What To Look For In A Fire Door Supplier
One of the most important – indeed vital – aspects of safety in buildings is ensuring that all the stringent fire doors compliance standards are met and maintained. The safety of residents and the integrity of the building itself must always be protected. Perhaps the main fire safety feature is the fire doors installed in the building, so when considering where you source these important elements, your decision must be based on sound knowledge and judgement to ensure an informed choice for procurement. You will want to ensure that you are working with a reputable, trusted and established supplier that will provide the highest quality, industry-approved, fire doors. Here are the main considerations in sourcing your fire door supplier:
Certification and Quality Assurance
It is important that your chosen fire door supplier carry the relevant industry certification. Whilst some fire door suppliers/manufacturers may subject their doors to certain levels of primary testing, this is not necessarily sufficient if you want to ensure your doors are fully compliant with the recommended safety levels.
Your supplier should be able to prove that their fire doors have been subjected to an independent third-party testing body, through an approved UKAS testing house, who perform the tests and duly certify the doors to ensure complete compliance to the latest industry standards.
Your chosen supplier should be happy to produce the appropriate evidence of testing and certification. A supplier’s commitment to quality management can be assessed through their certification schemes for their products – the stringent safety standards set by the appointed government industry bodies should be applied to the design, manufacture, and testing of all fire doors. All fire doors should display evidence of this safety certification to confirm they are fit-for-purpose.
Third-party accreditation from a recognised trade body, such as BM Trada or Secured by Design, should offer peace of mind that you have chosen a trustworthy and professional supplier for these important doors. Likewise, ISO 9001 certification demonstrates the supplier is committed to continuous quality management development and consistent improvement.
Service Level
Your chosen supplier should be aware of the importance of establishing – and maintaining – a level of trust with their clients in a continued delivery to the highest standards in their products and to provide that confidence and professionalism. Look for a supplier who will appoint a dedicated account manager to your business, who will build a strong, trusting working relationship with your company and will prioritise your orders and service. Communication is important in establishing regular rapport with your supplier for these important safety items and having a dedicated, familiar, single point of contact within your suppliers is a definite requirement!
Bespoke Manufacture
Another factor in choosing your fire door supplier is that they can offer a tailored product to fit your exact requirements, and a bespoke fire door manufacturer will provide a wider range of door products than a standard supplier or manufacturer. In different environments, you may need specialist doors installed, that may include fire doors of different standards and levels, perhaps having a high security element included, or doors with enhanced acoustic and noise control qualities – in these instances look for a supplier that carries the Quiet Mark certification along with the other industry standards.
An established bespoke door manufacturer, as part of the certification process mentioned earlier, will have been issued with a Field of Application Assessment allowing them to manufacture fire door sets to bespoke designs and sizes. These manufacturers will be able to provide you with a wide range of doors, with the construction materials and the different available finishes, along with the relevant safety and security features of all aspects of the door including the door furniture – this will ensure that they can manufacture fire doors for your specific purpose and environment.
Installation Services
The quality of your fire doors will amount to very little if they fail because they were not correctly installed and maintained – the installation of your fire doors is of equal importance as the manufacture itself to ensure full fire door compliance. Establish with your provider what services they provide and confirm they can offer expert installation and maintenance. They should provide complete door sets and install them as single units on site with all the relevant and necessary security testing and warranty certificates.
Industry Reputation
It is always worth researching the suppliers in which you are interested – you want a supplier with an established reputation and a demonstrated history of customer satisfaction. Check on all social media platforms and professional websites for reviews from other customers. Look for photographs of the products both before and after installation, and check for supporting evidence of the review posted to ensure authenticity.
Cost
One aspect is always a consideration in any business transaction and relationship – cost! Whilst the quality of the fire doors, with all the necessary safety and security standards and certification is the main consideration, you should choose a door supplier that delivers an also affordable product – the cheapest option is not always the best! You want fire doors that fulfil all the necessary protective functionality, as well as the aesthetic finish, so choose a fire door manufacturer that uses quality materials.
An established fire door supplier or manufacturer will have knowledgeable and experienced staff who can advise you on all aspects of fire door safety and compliance along with information on bespoke door manufacture, installation, maintenance, and security.
