Image: Gerda Security
The new guide, which consolidates best-practice advice from various fire experts and organisations, will help those specifying fire doorsets – like housing associations, landlords, building owners and local authorities – make informed, compliant choices.
Produced by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), Secured by Design (SBD) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) the publication emphasises that no conflict exists between fire and security where such doorsets are concerned.
Building Regulations ADB (fire) and ADQ (security) carry equal weight with neither taking precedence over the other. The document also notes that only factory-produced doorsets can comply with both ADB and ADQ.
The publication was commissioned in response to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Governments’ (MHCLG) Implementation Plan for ‘Building a Safer Future’, a plan for remedying problems in the built environment following the fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017.
The new document recommends that all fire doorsets are factory-prepared (as opposed to prepared on-site) and audited by a third-party in order to control the spread of fire and facilitate the escape of occupants should a fire occur.
A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets: A publication for housing associations, landlords, building owners and local authorities in England can be downloaded from the DHF, SBD and FIA websites.
“Third-party certification of doorsets is a critical part of protection against fire ingress and unlawful entry.” DHF CEO Bob Perry
“We are delighted to have collaborated with SBD and FIA, in sharing our joint expertise on doorsets and fire safety,” said DHF CEO Bob Perry.
“It seemed a natural partnership to come together and offer guidance on what to look for in a flat entrance doorset, how this relates to the latest advice supplied by government (MHCLG) and why third-party certification of fire and security doorset manufacture, installation and maintenance is a critical part of the protection against fire ingress and unlawful entry.
“Third party certification of manufacture, installation, maintenance and inspection of fire, smoke and security doors is something DHF has lobbied for tirelessly, as well as issues surrounding poorly or ill-fitting door closers. These form a vital part of fire safety.”
Said FIA CEO Ian Moore: “We are very pleased to work with DHF and Secured by Design in producing a guidance document to assist housing associations, landlords, building owners and local authorities on what to look for in a new flat entrance doorset and why third-party certification of fire doorset manufacture, installation and maintenance is a critical part of fire protection.
This underlines the Fire Industry Association’s objective to improve and perfect fire protection work and builds on MHCLG guidance within the Government’s building safety programme. It is worth noting that although this document is specific to England and Wales, it is also useful information for Northern Ireland and Scotland.”
Chief operating officer of Secured by Design Jon Cole said: “For many years, we have worked closely with national and local government, manufacturers, trade associations and standards authorities at home and abroad to establish effective security standards in the building and construction industry.
“We insist on United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited independent, third-party certification to provide product control and to ensure that specification and quality is maintained over time.”
“Third-party certification, by suitably qualified bodies, has certainly delivered consistency and quality within the security sector. This is why we have campaigned for flat entrance doorsets to have dual certification, meeting all the relevant requirements for security and fire resistance in a single combined design specification.
“We believe that certification remains the best and only way to assure that effective quality products are delivered to market, providing additional assurance of performance.”
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
