ASDMA Risk Assessment Considerations Timber Fire Doors 1

Risk Assessment
Considerations
Timber Fire Doors
Published by: Architectural & Specialist Door Manufacturers Association

ARCHITECTURAL AND SPECIALIST DOOR MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order : 2005
Risk Assessment Considerations - Timber Fire Doors
About this Publica on

This document is intended to provide for guidance and advice for risk assessors and all persons having du es and
responsibili es by reference to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order : 2005 and similar legisla on applicable in
Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The scope of the publica on is limited to the considera on of mber fire rated door assemblies and is intended to
provide for general guidance with regard to:
Ÿ Historical regula ons related to mber fire doors.
Ÿ Historical and current methods for tes ng mber fire doors.
Ÿ Iden fying the poten al performance of mber fire doors.
Ÿ Smoke Control related to mber doors.
Ÿ Recommenda ons with regard to the qualifica ons and knowledge requirements for
‘competent persons’ employed for the care and maintenance of mber fire doors.
Ÿ Recommended considera ons for the maintenance of mber fire doors.
Ÿ Recommended considera ons for the care of mber fire doors.
Ÿ Timber fire door related considera ons for reducing risk.
The ac ons to be taken by persons with responsibili es and du es under the provisions of fire safety legisla on
following a risk assessment will vary according to a number of considera ons including the design and usage of a
par cular building. This document simply provides for general advice and guidance that may be taken into
considera ons in connec on with mber fire doors.
Further informa on rela ng to mber fire doors can be found by reference to other Architectural and Specialist
Door Manufacturers Associa on (ASDMA) publica ons that can be downloaded from the ASDMA web site at:
www.asdma.com .
Related publica ons include:
Ÿ Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors.
Ÿ Safety - A Ma er of Convenience
All rights reserved. No part of this publica on may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmi ed in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright
owners given in wri ng.
Copyright © 2015 Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Associa on
This document represents the opinion of the Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Associa on and is intended to
provide guidance. The document does not purport to provide a prescrip on compliance with which will sa sfy prac cal or
regulatory requirements. ASDMA does not accept any liability in tort or otherwise from any failure of products made with
reference to this document to provide sa sfac on in respect of any contractual or other s pula on.
1
This guide is provided on a best intents basis to indicate informa on that may be helpful as a contribu on to
risk assessments and maintenance of mber fire doors. It is not intended to replace evalua on by a
specialist in mber fire doors. However, it may serve to indicate important aspects to be considered in a risk
assessment inspec on, and point to the types of ques ons to be addressed.
2/ Regula ons:
Building Regula ons and the design and construc on of fire doors
1/ Few basic considera ons: have changed over the years. The following brief history of
applicable regula ons may assist in the iden fica on of fire doors
likely to have been installed, par cularly in older buildings.
Ÿ A ‘fire door’ is a complex structure consis ng of a
door, frame, hardware, seals, and some mes glazing
and ven la on. All of these elements must work Regula ons in respect of fire related issues have developed
together as a whole if the poten al fire resistance over the centuries mainly on a local basis in response to actual
performance requirements are to be achieved. fire events.
Ÿ A door assembly is not a free standing product. It is More formal controls were introduced from the mid-19th.
unstable and incapable of providing for any Century by use of Bye-Laws that followed Na onal
performance un l it is competently installed into a Government guidelines originally called the ‘Form of Bye-
suitable suppor ng structure. Laws’ and later as ‘Model Bye-Laws’.
Ÿ The primary 'performance' func on of any door is to
provide for a means for 'traffic' to pass from one side
Scotland was the first country in the United Kingdom to
of a wall to the other. Any secondary performance introduce na onal regula ons that came into force in 1964,
requirement e.g. fire, acous c, security etc. is only this approach was quickly followed in England and Wales by
likely to be sa sfactorily achieved if the door is easy the introduc on of The Building Regula ons 1965. These
to operate and performs efficiently in its primary regula ons were generally of a prescrip ve nature.
role.
In November 1985 the Building Act 1984 came into force by the
Ÿ All doors must be easy to operate and provide for the introduc on of 'Approved Documents' with their non-
convenience of users. The fire resis ng performance prescrip ve requirements. A similar approach was ul mately
of a door can be seriously undermined if users abuse
adopted in Scotland in which the equivalent to Approved
doors either by use of wedges (or similar) to hold
doors open or by forcing door open by impact using of Documents are the Technical Handbooks and in Northern
'wheeled traffic'. Ireland the Technical Booklets.
Ÿ A fire door must be open (and therefore cannot The 'Approved Documents' (and their equivalents in Scotland
perform a fire resistant func on) when providing and Northern Ireland) are published by the respec ve
for a means of escape; but the door must be in the governments and can be freely accessed on line. These
closed posi on to delay the spread of a fire. documents are subject to periodic amendment.
NOTE: In England, Fire Safety regula ons are currently addressed by
Ÿ There are no moving parts in a door leaf or a door
reference to Approved Document B Volume 1 (incorpora ng 2013
frame and consequently no reason why a door that
amendments) for Dwelling houses and Volume 2 (incorpora ng
is properly cared for should not last the life me of a
2013 amendments) for buildings other than Dwellings.
building.
Ÿ Fire doors, par cularly in older buildings, can have With some exemp ons, designs for a new building or for the
the same appearance of non-fire rated doors and it material altera on of an exis ng building are submi ed to the
may be difficult to iden fy a 'fire door'. Local Authority Building Control body (Local Authority Building
Control or a private Approved Inspector) who ensure (in
consulta on with the Local Fire and Rescue Authority) that the
proposed development complies with current Building
Regula ons. Compliance with Building Regula ons is also
required if there is a material change of use of the building.
Contact ASDMA members for further assistance & advice - see web site for listed members:
Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Associa on www.asdma.com .
1
BS459 Pt.3 : 1951 - Half Hour Fire Check.
Min. 44mm
95x38mm Top Rail
3/ Brief History of Fire Doors - United Kingdom:

10mm Plasterboard
NOTE: Fire door structures and designs have changed over me to
address changes in regula ons, test methods and to incorporate
advances in fire door technology. Doors installed some years ago
may not match current designs.
18x44mm Intermediate Rail

The following informa on is intended to assist in the determina on
of appropriate ac on to be taken with regard to fire door
provisions, par cularly in respect of older buildings.
Before 1951 there was no na onal standard for fire doors and
3mm Plywood facing
products used in buildings were largely controlled by local
authori es by reference to Bye-Laws. At this me most wood
doors were of a s le and rail joinery construc on with
panelled or glazed elements but with no par cular claims
with regard to fire performances.
Bri sh Standard BS459 Pt. 3 : 1951 provided for prescrip ve 165x38mm Mid Rail
designs described as half hour and one hour 'fire check' doors.
The 'rules' associated with BS459 Pt. 3 included the following:
· The door must be marked on their hanging s le with the

manufacturers name or trade mark.
· The Bri sh Standard number i.e. BS459 Pt.3. 'half hour' or 10mm Plasterboard
'one hour' as appropriate.
· For 'half hour' applica ons the frame was required to be

provided with a minimum 25mm door stop that could be
of either a moulded stop or planted stop design. 18x44mm Intermediate Rail
· For 'one hour' applica ons the frame was to be designed

with a minimum 25mm moulded door stop only and it was
the frame was required to be pressure impregnated with
fire inhibi on salts being a 15~18% solu on of
monoammonium phosphate in water
95x38mm Bottom Rail
2 Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Associa on www.asdma.com .
BS459 Part 3 : 1951 - One Hour Fire Check.
Min. 54mm
95x38mm Top Rail
WARNING: One hour Fire Check doors constructed to BS459 Part 3

