The implementation of fire doors in public buildings stands as one of the most crucial aspects of fire safety strategy. Fire doors are not ordinary doors; they are carefully engineered fire safety devices and are critical to the fire safety of a building and can be the difference between life and death.
Building safety should never be compromised and any properties owned and leased by local authorities must meet fire safety standards to ensure a safe environment for all tenants. As a leading manufacturer and supplier of fire doors for local authority building projects, Shelforce understands the vital importance of these life-saving products in protecting communities and ensuring public safety.
Understanding the critical role of fire doors in building safety
Fire doors serve as a fundamental component of a building’s passive fire protection system. These specially engineered internal doors are designed to prevent the spread of fire and toxic smoke, providing crucial minutes of protection that can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a fire and providing residents with the right amount of time to exit a building.
What legal requirements must local authorities consider?
Local authorities must adhere to strict regulations regarding fire doors in public buildings. The legal requirement for fire resistance typically ranges from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the building’s purpose and layout. Understanding these requirements is essential for compliance and public safety.
Essential components of an effective fire door system
Modern fire doors comprise several crucial elements:
- Door thickness and construction
- Fire-resistant glass panels where applicable
- Specialised hinges and closers
- Intumescent seals and smoke seals
- Compatible door frames and linings
Important things to consider
Fire Door Installation and Maintenance Standards
Professional installation is crucial for fire door effectiveness. Regular maintenance and inspections ensure continued performance and compliance with safety standards.
The Impact of Fire Door Materials on Performance
The highest quality materials are essential for optimal fire protection. Solid fire doors made from appropriate materials provide superior fire resistance and durability.
Accessibility and Fire Safety: Finding the Balance
Modern fire doors must meet both fire safety requirements and accessibility standards, ensuring safe passage for all building users while maintaining fire protection capabilities.
Cost Considerations and Long-term Value
While quality fire doors represent a significant investment, their role in protecting lives and property makes them invaluable. Stock fire doors can offer cost-effective solutions without compromising safety.
Fire Door Accessories and Additional Safety Features
Essential accessories include:
- Self-closing devices
- Fire-rated glazing
- Proper signage
- Intumescent strips
Testing and Certification Requirements
Rigorous testing ensures fire doors meet required standards. Certification provides peace of mind and confirms compliance with safety regulations.
Integration with Broader Fire Safety Systems
Fire doors must work in conjunction with other safety measures, including alarm systems, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting and evacuation procedures.
What do local authorities need to look out for when specifying fire doors?
Government funded organisations set the standard for the wider housing sector and when it comes to specifying a Fire Door solution for any local authority replacement project fire-safety standards must be met.
Several challenges are presented to Local Authorities when specifying fire doors and it is important that Local Authorities know what they need, understand the door itself, and recognise what must afterwards to make sure the door continues to perform as it is supposed to in the future.
Field of application
What is it? The Field of Application is the document that collates all the test evidence and makes the official statement that door sets within the size ranges listed are all compliant.
Why is it important? Any fire door installed must have a Field of Application from the manufacturer and if it does not then you will not be fitting the right door, making the consequences potentially catastrophic. It is a legal requirement for fire door manufacturers to provide test evidence to show their product’s ability to resist fire, and without the Field of Application variations of tested composite door sizes are not allowed.
3rd party accreditation
What is it? Independent 3rd party accreditation, or certification, ensure that the tested fire and smoke door specification is consistently and repeatedly manufactured with the exacting same specification as the security door specification.
Why is it important? All fire doors must be third party audited for both fire and security compliance and have third party certification. It provides an additional level of assurance that the fire door is produced to the same specification and quality as that originally tested, and that the original test behaviour and criteria is both met and reliably maintained consistently.
The Fireshel
At Shelforce, we understand that selecting and implementing the right fire doors is a complex responsibility for local authorities. Our range of fire doors and range of internal doors come in a variety of designs and combine superior protection with practical functionality, offering a comprehensive solution for public building safety.
Our high-performance Fireshel fire door meets and exceeds current fire safety regulations. The Fireshel is designed to provide up to 30 minutes of fire resistance (FD30), making it suitable for a wide range of applications in local authority buildings.
Key features of the Fireshel include:
- Fully compliant with BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018
- Intumescent seals and smoke seals as standard to stop the spread of smoke
- Available with fire-rated glazing options
- Robust construction for longevity and reliability
Local authorities can trust our expertise in providing fire doors that meet all necessary standards while offering competitive pricing.
The implementation of appropriate fire doors is not just about meeting regulations – it’s about providing genuine protection and peace of mind for building occupants. Our commitment to manufacturing excellence ensures that every fire door we produce meets the highest standards of safety and durability.
For local authorities looking to enhance their building’s fire safety measures, we offer:
- Professional consultation services to provide guidance on selecting the right fire doors for your specific needs and ensuring compliance with current regulations.
- Detailed product specifications and maintenance recommendations – all our fire doors undergo rigorous testing and certification to ensure they meet or exceed current standards.
- Installation guidance on best practices to ensure optimal performance.
- Resources and training materials to help your team understand fire door regulations and maintenance requirements.
Ongoing support
Whether you’re upgrading existing facilities or working on new developments, our team can help ensure your fire door strategy meets all necessary requirements while providing optimal protection for building occupants.
Remember that fire doors are more than just another type of internal door – they’re an essential life-safety device that requires careful consideration and expert implementation. With Shelforce’s extensive experience in manufacturing both external doors and fire doors, we understand the unique challenges faced by local authorities in maintaining public safety.
Contact our team today to discuss now. We’re always available to answer questions and provide updates on changing regulations or new fire safety measures.
