
the manufacturers installation instructions or fire certificate data sheet
Locks and lever handles
* Lock levers fully return to the horizontal after use
* Latch bolt is engaged smoothly and completely into the keep
* Wipe any metal dust deposits off the latch bolt and keep
* Adjust, lubricate or replace as per manufacturers recommendation