: 1951 details are manufactured using 2No. Nom. 5mm thick
white asbestos sheet that is not visible when viewing the door.
10mm Plasterboard
1953 saw the introduc on of a fire door test method by

reference to BS476 Part 1 following which fire doors could be
constructed to any details determined by a manufacturer and
18x44mm Intermediate Rail subjected to a me / temperature related fire test. Building
Regula ons provided for the coexistence of BS459 Part 3 and
BS476 Part 1 tested construc ons for a number of years.
5mm Asbestos facing
The BS476 Pt.1 test uses the ISO834 related cellulose me /
3mm Plywood facing temperature regime that has been adopted and s ll applies in
Europe and the United States. However, there are differences
in the methods by which the tests are applied.
The BS476 Part 1 test condi ons resulted in a nega ve

pressure in the furnace. This allowed 'cold' air to pass around
the edges of the door leaf. This test method was superseded
165x38mm Mid Rail by BS476 Part 8 in 1972. The primary difference between
BS476 Part 1 and BS476 Part 8 is that the la er standard
required posi ve pressure to be applied in the furnace thus
allowing hot gases to pass around the edges of the door leaf.
The pressure normal was set at 1000 mm above the bo om
edge of the door leaf.
10mm Plasterboard
BS476 Part 8 was refined by the introduc on of BS476 Part 22
in 1987. The refinements related to the ming of the
applica on of posi ve pressure and other minor adjustments
to improve the consistency of tes ng.
18x44mm Intermediate Rail
2000 saw the introduc on of BS EN 1634-1 to provide for a
Europe wide test. The ISO834 related me / temperature
requirements applicable to the BS476 based tests s ll apply
but there are differences in the type of thermocouples used in
the furnace and a change in the applica on posi ve pressure
in the furnace. Currently Building Regula ons in England &
Wales are sa sfied by successful tes ng to either BS476 Part
22 or BS EN 1634-1.
NOTE: BS EN 1634-1 : 2000 has since been replaced with BS EN
1634-1 : 2008.
95x38mm Bottom Rail
3
4/ Fire Test Methods & Criteria:
The ISO834 related BS476 & BS EN 1634-1 tests are based on

an agreed celluouse fire me / temperature profile i.e.
cellulose based burning characteris cs typically to be
expected when burning mber.
NOTE: There are other test me / temperature test profiles that
The tes ng provides for compara ve test data based upon may apply for very specific condi ons (e.g. for petrochemical
applica ons - possibly paint / inflammable liquid stores) that
controlled condi ons that can be used as a reliable means for
differ from the cellulose profile used as the test basis for
comparing the performance of specimens. Fire is by its very sa sfying Building Regula ons. Further advice should be sought
nature chao c. Each fire will have its own par cular me / where these considera ons might apply.
temperature profile related primarily to the characteris cs of
the 'fuel' and ven la on (oxygen) condi ons.
BS476 Part 20 & BS EN 1363-1 Time Temperature Curve

used for BS476 Part 1 , 8 & 22 and BS EN 1634-1 tes ng purposes
Melting point of aluminium
Critical temperature
of structural steel
350~650OC Automatic
ignition of timber
200~300OC Flash
ignition of timber
Intumescent seals
begin to activate
Differences between BS476 Pt1, BS476 Pt.8 & 22 and BS EN

1634-1 relate primarily to the applica on of pressure in the
furnace.
BS476 Pt.1 was a nega ve pressure test. i.e. there is a NOTE: BS476 Pt.8 and Pt.22 are essen ally the same test but with
nega ve pressure in the furnace resul ng in 'cold' air being refinements to the Pt.22 test to provide for improved consistency
drawn around the edges of the specimen with a resultant between tes ng facili es.
cooling effect.
BS476 Pt.8 and BS476 Pt.22 are posi ve pressure tests. The BS EN 1634-1 is a posi ve pressure test that is basically the
test requires the upper part of the furnace to be maintained same as BS 476 Part 22 but has the neutral pressure set at 500
at a posi ve pressure. Typically this means that neutral mm above floor level. Other differences relate to
pressure is achieved at 1000 mm above floor level. This thermocouples and the method of recording results.
allows 'Cold' air to enter the furnace around the bo om half
of a door while the upper half is subject to 'a ack' by hot
gases being pushed under pressure against the exposed face
of the door.
BS476 Part.1 BS476 Part.8 (from 1972) BS EN 1634-1

Test Condi ons (from 1953) & Part.22 (from 1987) Test Condi ons (introduced 2000)
Test Condi ons
Hot Gases
Hot Gases
Cold Air
Neutral
Pressure
Furnace Furnace Furnace
1000mm
Cold Air
Neutral
Pressure
500mm
Cold Air
5
Building Regula ons (England & Wales) Approved Document

Tradi onally there have been four criteria for determining the 'B' advises that:
point of failure of a specimen under test. These are as Ÿ For door sets occupying less than 25% of a compartment
follows: wall an Integrity performance only is generally required.
Ÿ For door sets occupying more than 25% of a compartment
1/ Stability: The ability of the specimen to remain stable in its frame wall Integrity and insula on performances are generally
without collapse or excessive distor on. required.
2/ Integrity: The ability to resist the passage of flame from the fire NOTE 1: Solid mber flush doors will generally provide for
side to the non-fire side of the specimen. Integrity failure can also insula on performances that are equal to the Integrity
occur if excessive gaps open up around the specimen door. performance. However, insula on will be a considera on where
doors are glazed.
3/ Insula on: The ability of the specimen to resist the transfer of
heat from the fire side to the non-fire face of the specimen within NOTE 2: The use of non-insula ng glass types is permi ed in door
prescribed limits. sets by reference to Building Regula ons - Approved Document B.
However the regula ons provide for limits in respect of glass area
4/ Radia on: The ability of the specimen to prevent the radia on of
and glazing loca on when non insula ng glass types are used.
heat through to the non-fire side of the specimen.
WARNING: Whereas a radia on performance is not required by
NOTE: Current Building Regula ons (England & Wales) Approved
reference to current Building Regula ons, insula on and / or
Document 'B’ requires the measurement of Integrity and insula on
radia on performances can excep onally be specified for certain
performances only. Older fire test reports may record ‘stability’
loca ons in par cular buildings to address iden fied risks.
and ‘Integrity’ performances.
Project records may need to be referred to where these
considera ons might apply.
Stability Integrity Insula on

