Fire door ratings and Fd60 fire doors

Let’s remind ourselves what the different fire door ratings mean – and why they’re so important – before concentrating on Fd60 fire doors.

Modern buildings are compartmentalised to delay the spread of fire from one area to another.  The fire doors that link these compartments have two very important functions:

1. when closed they form a barrier to stop the spread of fire
2. when opened they provide a means of escape

Every fire door is therefore required to act as a barrier to the passage of smoke and/or fire to varying degrees depending upon its location in a building, the fire hazards associated with that building, and the function of the building (e.g. a school, library, office etc.)

Specifying the correct fire door can be a life or death responsibility – the latest fire safety figures from 2013-14 (the most recent year for which comprehensive data is available) reveal the following sobering facts:

1. The total number of fires attended was 212,500
2. There were 322 fire-related deaths
3. 41% of fire-related deaths were caused by the victim being overcome by gas, smoke or toxic fumes. The other leading causes are burns alone (20%) and combination of burns and being overcome by gas or fumes (20%)
4. There were 9,748 non-fatal casualties in fires

Roughly 1 in 12 fires spread from where the fire started to other rooms in the building … this is where the fire doors come in, and this is where we need to ensure that the correct rating is fitted.

Ratings explained

Fire doors and doorsets are tested to BS 476 Part 22 or BS EN 1634-1 to represent how they will function in a fire, and are rated in minutes and prefixed by the letters FD.  Hence:

Fire door rating                     Fire door

30 minutes                                    FD 30

60 minutes                                    FD 60

90 minutes                                    FD 90

120 minutes                                  FD 120

240 minutes                                  FD 240

Note that we mentioned doorsets there – the building regulations in operation relate to the entire door installation, and not just the door alone. Because of this, fire doors are not tested as individual leaves, but as a complete installation, along with frame, locks, latches and other essential ironmongery.

The tests

Tests are made on complete door assemblies: i.e. the fire door and doorframe with all the requisite hardware (e.g. locks, latches, hinges, etc). The assembly, or doorset (see above), is then fixed in a wall representing its use in practice. It is important that the actual frame to be used is tested as well as, should a door be tested in one type of frame and then used in another, no guarantee could be given of its performance under fire conditions.

The test procedure is fully described in the Standard, and consists of exposing one face of the door to the heat conditions anticipated in a fire while observing the door for stability and integrity. The Standard requires the tests to be carried out with the upper part of the door under a small positive pressure, to simulate the conditions likely to occur in a fire. It also provides an objective method of establishing the loss of integrity of a fire door by the use of a combustible fibrous pad on the unexposed side of the door to see when it ignites. As a fire door should be tested from each side to establish its performance with either face exposed to fire conditions, two specimens are required.

1. Integrity failure is deemed to occur when cracks or other openings develop through which flames or hot gases can pass or when flaming occurs on the unexposed face
2. Stability failure is deemed to occur when collapse of the specimen takes place

Fd60 fire doors

We’ve discussed the different ratings – so how do we know which fire door to fit where?  As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, it comes down to getting the right balance (notwithstanding the regulations and the obvious point that it’s always better to err on the side of caution i.e. safety).  You need to consider the environment where the door will be situated, the likelihood of a fire breaking out, the consequences if it did, the number of people who would need to evacuate, and so on.

The Fd60 fire door – providing 60 minutes of protection – has the following specification:

• 54mm Certified core to BS 476 Pt22:1987 or BS EN 1634-1:2014
• Intumescent strips in the frame or the door (not both)
• Certified glazing (insulating /non-insulating)
• Available as a pre hung assembly

Please note that the fire doors must be installed by a competent person.

These doors would typically be installed in commercial buildings such as offices, where providing that all of the correct evacuation procedures are followed an hour should be ample time to evacuate everyone safely and contain the fire until the emergency services arrive.

How to get expert advice

As we’ve so often said, it’s absolutely vital that you talk to experts who specialise in the manufacture and installation of internal fire doors – and who can give you excellent advice and guidance based on years of successful installations and a large and satisfied customer base.

If you would like further information on our company please visit our home page or go directly to our contact page when we will respond as quickly as possible.

As always we’ll be delighted to help and advise you.