Effectiveness of fire doors

A high specification, backed by third party testing and full accreditation, makes a life-changing difference when it comes to the effectiveness of fire doors, according to Shepley, which said despite the importance of their performance, fire doors are often first to be downgraded on a specification in order to cut costs.

“Fire doors are the first line of defence in containing fire and smoke, so when it comes to an emergency, they mustn’t fail,” says Tony Ball, sales director at Shepley. “Testing, and achieving BS 476 and BS EN 1634 accreditation, must be in place to ensure compliance with fire regulations and for the safety of occupants.

“As a Rehau composite fire door partner, we are one of a select number of fabricators who manufacture Agilia composite fire doors. In fact, we worked closely with Rehau to develop its global assessment accreditation which covers doors, as well as approved sidelights and toplights too. This testing is alongside BS 476 and BS EN 1634 accreditation.

“It means all of our composite fire doors have been rigorously tested to make sure they are fire resistant and offer smoke control for at least 30 minutes. We also offer a high specification too. We use special fire glass for added insulation, with no Georgian wires, and there’s the option for Astra concealed fire door closers, which meet fire regulations and accessibility requirements.”

www.shepley.com