Must not exceed
average temperature
increase of 140OC or
180OC at any point.
Specimen collapses or Fire penetration to the Temperature increase

distorts excessively non furnace face on the non furnace face
OR exceeds specified
Excessive gaps occur. maximum.
Furnace Furnace Furnace
Spread of flame:
Tes ng for 'spread of flame' performance uses a different WARNING: Whereas a 'spread of flame' performance is not
procedure from that carried out to determine integrity required for door sets by reference to current Building
Regula ons this performance can excep onally be specified for
performance.
par cular loca ons in par cular buildings. e.g. where the door
set is incorporated into a panelled wall where the panelling is
Door sets are not required to provide for ‘spread of flame’ required to provide for a spread of flame performance.
performances by reference to Building Regula ons.
5/ Iden fying Fire Doors:

For earlier installa ons in advance of specifica ons requiring All fire doors should be clearly marked or labelled at the me
BS476 Pt. 8 or later test cer fica on, it can be difficult to of delivery. However, due to the applica on of site finishes or
iden fy ‘fire doors’. as a consequence of fi ng in adjustments these marking can
be covered or removed.
Doors constructed to BS 459 Part 3 details may be iden fiable Where manufacturers marks are s ll visible (for half hour and
on inspec on, if the specifica on criteria described in 3/ one hour fire doors) these should show:
above can be seen. A half hour fire check door would BS476 Part. 8 or Part.22:
generally be nominally 44 mm thick and a one hour fire check Ÿ FD30 = 1/2 hour Fire resis ng.
door nominally 54 mm thick. Inspec on of the frame and Ÿ FD60 = 1 hour Fire Resis ng.
BS EN 1634:
door stop detail might provide another indicator.
Ÿ E30 = 1/2 hour Fire resis ng.
Ÿ E60 = 1 hour Fire Resis ng.
For installa ons using doors tested to BS 476 Part 1 : 1953 NOTE: The coding might include the suffix 'S' or 'Sa'. This indicates
(nega ve pressure tes ng) the task becomes more difficult as that the door set is also intended to provide for a smoke sealing
there were no prescribed construc on details to be followed. performance at ambient temperatures. The smoke sealing test (BS
Tes ng to this standard was successfully carried out without 476 Sec on 31.1 : 1983 or BS EN 1634-3 : 2004) is carried out
the need to use intumescent seals. separately. See page 15 for further advice regarding smoke
NOTE: Some successful BS 476 Part 1 tes ng for one hour fire door sealing.
applica ons was achieved using nominally 44 mm thick doors.
For door sets complying with BS476 Pt.8 specifica ons (or
Where manufacturers marking are s ll visible these might later) using pvc clad intumescent seals it is reasonable to
show: 30/20, 30/30, 60/45 or 60/60 where: expect that:
Ÿ 30/20 = 30 minutes stability / 20 minutes integrity. Ÿ a nominally 44 mm thick door using a single minimum
Ÿ 30/30 = 30 minutes stability / 30 minutes integrity. 10 mm x 4 mm intumescent seal fi ed to the door leaf
Ÿ 60/45 = 60 minutes stability / 45 minutes integrity. or the frame was manufactured as an FD30 (half hour
Ÿ 60/60 = 60 minutes stability / 60 minutes integrity. fire resis ng) door.
NOTE 1: Doors with the lower integrity ra ng were referred to as Ÿ a nominally 54 mm thick door using a single 20 mm x 4
'fire check' doors while those with an integrity ra ng equal to the mm intumescent seal or 2no. minimum 10 mm x 4
stability ra ng were referred to as 'fire resis ng' doors. BS 459 mm seals in the door leaf or the frame was
Part 3 doors were described as 'fire check'. manufactured as an FD60 (one hour fire resis ng)
NOTE 2: The term ‘fire check’ is also used to iden fy door door.
construc ons supplied (o en from Builders Merchant outlets)
without intumescent seals where these seals must be added ‘by ASDMA members belong to third party cer fica on schemes
others’ to achieve the tested fire resistance ra ng. administered by experts. Members of such schemes are
generally required to clearly mark doors to provide for the
Where fire doors conform to BS476 Pt.8 : 1972 (or later traceability requirements of the schemes so that the
standard) tested details it is likely that intumescent strips will manufacturer can be iden fied together with the date of
be visible around the edges of the door leaf or mounted in the manufacture of the door and the intended fire performance.
door frame. For earlier door sets the intumescent seals are
likely to be the ammonium phosphate type without a PVC The third party cer fica on providers produce 'assessment'
cladding. These will generally be around 10 mm wide and or 'field of applica on' documents that describe the scope
may be red or brown in colour. These may have been painted (and limita ons) for use of a par cular design. These
over but the outline is generally visible. Later doors are likely documents are prepared by experts on the basis of test
to use intumescent material clad in a PVC sheath that may be evidence provided (or authorised for use) by the
of any colour or in an aluminium carrier. manufacturer or owner of the base test evidence.
NOTE: Some fire doors have been successfully tested using Third party cer fica on schemes are administered by a
concealed intumescent systems. The intumescent seals are number of providers including:
concealed under ver cal lippings and are not immediately Ÿ Exova BM TRADA – 'Q' Mark.
apparent from visual inspec on. However, the intumescent
Ÿ E xova – Wa r r i n gto n C e r fi ca o n –
sealing is usually exposed and visible at the head of the door and
'Cer fire'.
the ver cal seals (under the lipping) can generally be seen from the
top of the door. Ÿ BRE Cer fica on - BRE Global.
Ÿ IFC Cer fica on.
7
These schemes are designed to ensure that fire doors are

consistently manufactured to the same specifica on and The plug method of marking has the advantage of allowing for
standard as that originally tested. This is achieved by periodic the door leaf to be adjusted within approved limits without
audit visits to the manufacturing plant and periodic audit removal of the iden fica on data.
tes ng of sample fire doors taken from the produc on line.
NOTE: Some third party cer fica on providers also operate fire In the absence of any visible markings it might s ll be possible
door installers and fire door maintenance cer fica on schemes. t o i d e n f y f u r t h e r i n fo r m a o n b y re fe re n c e t o
ASDMA recommends tradesmen listed reference to these schemes manufacturers' marks that may be shown on the bo om edge
for employment in the 'competent person' role for the maintenance of the doors. Provided that the name and contact details for
of fire doors.
the manufacturer are known, most manufacturers will use a
marking system to iden fy their manufacturing references
BS 8214 : 2008 Code of Prac ce for fire door assemblies and o en include the 'project tle' and 'project door
advises: number'. The manufacturers' records can then be consulted
'All fire doors should be clearly and permanently marked with to determine further details.
their declared fire resistance period either immediately a er NOTE: The project door loca on reference used for the purpose of
manufacture or inspec on, or before dispatch. A convenient construc on and manufacturer may be changed by Clients
way of providing this informa on is by means of a colour- following comple on of the project.
coded permanent label or plug.'
Door manufacturers who are members of third party

