The Association for Specialist Fire Protection Door hardware Maintenance and replacement Jacky Sinclair Technical Consultant Guild of Architectural Ironmongers Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Guide to Fire and Escape Doors: Part 2 - Maintenance Sponsored by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers www.gai.org.uk 18/10/2012
Contents Can the fire door close fully? What stops the door closing? Do fire doors allow egress? Escape doors do they open? If it s worn out or broken - Summary Further helpful publications 18/10/2012 3 GAI 2012
Fire doors do they close fully? Any fire/smoke door not fully closed into its frame won t hold back fire or smoke. Smoke will pour through any gaps, and hot gases and fire will quickly follow. The escape route is not protected The fire can spread unchecked Fire fighters will have greater difficulty when entering the building to fight the fire. Even a non-fire door fully closed will give some protection for a short period. A proper fire door will last much longer. Conclusion the difference between almost closed and fully closed is CRITICAL. Let s take a look at some of the common causes of a door failing to close easily and fully into its frame. 18/10/2012 4 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Check hinge fixings Tighten as necessary, and replace any missing fixings with new (preferably No. 8, min. 30 mm long) wood screws. A good fixing holds better in the cold state, and in fire. Check for wear at the knuckles If the door has dropped, replace all 3 hinges with better quality butts of the same height and width Consider self-lubricating, long-life bearings or washers, rather than knuckles which need oiling. You will get what you pay for CE marked hinges must be used in maintenance and refurbishment work. 18/10/2012 5 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Check hinge pins If rising out of the knuckle, raise the nose of the door before knocking back in highly likely to recur, as it is a sign of a hinge under-specified for door weight/duty. Ball race cages Lubricate hinges as required Any black dust on the knuckle is from ground metal sign of wear and/or dryrunning black gunge oozing from ball race bearings lubricant mixed with metal dust: wipe clean and check the race cages for any signs of damage. 18/10/2012 6 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Check that any latches close easily Metal dust builds up on the latch face and the strike, where the two meet. The dust creates friction. Wipe it off with a little light machine oil Check that bolts align with their slots in the strike plate or keep Adjust hinges or strike plate as necessary Check angle of strike plate is correct If the tongue on the strike is not preformed as a curve, use a mallet or hammer to bend it, creating a slope 18/10/2012 7 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? This digital lock has been retro-fitted on a steel fire door and frame. There are issues! This type of latch shape is not suited to a square steel frame The door will only close if pulled from the secure side. (Locations on 5 floors of a block of flats, providing access to the escape stairs. The doors cannot close without human help, so the fire escape route is permanently compromised.) (Photo courtesy of Arnold Tarling) 18/10/2012 8 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Adjust the door closer for X Closing speed (controlled closing) [C] Latching speed (final nudge home) [D] Backcheck (braking effect around 70º of opening) [B] - option, not standard Delayed action (creeping effect around 100º - 70º closing) [B] - option, maximum delay < 25 secs (BS EN 1154) Strength (adjustable power) [X] option Regulator valves are usually found on the closer s body, under any cover fitted. Some manufacturers have fixing and adjustment instructions available on their websites. These should be downloaded and kept in your maintenance file. 18/10/2012 9 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Check the door closer for Arm assembly secure at both ends Arm geometry correct Wrong geometry changes the closer s action, and negates any performance certification and the CE mark. For closers fixed on the pull side of the door, check with the fixing instructions to see which arm should be at 90. (It s usually the one on top which fixes to the frame.) For closers fixed on the push face of the door, usually the arm fixed to the frame should be parallel with the door. Replacement closers must be CE marked. 18/10/2012 10 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Check the door perimeter seals for Secure fixing in door edge or frame Smoke seal complete and undamaged, where fitted Seals which have come adrift will stop the door from closing fully. Incomplete or damaged seals will not work effectively in a fire emergency. Damaged seals should be removed and replaced with new seals. If you don t have the details of the type which was originally fitted, get specialist help before purchasing. (See Where to get help Page 2.) 18/10/2012 11 GAI 2012
What stops the door closing? Does the door close fully from ANY angle? (Required by Approved Doc B) From fully open (maximum angle) With latch resting against strike When any edge seals start to contact both door and frame (too much friction?) Is air pressure preventing closing? (small, air-tight rooms or lobbies) Are differential air pressures present? (pressured stairwell?) Do other open/closed windows and doors affect full closing? Problems must be identified and rectified. Seek professional help where necessary. 18/10/2012 12 GAI 2012
