Guide to Fire and Escape Doors: Part 1 - What are they? Produced by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers Sponsored by Abloy UK www.gai.org.uk
Introduction This will be a brief overview of the subject, so it won t make you an instant expert. If you want to get more detailed advice, we suggest the following: Code of Practice: Hardware for fire and escape doors. This is free to browse online or download. www.firecode.org.uk Guild of Architectural Ironmongers To get competent, professional advice on particular situations, and to purchase suitable products, contact a Member company of the GAI. Details of companies in your area are available on www.gai.org.uk Guide to fire and escape doors: Part 2 Maintenance This gives details on looking after your fire and escape doors. It is on the Means of Escape website. www.means-of-escape.com/fire-safety-guides/ 18/10/2012 2 GAI 2012
Contents What s a fire door? Intumescent Seals Essential hardware - fire What s an escape door? Panic escape Emergency escape Essential hardware - escape 18/10/2012 3 GAI 2012
What s a fire door? Buildings are divided into compartments by fire-resisting walls, ceilings and floors. A fire door protects an opening in a fire wall, and has the same level of fire resistance as the wall, e.g. 30 or 60 mins. When the fire door is closed, it can - stop any fire and smoke spreading protect escape routes while people evacuate the building provide some protection for fire-fighters entering the building. Fire doors are highly engineered parts of your building s fire protection. Look after them, and they will look after you. 18/10/2012 4 GAI 2012
What s a fire door? (1) (3) (2) There are three basic types of fire door : 1. Doors which are self-closing, and used for passage of people 2. Doors which are held open, or swingfree, but which revert to self-closing as soon as the fire alarm sounds (More on these on the next page) 3. Doors which are locked shut and only used occasionally (usually cleaners cupboards, plant rooms, etc.) You can tell which type you re looking at by the blue and white signs it will carry, usually at eye level. Any type of selfclosing door has signs on both sides (1&2). Keep locked shut doors have them on the outside only (3). 18/10/2012 5 GAI 2012
What s a fire door? A self-closing fire door can be useful where it s also used for privacy (interview room), or security (wages office), but in corridors, it can be a nuisance. Hold open devices which are connected to the fire alarm system are allowed, as long as they are properly maintained. They must revert to self-closing when the fire alarm sounds. One type of door closer allows the door to swing freely and easily in normal use, giving open access to the elderly and disabled. It reverts to self-closing when the fire alarm sounds. Clever technology! (These devices are only used on doors to rooms, because they are not held open, and could cause accidents for the visually impaired if used across corridors.) 18/10/2012 6 GAI 2012
What s a fire door? Fire doors are made from metal or timber, and might be clad in other materials. Some have glazed vision panels. There might be one or two leaves in a frame. If there are two, they might be the same size or unequal widths. The door might open one way (single action) or in both directions (double action). Fire doors are installed to replicate their tested condition, and if you make any changes to them in any way, you are likely to negatively affect their fire performance, and certainly nullify any 3 rd party certification or CE mark they might have. 18/10/2012 7 GAI 2012
Intumescent Seals Intumescent seals are vital to the timber fire door. Hot gases will pour through the small gap between the door and the frame, as heated air around the fire expands and causes a pressure build-up. (See the unsealed door on the far left.) These seals are often supplied in a plastic or metal casing, sometimes with an integral smoke seal wiper blade or brush type. They are fitted to the sides and top of the door or the frame. When heated by fire they expand to fill the space between the door and frame (see top right). Most types of steel door don t need them, because heated metal expands. But heated timber shrinks. 18/10/2012 8 GAI 2012
Essential hardware Certain items of ironmongery (door hardware) are essential to a fire door s performance. They vary from door type to door type, but can include hinges (or pivots) to hang the door door closer to close the door lock or latch These 3 items are so critical that they must be CE marked on any new-build. To complete the core essentials - operating furniture (lever or pull handles) to open the door intumescent seals (sometimes with smoke seal) signage (blue/white fire door sign to suit type of door) All items must have proven fire performance to be considered for use on a fire door. 18/10/2012 9 GAI 2012
What s an escape door? emergency escape hardware Escape doors are usually on the perimeter of the building, and are the last doors you pass through on the escape route to a place of safety. They re sometimes wrongly called fire doors, but they re not normally fire-resisting. There are two types of escape door panic escape doors, which have a bar across all or most of the width of the door emergency escape doors, which have a push pad or lever handle. panic escape door Escape doors usually open outwards in the direction of escape. There s no choice with panic bars you push to open - but some emergency escape doors open inwards. 18/10/2012 10 GAI 2012
Panic escape Panic bars must be used where there are more than 60 people likely to use the exit, or where people are unfamiliar with the building, and so likely to panic in an emergency e.g. public access areas. There are many types available, some with one locking point, others with multiple locking points. (5 point locking illustrated top right.) The common factor is that they must open easily from body pressure alone. The bar must move forward, or in a downward arc. There must be no need to manipulate any other mechanism. 18/10/2012 11 GAI 2012
Emergency escape Push pads or lever handles with emergency escape locks are found most often in the workplace, where employees can be trained in their use during fire drills. This reduces the risk of panic, so there is less likelihood of a crush at the door. Whichever device is used lever handle or push pad the door must open immediately. A single hand operation must withdraw all bolts simultaneously. There must be no need to manipulate any other mechanism. Knob handles are not allowed, because an injured, wet or greasy hand might have difficulty turning them. There must be no delay in getting away from choking smoke or falling, burning débris. 18/10/2012 12 GAI 2012
Essential hardware Certain items of ironmongery (door hardware) are essential to an escape door s performance. They vary from door type to door type, but can include hinges (or pivots) to hang the door escape lock with push pad or lever handles or panic bar These 3 items are so critical that they must be CE marked on any new-build. To complete the core essentials - signage o Green running man above or beside the door (NOT on the door) o Signage explaining use of the escape device e.g. Push bar to open with directional arrow o Blue/white sign on the outside of the door Fire Exit Keep Clear 18/10/2012 13 GAI 2012
Sponsor s contact details Abloy UK Portobello Works, School Street, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3PW Tel: +44(0) 1902 364500 marketing@abloy.co.uk www.abloy.co.uk/academy 18/10/2012 14