cer fica on schemes are required to provide non-removable EXAMPLE: The Exova BM TRADA Fire Door Plug System:
labels or plugs that include the minimum informa on shown
in BS 8214 with addi onal informa on to assist with
iden fica on of the manufacturer.
Labels should be applied to the top edge of the door and

include a 'DO NOT REMOVE' no ce. If it is necessary to carry
out minor adjustments on site to ensure the correct opera on
of the door leaf, the top edges of fire rated door leaves should
not be adjusted; this is a cri cal area of a fire door.
Plugs may be fi ed to the hanging s les of door leaves. In the

case of the Exova BM TRADA 'Q' Mark scheme these will
include a manufacturer's iden fica on reference. A number
of plugs may be fi ed to show:
Ÿ The period of fire resistance: The fire ra ng for the door leaf
construc on. (Outer colour).
Ÿ Intumescent provisions at the me of delivery:
Intumescent seals may not have been fi ed by the door
manufacturer and must be fi ed to the door leaf or frame
by a third party, usually the installa on contractor. (Red
centre core). A Green centre core is used where the
intumescent seals are fi ed by the door manufacturer at the
factory.
Ÿ Glazing: Generally fire door will be factory glazed but
op ons exist for site glazing 'by others'. (Orange centre
core).
Ÿ Factory Hung Door set: Doors and frames can be delivered
separately, perhaps from different sources. A plug is used
where the doors is supplied as a factory assembled unit
complete with its frame. (Silver centre core).
Ÿ Installa on: A plug can be added where the installer is a
member of a cer fied installers' scheme. (Gold centre core).
7/ Timber Fire Doors Basic Considera ons:
i/ Buildings are generally compartmented to delay the spread

of fire from one area to another. The compartments are
usually linked by doors to allow for the passage of 'traffic'
around the building.
6/ Smoke Control:
The first indica on of a fire if o en provided by the presence of
Door sets have two important func ons in a fire:
smoke. Dense smoke can give rise to disorienta on and panic. Ÿ When open they provide for a means of escape.
The inhala on of smoke can lead to serious injury or death. Ÿ When closed they form a barrier to fire spread.
Every effort must be made to keep escape routes in par cular
clear of smoke. NOTE 1: Du es with regard to emergency escape and the
considera ons that apply in the event of fire are set out by
reference to Ar cle 14 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
Following recogni on that smoke was a major cause of death : 2005. (and equivalent legisla on in Scotland and Northern
and injury under fire condi ons, smoke sealing tests were also Ireland).
introduced in 1983.
ii/ Ease of Use:
BS 476 Sec on 31.1 and the European test BS EN 1634-3 test The primary func on of any door is to provide for a means for
methods provide for a means of measuring air leakage (and 'traffic' to pass from one side of a wall to the other. If the door
consequently smoke leakage) across a door set. cannot provide for this basic func on simply and easily and
without causing inconvenience to the users of the building
Tes ng for fire resistance and for smoke sealing requires two then it is unlikely that it will able to provide for any secondary
different test events. performances.
NOTE: Ease of use is related among other things to opera ng
Building Regula ons Approved Document B iden fies gaps between the door and the frame and at the me ng s les of
loca ons where a smoke sealing performance is required. pairs. For further informa on in this regard see ASDMA
publica ons:
Whereas Building Regula ons relate smoke sealing Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors
specifically to fire rated doors, smoke seals can be added to and
other loca ons including non fire rated doors. In addi on to Guidance and Recommenda ons for the Coordina on of
Bespoke Door sets
the smoke sealing benefits, the use of smoke seals will
generally provide for improved sound a enua on
performances iii/ Fire Door Standard
Provided there have been no significant changes to the layout
WARNING: Some buildings use pressurisa on systems to clear or use of the building, fire doors installed to comply with
smoke in the event of fire. Generally smoke seals should not be legisla on which was current at the me of the ini al
fi ed to doors in buildings with this facility. 'Responsible installa on are normally sufficient, (subject to risk
Persons' should be aware of any smoke clearance pressurisa on assessments applicable to the par cular building) provided
facility and seek expert guidance with regard to the use of any that they are kept in good working order.
addi onal smoke sealing requirements.
8/ ‘Competent Person’ - Qualifica ons:
ASDMA recommends that the 'Responsible Person' employs

suitably qualified 'Competent Persons' who are properly
accredited members of a Third Party cer fica on schemes for
the maintenance and / or installa on of fire doors.
9
9/ Reducing Risk:
Ac ons to be taken to reduce risk are likely to vary according to the

design and use of the building and the nature of the users. Ÿ Staff and employees should be fully aware of possible
damage and the crea on of risk to all users of the building
The following provides for recommenda ons and sugges ons of a that will be created by the abusive treatment of fire doors.
general nature that might be considered as a basis for determining
appropriate ac ons in respect of mber fire doors . ADVICE: Appropriate provisions should be made to prevent
doors being opened by impact using wheeled traffic and doors
a/ Educa on & Staff / Employee responsibili es: being held in an open posi on by the use of any unauthorised
devices. e.g. wedges, fire ex nguishers or the like.
Ÿ Staff and employees should be made aware of the
importance of fire doors and their func on of providing
for a means of escape and to delay the spread of fire to
other parts of the building. Generally the fire doors will be
used as any other door i.e. to provide for a means for
‘traffic’ to pass around the building. It is likely that they
will only be called upon on one occasion to perform their
fire resistance func on. To maintain that poten al
performance fire doors must always be treated with care. SH
R A
Ÿ Staff and employees should ensure that doorways on
escape routes are kept clear of anything that might
C
impede the closing of fire doors including fire doors that
are held open by use of approved devices, un l released
for closing (by closer power only), in event of ac va on of Door
the command system (fire alarm) or in the event of failure
of the power supply. Provisions should be made for the
Killer
immediate repor ng of any concerns related to this issue Typical Trolley damage
to an appointed competent person.
NOTE: The use of suitable signage to inform users of the building to
keep doorways clear of foreign objects might also be considered for
Ÿ Staff and employees should be encouraged to ensure that
buildings that are open to the general public.
all doors are kept shut when not in use. To develop, the
Ÿ Staff and employees should be required to (immediately) fire must be fed with fuel and oxygen. Any ac on to
report any perceived damage to intumescent seals or reduce the availability of these elements will reduce risk
smoke seals to an appointed competent person. This is a and a closed door will restrict the flow of oxygen that
par cular requirement for buildings that are open to the otherwise feeds the fire. Whereas hollow core door
public and where the possibility of vandalism is a construc ons or older panelled style doors should not be
recognised risk issue. considered (in any way) as being ‘fire doors’ these
construc ons, when subjected to fire test condi ons have
Ÿ Staff and employees should (immediately) report any demonstrated integrity performance capabili es of five to
observa ons of damaged glass or beading to an appointed fi een minutes. To this extent they can supplement the
competent person. performances of the fire doors.
Ÿ Staff and employees should be required to (immediately) ADVICE: Use of route markers on the floor or other methods to
report any difficul es in the opera ng of any fire doors to encourage users to approach doors at a 90O angle will reduce the
an appointed competent person. risk of impact damage to fire doors.
See ASDMA publica on 'Safety a Ma er of Convenience' to
iden fy other ways of minimising damage to door.
9/ Reducing Risk contd. d/ Addressing Convenience:

