Did you know that fire door compliance rules are changing? Here’s what you need to know…
The Building Regulations Approved Document B identifies minimum fire resistance periods for various elements of construction, including fire doors. The guidance recommends doors with a fire resistance period of 20 minutes (FD20) in some instances, and 30 minutes (FD30) in others.
It has been common practice for many years that the way you achieve the FD20 requirement is to purchase a FD30 door and add this into an untested frame, without intumescence. The Fire Door Alliance started a campaign in 2017 to lobby against this with other companies and certification bodies doing the same.
The NHBC (National House Building Council) as of the 1st July 2022 will no longer accept products that do not have certification and have not been tested together.
Separate door frames and doors that have not been tested together will no longer be acceptable. This is a great step forward by the NHBC and fire safety.
Many certification bodies do not certify an FD20 product, and it is now common practice for most door set manufacturers to supply a FD30 door set. This is not to say however that a FD20 door can no longer be used, rather it means that you must have certification for a FD20 door set.
If you have a requirement for an FD20 door it is advised this is discussed with your door supplier. Stairways for example would automatically change any specified FD20 doors to FD30.
With the regulation changing, it is time to consider a FD30 door set, which ticks all the boxes of fire door safety and compliance.
By installing the FD30 door set, all regulations are met as soon as the door set leaves the factory, meaning there’s little room for error when it comes to installing in your build. A door set is fitted in one piece with no need for the complicated intumescent seal fitting. There are many other benefits of using a door set, such as the consistent results and finish and the reduced installation time
The Pinpoint Door data pin is a new technology that Stairways is proud to use. This small black data pin makes use of NFC technology and is a way to make the lifetime of a door set cost effective and easy with its fully transferable “digital passport”.
The small pin is installed during the manufacturing process to the hinge side which simplifies the route between manufacturing, installation, inspection, maintenance and facilities management.
Each FD30 door with a pin receives a “digital passport” which is complete with the certification, specification, installation instructions, manufactures schedules and component details. A secure and easily accessible app is available for the installer to make use of which allows for the storing of photographs and the ability to achieve a sign-off on the installation.
Benefits of this new software is that it brings together all the elements in the fire door lifecycle, it also enforces and demonstrates requirements of the Regulatory Reform Order 2005. Furthermore, PinPoint records all inspections and there is access to the specification and allows for the identification of a door set from a single scan using NFC technology.
If you, like many other businesses, are needing to change your fire door set, contact Stairways for the best quality FD30 door set and remain in line with the necessary regulations.
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