FAQs > Fire Doors
There is no such thing as a stand-alone, fire rated door frame...
There are no PAS’s or Standards for manufacturing fire-rated doorsets...
No, not unless there is suitable test evidence that a specific solid MDF/timber panel in a particular doorset design has achieved the required rating.
Whilst it is generally true that larger intumescent strips are used for higher integrity periods, the intumescent specification for the door must be as tested or assessed for that particular doorset...
No, not without the written permission of the test sponsor, as all door manufacturers’ test and assessment data is held in confidence by the relevant test laboratory.
There are numerous methods for upgrading existing doorsets to enhance their inherent fire resistance, although every upgrade is specific to each doorset and consequently may not necessarily be appropriate for another design...
Approved Document B cites rising butt hinges as acceptable for use on fire resisting doorsets, providing there is suitable test evidence available. To the best of our knowledge, there is no supporting...
Spread of flame and fire resistance are two quite separate performance characteristics. Fire doors must prove their fire resistance rather than spread of flame performance.
Most manufacturers of intumescent seals recommend that ideally intumescent strips should not be painted over. For further clarification contact the seal manufacturer for supporting evidence and advice.
Not all fire rated doorsets can tolerate glazing and it is therefore essential to check the test evidence/assessment data for that door. If the door can accept glazing then it is of paramount importance that the exact guidelines are followed, as apertures
Resizing a doorset is not something that should be done without first contacting the manufacturer. Most door designs rely on components being of a minimum size in order to perform in a fire...
In practice it is very difficult to pass a 60 minute fire test using a softwood frame, simply because it chars more quickly than most hardwoods...
Fitting a letter plate or eye viewer will breach a fire rated doorset and has the potential to allow a direct passage for hot gases and flames.
Only if there is suitable test evidence for the door blank and if there is, the precise specifications are followed. The thickness of the door is crucial to its stability when subject to fire conditions...
If there is a smoke requirement for the door and the smoke seal is interrupted by the hinge locations, it will be necessary to run another length of the seal alongside the hinge blade to maintain continuity...
It is usually permitted to face fix kick plates and push plates to a fire-resisting door. We permit facing the door with metal to a maximum of 30% of the timber area of the leaf, provided that the metal face is surface fixed and does not wrap around any l
To achieve third-party certification manufacturers and installers will undergo stringent performance and production audits on an ongoing basis, to ensure that every product will provide the same levels...
In order to sell a door as a fire door there needs to be sufficient test evidence in place to justify the design...
Prior to 1972 the British Standards prescriptively defined how to construct a fire doorset and this included using 25mm doorstops.
Resizing a doorset is not something that should be done without first contacting the manufacturer. Most door designs rely on components being of a minimum size in order to perform in a fire...
The recommended leaf edge to frame gap specified in BS 8214: 1990 is 4mm on all edges. Intumescent seals are engineered to react within this size of gap to give optimum sealing and clamping performance...