b/ Maintenance - General: Fire doors form part of the barrier against the spread of fire
Fire doors are engineered products that provide life and between compartments that can only be achieved when
property saving func ons in the event of fire. It is important doors are in the closed posi on.
that they are regularly inspected and maintained to permit NOTE: It is good prac ce to close all doors when they are not in use.
them to perform at their best on the one and only occasion
when they may be called to perform their fire resistant Experience shows that convenience o en takes precedence
performances. over safety and building users too o en seek to disable or
ASDMA recommends the employment of a 'Competent Person' otherwise undermine devices that inconvenience them in
who is a properly accredited member of a Third Party cer fica on carrying out their work. Doors are o en held open by wedges
scheme for the installa on and / or maintenance of mber fire or even fire ex nguishers so that the building users,
doors. par cularly if they are moving loads, can pass easily around
the building.
The appointed ‘Competent Person(s)’ should prepare an inspec on
/ maintenance schedule to ensure that the fire doors are kept in With the excep on of some loca ons in residen al buildings,
good working order the following is suggested as a guide:
all dedicated fire doors (except duct doors that are normally
ADVICE: The following provides for guidance with regard to the kept locked) should be fi ed with automa c closing devices.
ini al frequency of inspec ons. These periods should be To be effec ve these must be capable of closing the door from
modified over me to suit observa ons and experience related any angle of opening and should be strong enough to
to the par cular building. overcome the resistance of any latch or sealing system.
c/ Door Opera on: For the convenience of users it is o en desirable to hold open
Ÿ Door sets fi ed with hold open devices or swing free type doors on major routes in the building. Various devices may be
closers should be closed regularly (generally when there is used in conjunc on with closing devices to achieve this
likely to be low building occupancy). For buildings in objec ve including:
constant use (e.g. hospitals) fire doors should be closed
preferably on a daily basis. All fire doors should close i/ Electro Magne c Hold Open Devices:
effec vely under closer power only from any angle of Ÿ The door is fi ed with a normal closer that applies forces
opening and override any latch and seal resistance using to close the doors. The doors
only the door closer power. are held open by an electro
magnet fi ed to the wall or
NOTE: This for an opera onal check to ensure that closing devices floor and a metal plate fi ed
can adequately overcome any seal and / or latch resistance to to the door. The electro
closing. A failure to close properly under unassisted closer power magnet is linked to a
indicates a need for further inves ga on to determine likely 'command' system that may
causes. be the fire alarm system. In
the event of a fire or power
Ÿ Check other fire doors, par cularly doors on (or leading failure the electro magnets
on to) escape routes at regular intervals to ensure that Typical electro magnetic
release and the door closes hold open device.
they will close from any angle under closer power only under the closer power.
and that the closers can overcome any latch / seal (Guidance on the interface
resistance to closing. between fire detec on systems and hold open devices is
given in BS 7273 Part 4 : 2015).
NOTE 1: The frequency of inspec on can be determined rela ve to
the frequency of use of the doorway. Generally doors used less NOTE: Electromagne c hold open devices must be carefully
than (say) twenty mes per day might be programmed for (say) posi oned so that the hold open force is applied at the same level
monthly inspec on. Duct doors are normally kept closed and may as the closer. When used with overhead closers, the
not be fi ed with closers, these can be omi ed from the inspec on electromagne c hold open devices should be near the head of the
programme. High usage doors (twenty plus opera ons per day) door. For floor mounted closers, they should be posi oned near
could be programmed for (say) weekly inspec ons. the bo om.
NOTE 2: Duct doors that are normally kept locked need only be
inspected when the doors are opened by an authorised person.
11
9/ Reducing Risk contd.
ii/ Swing Free Closers :

Ÿ These exert no forces on a door leaf during normal
opera on. They may include internal sensors or be linked
to the fire alarm system. When ac vated by the sensor
system (or in the event of power failure) the closer system
shuts the door in an iden cal manner to a normal closer.
Swing Free Door closer with smoke sensor Numerous devices are available for the controlled closing of fire
doors in the event of fire. For further informa on in connec on
iii/ Fusible links: with the selec on and use of hardware with fire doors See:
Ÿ These use a low melt temperature component to hold ASDMA publica on:
Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors
doors in the open posi on. In the event of fire the fusible
and
link melts and allows the door to close under closer
DHF / GAI publica on:
control. They are low cost products but are not smoke Code of Prac ce: Hardware for Fire and
sensi ve and will not operate un l the temperature at Escape Doors.
fusible link reaches the opera ng temperature.
NOTE 1: These devices do not sense the presence of smoke and are
not recommended by ASDMA for this reason.
iv/ Delayed Ac on Closers:

Ÿ Some closers are provided with a delayed ac on func on.
These allow the doors to be opened manually and to stay
open for a short me (enough to allow a trolley or hospital
bed to pass through the opening) before closing.
NOTE: Many of these devices have been fire tested with mber fire
doors. Exis ng (face fixed) closers can generally be replaced with
proven closers with this facility.
ADVICE: ASDMA recommends that all doors operated by swing

free closers or electromagne c hold open devices are linked to
command systems that allow for daily opera on of the doors.
Thus the doors may be held open during the working day but
closed (e.g. by a ming device) when the building is not in use or
during periods of reduced occupancy.
WARNING: The area around doorways must not be used for

storage and must be kept clear of any foreign bodies that might
otherwise prevent the doors from fully closing without human
interven on in the event of fire.
e/ Perimeter Intumescent Seals:

i/Perimeter Intumescent seals - General: Ÿ Door sets using 44 mm thick doors fi ed with 10~15mm
Ÿ Most fire doors tested to BS476 Pt.8 or later standards
wide intumescent seals are likely to be half hour rated.
providing a half hour performance or greater 54mm thick doors using at least 20 mm overall width of
performance will be fi ed with perimeter intumescent intumescent seal, (fi ed either as one or two strips) have a
seals. These may be encased in a PVC sheath (of any likely design performance of one hour fire resistance.
colour) which may also hold a blade or brush seals for
smoke sealing purposes. These seals are fi ed in the door
leaf edges or the frame reveal to seal the head and ver cal
edges of the assembly. ii/ Perimeter Intumescent Seals Maintenance:
Ÿ Check perimeter intumescent seals for damage.
Immediately replace damaged seals.
NOTE 1: The frequency of inspec on can be determined rela ve to