Do fire doors allow egress? Check that the furniture (levers, knobs, pull handles) is securely fixed and operating correctly. Thru bolts, and spindles fixed into operating furniture (above left), are much more durable for commercial and frequent use than simple screw fixings (centre) and floating spindles. If you need to escape through the door, the handle must stay on the door when you grab it. There has been at least one death in the UK caused by door furniture coming off in the hand of a man trying to escape from his burning bedsit. Others have been similarly trapped in non-fire situations. 18/10/2012 13 GAI 2012
Do fire doors allow egress? Check that there is only one hand operation needed to open any door on a fire escape route Doors can be fitted with locks, preferably with thumbturns on the inside, as long as the door is normally unlocked when the building/area is occupied Doors which are normally locked must be openable by one hand operation from the inside possible with an emergency escape lock Doors fitted with keypad locks must give free access in the direction of escape. Any other operating levers or knobs on the door must be removed and the door made good. 18/10/2012 14 GAI 2012
Escape doors do they open? On emergency escape doors used by trained traffic / >60 occupants Is only ONE hand movement needed to release ALL bolts? (Approved Document B) By turning a lever, or Pressing a push pad/pulling a pull pad Other devices need very careful risk assessment as they are unlikely to comply with Regulations and product standards. Does the door open easily? Inward or outward opening is allowed Check that hinges and any weather seals are allowing free operation of the door. 18/10/2012 15 GAI 2012
Escape doors do they open? On emergency escape doors used by trained traffic / >60 occupants Is signage present and correct? BS EN 179 requires signage for how to operate the escape device BS 5499 (BS ISO 7010) requires escape route signs to be same type throughout premises Other ironmongery checks as for fire doors Hinges Weather seals Locks Door closers (if fitted not a requirement). 18/10/2012 16 GAI 2012
Escape doors do they open? On panic escape doors (public access / <60 occupants) Does body pressure alone release the door, applied anywhere along its width? The door must yield no matter where the panic bar is pressed Does the door open easily? Release should be immediate. You can t struggle with lungs full of smoke Is signage present and correct? Push bar to open with directional arrow on inside Fire exit Keep clear on the outside Other ironmongery checks as for fire doors 18/10/2012 17 GAI 2012
Escape doors do they open? If extra security is fitted, is it connected to the fire alarm, to give instant release in an emergency? Is it in working order? If there are break glass bolts or plastic ties, what s your story in court? These devices tell people NOT to use the door. A padlock on a door signifies that it is locked! Will the general public think any differently in a panic situation? Plastic ties considerably increase the force needed to open the door especially for the elderly, the disabled and the very young. You can never guarantee that staff will be available to help These devices cannot be justified in public areas. 18/10/2012 18 GAI 2012
Escape doors do they open? On panic escape doors If extra security is needed, it MUST be connected to the fire alarm, to give instant release in an emergency Electro-magnetic or electronic locks can offer this function Some panic bars can be supplied with electrical locking linked to the fire alarm and central control panel (see image top left) There is only one CE marked security escape bolt the Kingpin. This works by pulling the chain. It must not be used in public areas, but only in the workplace where trained traffic (people who take part in fire drills) learn how to use it These devices cannot be justified in publicly accessible areas. In an emergency, there s no time to read instructions. one mechanism.. readily operated... at all material times Approved Document B 18/10/2012 19 GAI 2012
If it s worn out or broken - - consider buying something better, not the same again! Check the fire test evidence before buying new products Check if intumescent gasket protection is needed behind hinge blades or around lock cases Have the replacement fitted by qualified fire door fitter (e.g. FIRAS approved) Replacement hinges, locks, latches, door closers and escape equipment must be CE marked. The mark means there is information available for you to consult on the product s level of performance Certifire approval is a further level of assurance, and provides data online 18/10/2012 20 GAI 2012
Summary Check what s fitted and make sure it works properly Replace faulty items with better quality, where possible Get help from qualified professionals Buy products from reputable, knowledgeable companies Have products fitted by trained fire door fitters Keep checking and maintaining performance. 18/10/2012 21 GAI 2012
Where to get information Code of Practice: Hardware for fire and escape doors (published by DHF/GAI) www.firecode.org.uk or www.gai.org.uk 18/10/2012 22 GAI 2012
Sources of professional help Fire Door Inspection Scheme Qualified Inspectors are listed on the FDIS website www.fdis.co.uk GAI Full Member company Company must employ a fully qualified DipGAI a specialist in fire and escape door hardware. Registered Architectural Ironmonger DipGAI holder who also participates in annual CPD. (Check stamp is in date!) www.gai.org.uk 18/10/2012 23 GAI 2012
Thank you Jacky R Sinclair DipGAI, RegAI, FInstAI GAI Technical Consultant Tel: 020 7457 2483 info@gai.org.uk www.gai.org.uk GAI BPF House, 6, Bath Place Rivington Street London EC2A 3JE 18/10/2012 24