The Standards To Know For Commercial Security Doors

Whether you are a developer, a building owner or manager, or are the appointed person responsible for a commercial building, the main aspect of responsibility to consider is the safety of all residents, occupiers, or visitors to that building in all events. This safety includes the building being resistant to illegal, unauthorised entry and protection against fire outbreak on the premises. Here are some safety aspects you should consider:

Importance Of Security Standards

It is not enough to just fit any commercial security doors in your premises – they MUST meet the recognised industry security standards. Commercial security doors that are registered and compliant with the recognised standards are those best equipped to offer the protection for residents from anti-social behaviour vandalism and burglary. Although some companies may supply doors that they claim offer security and safety, if they do not meet the stringent industry guidelines then they may well not be fit to offer the robust protection required to provide a safe living environment. Being aware of the official standards for fire resistant doors and commercial security doors will ensure that you choose the most appropriate and effective security doors for your buildings.

What to know about PAS24 Doors

PAS24 represents Publicly Available Specification and is the official standard applied to doors with an enhanced security protection. These commercial security doors are thoroughly tested to ensure that they can withstand attempted breach and break-in pressures of impact, sustained force and even cylinder lock tampering. When sourcing commercial security doors for your building this is the minimum standard you should be considering.

One of the most important considerations is that of fire safety – here is some relevant information regarding fire safety.

The Purpose Of A Fire Door

All commercial buildings must have fire doors installed to protect both the occupants and the building fabric itself. Fire rated doors will block the spread of flames, heat and the potentially fatal smoke in the event of a fire outbreak. These fire-resistant doors will be fitted with automatic closers, so they react immediately when a fire is detected in that area of the building and will help keep clear any hallway, stairwell, or adjoining area of the fire outbreak, from the harmful elements of the fire, and help contain the outbreak to its’ original source area. This delaying of the spread of the fire allows vital time for residents to exit the building to safety and buys more time for the essential services to attend, and deal with, the fire, therefore minimising potential personal injury and any damage to the building.

Types of Fire-Resistant Doors

There are various types and constructions of fire rated doors. Every fire door has an official fire rating. That is, the length of time a fire door will be resistant to the heat and flame and is able to protect a specific room or area within a building. An FD30 fire door, for example, will hold at bay the heat, flame, and smoke for a minimum of 30 minutes, an FD60 fire door for 60 minutes and so on. These doors are constructed from approved materials and are fitted with intumescent seals to provide smoke protection, along with specially manufactured and approved door fixtures such as the handles, hinges, and any glass panels. These fire doors should never be locked, nor access to them impeded or blocked in any way. They should be checked regularly and always maintained in their original condition. If any element or feature of the fire-rated door is compromised in any way, it must be repaired or replaced immediately in order to maintain the integrity of the safety features of the door.

Labelling is vital

Al fire-resistant doors must include a permanent label to authenticate its’ safety features displaying the door manufacturer’s name, the fire resistance period, whether it is a smoke door assembly and a test inspection reference.

It is always advisable to consult an established and reputable commercial security door and fire door manufacturer for the best advice on this very important aspect of your building’s safety.

Enfield Doors

If you would like to find out more about commercial security doors or fire door safety in the UK, we can help. Our team of experts is always on hand to guide you and give you sound and pragmatic advice based on years of experience and successful installations.

If you would like further information on our company, please contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible. We look forward to helping you.