the frequency of use of the doorway. Generally doors used less
than (say) twenty mes per day might be programmed for (say)
monthly inspec on. Duct doors are normally kept closed can be
Typical 20x4 Typical Intumescent Typical Intumescent
Intumescent seal. seal with fin type seal with brush type
omi ed from the inspec on programme. High usage doors
smoke seals. smoke seals. (twenty plus opera ons per day) could be programmed for (say)
weekly inspec ons.
NOTE 1: For more recent installa ons PVC intumescent carriers are
NOTE 2: Intumescent seals fi ed to duct doors that are normally
generally printed with the manufacturers name and seal type
kept locked need only be inspected when the doors are opened by
references - this data may not be visible un l the intumescent seal
an authorised person.
has been removed.
ADVICE: When replacing damaged intumescent seals the
NOTE 2: Excep onally, a door may be fi ed with a concealed
replacement seals should be of the type(s) approved for the
intumescent system where the long edge seals are housed under
par cular door design. However, if this cannot be ascertained,
lippings. Intumescent seals should be visible at the head of the
any intumescent seal of the same dimensions (and located in the
door.
same posi ons) as the original is be er than none.
Ÿ Perimeter Intumescent seals expand when exposed to

heat and seal the gaps between the door leaf and the
WARNING: Regre ully intumescent seals are known targets for
frame (and at the mee ng s les of pairs of doors).
vandal a acks and the inspec on provisions should be adjusted
where vandalism is a recognised risk.
Ÿ Each fire door design will have been approved for use with
par cular intumescent seals in terms of size, type and
loca on in the door set. Use of intumescent seals that are
not approved for the par cular door design should be For further guidance with regard to intumescent seals related to
avoided. mber fire doors see:
IFSA (Intumescent Fire Seals Associa on) publica on:
Risk Assessors Good Prac ce Guide No.1
Ÿ Not all intumescent materials act in the same way. Low
Guidance to Risk Assessors in respect of the use
pressure seals expand in all direc ons but provide li le of intumescent door seals.
help to the door in resis ng distor on in fire. Some high Web: www.ifsa.org.uk
pressure seals exert pressure mainly in one direc on and
give some resistance to distor on of the door leaf during
fire. A further type of pressure intumescent material,
available in different grades, acts in all direc ons and
generates some pressure.
NOTE: Intumescent fire seals ac vate at temperatures that are
above human survival levels.
13
f/ Intumescent Gaskets (Hardware):

i/ Intumescent Gaskets (Hardware) - General: ii/ Intumescent Gaskets (Hardware) - Maintenance:
Some door set designs require intumescent gaskets to be Ÿ Items of hardware may need to be replaced over me due
used with hardware items to limit the risk of heat transfer to normal wear and tear. Requirements of this nature will
through metal components. generally be iden fied during scheduled opera onal
inspec ons. Hardware in fire doors should be carefully
If intumescent gaskets are required by test/assessment data removed to ascertain requirements for the use of
for either the door leaf design or a par cular item of intumescent gaskets. Intumescent gaskets may have
hardware, the gaskets specified must be used. been used with hardware items listed in 9 f i/above.
Typically intumescent gaskets will be fi ed with hardware Ÿ Provided that the gaskets are undamaged these should be
items requiring the removal of door core material including: retained and reused with the new hardware fi ngs.
Ÿ under hinge blades Otherwise these gaskets must be replaced, if possible with
Ÿ lock/latch forend plates gaskets of the same material as used for the original
Ÿ strike plates installa on.
Ÿ flush bolts
Ÿ concealed closers
Hardware Intumescent Sealing
Full Lock / Latch encasement
Hardware Intumescent Sealing
Lock / Latch Forend only
Intumescent Gasket
Intumescent gasket behind
latch forend
NOTE 1: For some applica ons full intumescent encasement of the

lock / latch body is required.
9/ Reducing Risk contd. ii/ Smoke Sealing - Maintenance:

Ÿ Smoke seals, including those which are fi ed in the
intumescent seal carrier, may become damaged over
g/ Smoke Sealing : me.
i/ Smoke Sealing - General: NOTE 1: The frequency of inspec on can be determined rela ve to
Ÿ Smoke and fumes from a fire can be as dangerous as fire the frequency of use of the doorway. Generally doors used less
itself. The appearance of smoke may be the first warning than (say) twenty mes per day might be programmed for (say)
of a fire and dense smoke condi ons can lead to monthly inspec on. Duct doors are normally kept closed can be
disorienta on and panic. omi ed from the inspec on programme. High usage doors
(twenty plus opera ons per day) could be programmed for (say)
Ÿ An open doorway provides an easy route for the flow of weekly inspec ons.
smoke under fire condi ons. Any door, (and par cularly
NOTE 2: Duct doors that are normally kept locked need only be
door sets fi ed with smoke seals), which is closed will
inspected when the doors are opened by an authorised person.
restrict the passage of smoke. It is therefore
recommended, (except where smoke clearance Ÿ Where combined intumescent / smoke seals are used, it is
pressurisa on systems are used) that all doors are fi ed it is not necessary to replace the complete combined
with smoke seals and in any event, kept closed when not in intumescent / smoke seal. Provided that the intumescent
use. carrier is s ll in good condi on, separate (tested and
approved) smoke seals can be fi ed to exis ng
Ÿ Where smoke sealed doors need to be held open for the installa ons.
convenience of the users of a building, the use of door
control systems that can be ac vated by smoke detec on Ÿ For single ac on doors it is recommended that
is necessary. Some closing devices are fi ed with built in replacement (or addi onal) smoke seals are of a type that
smoke sensors; others can be linked to alarm systems. fits into the frame rebate in a posi on where they have
minimal influence over the opera on of the door. These
Ÿ Door set designs using combined intumescent /smoke seals generally have self-adhesive backing to allow for
seals are quite common. The smoke sealing is provided by ease of fi ng in exis ng installa ons.
either blades or brushes. The loca on of these seals,
par cularly at the mee ng s les of pairs of doors makes
them highly vulnerable to accidental (or deliberate)
damage.
Ÿ Unless the geometry of the door ac on during its swing

Self adhesive smoke seal added
has been adequately taken into account when installing to the frame rebate in a position
that minimises interference with
the door set, blade seals can be damaged by a ‘guillo ne’ the door operation.
ac on and brush seals can become compressed and
remain at a se ng that suits the minimum gap between
the door and the frame (or adjacent door leaf) effec vely Intumescent seal in the
frame or the door leaf.
reducing the smoke sealing capability.
ADVICE: Smoke seals are generally low cost items. ASDMA

recommends that (unless smoke clearance mechanical
pressurisa on systems are used in the building) all doors are
fi ed with simple smoke seals that do not interfere with the
opera on of the doors. These are also likely to provide for some
measure of improved energy conserva on and sound
a enua ng performances. Separate smoke seals can be added to existing
installations or used to replace smoke the seal
elements with combined intumescent / smoke seals.
WARNING: Apart from damage that may be due to a failure to
accommodate the door opera ng geometry at the me of ini al
installa on, smoke seals are regre ully known targets for For further informa on in connec on with the smoke sealing of
vandal a acks and the inspec on provisions should be adjusted mber door sets see: ASDMA publica on:
where vandalism is a recognised risk. Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors
15

h/ Hardware:
Large metal plates (or any hardware that extends around the
i/ Hardware - General: door edges) must not be added to fire doors. These can
Ÿ Hardware generally falls into four categories: induce distor on under fire condi ons and / or create a
Ÿ Hanging devices (e.g. Hinges & Floor Mounted thermal bridge for the transfer of heat from the non fire to the
Closers). fire side of the door.
Ÿ Securing Devices (e.g. locks / latches).
Ÿ Opera ng Devices (e.g. Closers)
NOTE 1: Hardware items that replace removed of parts the door
Ÿ Furniture (e.g. Lever handles & plates)
can cause the same thermal bridging as metal plates around door
edges and so should not be fi ed to exis ng doors.
Ÿ Generally small items of surface fixed hardware can be
added to fire doors without detriment to performances NOTE 2: If protec on plates are deemed to be essen al, they are
(e.g. Coat hooks, small push plates or signs). available in high impact plas cs using mixes that incorporate fire
retardant salts.
Ÿ Surface mounted barrel bolts can be generally added to
ADVICE: Consider fi ng buffer systems to the trolleys to so en
fire doors provided that their use does not undermine the impact on the doors. The buffer system should extend all-
means of escape provisions. round the sides of the trolley to prevent the doors closing onto a
trolley a er the buffer system has passed the door.
NOTE 1: Fi ng metal plates to door faces is not recommended by
ASDMA. This does li le to protect the vulnerable edges of the door
and large metal plates may give rise to excessive distor on and Ÿ Face fixed items such as electromagne c hold open
consequent performance failures under fire condi ons. If metal devices or faced fixed closers with fi ngs that do not pass
plates extend around the edges of a mber door, they may form a through the thickness of the door leaf can generally be
thermal bridge under fire condi ons leading to performance added to fire door installa ons without detriment to
failures. performances provided these do not require removal of
door or frame parts.
WARNING: Concealed closers or large items of hardware that
require removal of door core material or the substan al removal
of frame material must not be added to exis ng fire door
installa ons.
ii/ Hardware - Maintenance:
Ÿ Mechanical items such as hinges, locks, latches, closers,

!
floor springs etc. are likely to wear over me.

me
Maintenance provisions should comply with the

hardware suppliers' recommenda ons where these are
known. Otherwise, locks and latches may require
hit
occasional light lubrica on.

NOTE: Some hinges use self-lubrica ng bearings that will not need
addi onal lubrica on.
ase
Ÿ Hardware inspec ons should generally take place when

carrying out opera onal checks. A failure of a door to
Ple
operate correctly is likely to result from the wear of

hardware items (or possibly the compression of gaskets
used with hardware).
The use of protec on plates of any type may invite abuse.

h/ Hardware contd. J/ Glass & Glazing:
ii/ Hardware - Maintenance contd. i/Glass & Glazing - General:
Ÿ Where it is necessary to replace worn hardware on a fire Ÿ Glazing for fire rated mber doors requires a suitable
door, the mechanical items listed above should be combina on of glass type, beading system and glazing
replaced with products to the same specifica on as the gasket system.
original where possible. Otherwise hinges, latches, locks,
flush bolts, closers and other items of hanging, securing or Ÿ The glass type may vary according to the fire performance
opera ng hardware should be of the same type and size requirements. The beading system, including the bead
as the original items and should have been proven for use profile, with its glazing gasket components and fixings
in mber fire rated door sets of the required performance. must be suitable for use with the par cular door
construc on and glass type.
ADVICE: Typical Half Hour glazing system. Typical one hour glazing system.
Hardware items that require the removal of door core material
or substan al parts of the door leaf or frame should not be
added to mber fire doors.
Small surface mounted items e.g. signage or (say) coat hooks

can generally be added to mber fire doors without detriment to
the poten al performance.
Surface mounted barrel bolts may be added to fire doors

provided that these do not impair the means of escape Aperture lining
provisions.
Where mor ced or recessed items of hardware are removed

(and not replaced) from a fire door the resultant recesses must
Glazing System: Complete system - as tested - including aperture
be filled with mber with the filling of any remaining voids using
lining (where required) glazing gaskets, beading, fixings, spacers
intumescent mas c.
& capping etc.
Hardware used with mber fire doors must have been proven by Ÿ The most commonly used glass is 6mm Georgian wired
test. Where intumescent gaskets are required by reference to
glass. Other clear special glasses may be used and thicker,
either the hardware or the door test / assessment data then
laminated glass types with intumescent interlayers may
intumescent gaskets of the approved type(s) must be used.
be encountered in both integrity doors and where
Fire test evidence suppor ng the use of hardware with metal insula on performances are required.
doors is not valid for use with mber doors and vice versa.
ii/Glass & Glazing - Maintenance:
For further guidance with regard to the selec on and use of Ÿ The glass in glazed fire rated doors may need to be
hardware with mber fire doors see: replaced from me to me generally as a consequence of
ASDMA publica on: accidental damage. Generally any replacements should
Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors be according to the original specifica on.
and
DHF / GAI publica on:
Ÿ The re-glazing of fire rated doors involves techniques
Code of Prac ce: Hardware for Fire and
Escape Doors. which require the skills of a qualified glazier familiar with
the glazing of mber fire doors.
17
j/ Glass & Glazing - Maintenance contd.
Ÿ When re-glazing a fire door, the beading and damaged NOTE: All Escape doors must open in the direc on of the escape (i.e.
glass must be carefully removed. The glass, glazing push to open).
system and beading must be replaced using iden cal
products to the original. The posi on, angle and size of
fixings to secure the beading is important. These should
be recorded when removing the damaged glass and
replicated when refi ng the beading.
NOTE: Replacement fire-resistant glass panes must show a

permanent mark that at least iden fies the product name, the
manufacturer and an indica on of the glass fire resistance
performance. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to install
glass that is not fire resistant in fire doors.
WARNING: Some fire door construc ons require internal

prepara on to receive glazing. Generally glazed apertures must Fire door
keep
shut
Fire door
keep
shut
not be added to exis ng installa ons. Whereas with some door

construc ons this may be possible modifica ons of this nature
work must essen ally be carried out by a suitably qualified
tradesman under the supervision of the door manufacturer.
PUSH TO OPEN PUSH TO OPEN

For further informa on in connec on with the glazing of mber fire
rated doors see: ASDMA publica on:
Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Door
and
GGF (Glass and Glazing Federa on) publica on:
A Guide to Best Prac ce in the Specifica on and
Use of Fire-Resistant Glazed Systems.
K/ Fire Door Signage ii/ Fire Door Signage - Maintenance:

Fire door Ÿ For older buildings inappropriate signage may have been
i/ Fire Door Signage - General:
keep added over the years with the possibility that fire door
Ÿ Dedicated fire doors should be fi ed
shut signs may have been added to door loca ons that are not
with approved signs (e.g. 'Fire Door
fire rated.
Keep Shut') that should be visible on
both faces of the door.
Ÿ Whereas there are no specific requirements to change or
amend signage, ASDMA recommends that a risk
NOTE 1: For current standards rela ng to signage refer to: BS EN
ISO 7010 and BS5499 parts 4 and 10.
assessment is carried out to ensure that signage has been
correctly applied with a consequent programme to
Ÿ In the event of fire it is important that all users of the remove or replace any inadequate signage.
building are aware of escape routes and can use them
freely. Escape routes should be clearly marked, and may
include emergency ligh ng.
l/Decora on:
i/ Decora on General: Ÿ There is no par cular requirement by reference to the Fire

Ÿ For most fire door applica ons the finishes applied to the
Safety Order to replace exis ng door sets in a building.
door leaves and the frames will be the same as used for The extent to which such ac on is either necessary or
non fire rated products. reasonably prac cal is dependent upon the risk
NOTE: Excep onally special ‘spread of flame’ finishes will have assessment applicable to the par cular building.
been used for the original installa on.
Ÿ It is possible to upgrade exis ng older door sets to provide
ii/ Decora on Maintenance: for improved fire resistance performances. The extent to
Ÿ It is likely that doors and frames will need to be re which this is possible can be a variable and reference to
decorated from me to me. Professional decorator skills expert advice is recommended where this is required.
should be employed for this purpose. Exova BM TRADA (among others) provide advisory
services of this nature See: www.bmtrada.com
WARNING: Generally fire door test / assessment data will require
that paint and lacquer finishes do not exceed 0.5mm thickness.
Ÿ For older buildings where the test basis or details of the
An excessive build up of paints or lacquer finishes should be
avoided.
exis ng fire doors cannot be determined, (provided that
there is no impediment to exis ng means of escape
NOTE: It may not be possible to iden fy where ‘spread of flame’ provisions), considera on might be given to the
finishes have originally been applied without access to original introduc on of addi onal door sets complying with latest
installa on specifica on details. Where this excep onal standards for loca on in selected strategic posi ons.
requirement applies re decora ng paints & lacquers should
comply with the original specifica ons. Ÿ For high risk older buildings considera on may need to be
given to the replacement of exis ng door sets for
protected escape routes using latest technology products.
m/ Upgrading Door sets :
iii/ Repair of Minor Damage:
i/ Upgrading Door sets - General: Ÿ It is possible to repair minor damage to doors and frames
Ÿ Where the fire resistance of a door set can be determined where the repairs are essen ally carried out by a
by reference to labels/plugs the doors/frames should not Competent Person who sa sfies the qualifica on
be altered or modified in any way that requires requirements advised in this document.
interference with the intumescent sealing systems or that
requires removal of any door core or frame material. Ÿ Damaged lippings can be replaced (with replacement
intumescent seals if applicable) provided that the
Ÿ Where it can be ascertained that a door is of a solid core replacement lippings conform to the approved
construc on but is from an unknown source, does not dimensional and specifica ons requirements (including
display any fire ra ng markings, (excluding signage) and the use of approved adhesives & fixing) for use with the
the door set does not have intumescent seals, par cular door design.
considera on may be given to the addi on of intumescent
seals to improve the fire performance. Ÿ Damaged door frames can be made good by removal of
the damaged area and splicing in replacement mber of
WARNING: While this ac on is likely to improve the poten al fire the same specifica on as originally used for the door set.
resis ng performance, no specific performance can be claimed These filler piece(s) to be glued and pinned into posi on.
for door sets modified in this way. The extent of the mber removed for repair should be
limited and should not require removal of any parts of the
ADVICE: Details of typical solid core door construc ons currently used for frame that have been recessed to receive intumescent
fire door applica ons can be found by reference to ASDMA publica ons seals or which align with intumescent seals in the door
see: ASDMA publica on: leaf.
Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors
and by reference to ASDMA member web sites.
19
10/ ASDMA Support:
As indicated in this document it may be difficult, if not Persons with du es and responsibili es by reference to the
impossible, (even for experts) to determine whether or not a Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order : 2005 (and similar
mber door construc on is intended to provide for a fire legisla on applicable in Scotland and Northern Ireland) are
rated performance on the basis of visual inspec on alone, invited to contact the ASDMA technical advisory service Tel:
par cularly for older buildings where door sets were installed 01494 447370 for further assistance.
without the use of intumescent seals to the sa sfac on of
regula ons applicable at the me of the ini al installa on.
The extent to which it is ‘reasonably prac cal’ to replace For further informa on and a full lis ng of ASDMA members,
some or all of the door sets in a building can vary according to please refer to the ASDMA web site www.asdma.com
a number of issues to be taken into account for the purpose of
preparing risk assessments.
NOTE: Alterna ve (or addi onal) considera ons may apply to

Addi onal and supplementary informa on can be found by
‘historic’ buildings.
reference to the following ASDMA publica ons:
It may be necessary to replace damaged fire rated doors and /
or frames and in some cases, to install addi onal or ‘Best Prac ce Guide to Timber Fire Doors’
replacement fire rated doors (manufactured to comply with
current standards) following a risk assessment. ‘Safety - A Matter of Convenience’
Ÿ ASDMA members specialise in the manufacture of bespoke ‘Guidance and Recommendations for the Coordination of
performance doors and door sets to suit customer defined Bespoke Door sets’
requirements.
these can be downloaded from the ASDMA web site:
Ÿ ASDMA members manufacture and / or supply many of the fire www.asdma.com
door related materials and components referred to in this
document.
Ÿ ASDMA members can also offer a number of fire rated door

designs that can simulate ‘historic’ mber door appearances.
Published by:
Architectural & Specialist Door Manufacturers Association
Burnside House,
3 Coates Lane,
High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire HP13 5EY
Tel: 01494 447370

Fax: 01494 462094
e-mail: [email protected]
Prepared for ASDMA by Tony Palmer

Doortech 2000
Prepared for ASDMA by: Tony Palmer
Doortech 2000

ASDMA Risk Assessment Considerations Timber Fire Doors 1

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ASDMA Risk Assessment Considerations Timber Fire Doors 1

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Risk Assessment

Published by: Architectural & Specialist Door Manufacturers Association

About this Publica on

Copyright © 2015 Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Associa on

BS459 Pt.3 : 1951 - Half Hour Fire Check.

95x38mm Top Rail

3/ Brief History of Fire Doors - United Kingdom:

18x44mm Intermediate Rail

· The door must be marked on their hanging s le with the

· For 'half hour' applica ons the frame was required to be

· For 'one hour' applica ons the frame was to be designed

95x38mm Bottom Rail

BS459 Part 3 : 1951 - One Hour Fire Check.

95x38mm Top Rail

WARNING: One hour Fire Check doors constructed to BS459 Part 3

1953 saw the introduc on of a ﬁre door test method by

The BS476 Part 1 test condi ons resulted in a nega ve

4/ Fire Test Methods & Criteria:

The ISO834 related BS476 & BS EN 1634-1 tests are based on

BS476 Part 20 & BS EN 1363-1 Time Temperature Curve

Melting point of aluminium

Diﬀerences between BS476 Pt1, BS476 Pt.8 & 22 and BS EN

BS476 Part.1 BS476 Part.8 (from 1972) BS EN 1634-1

Building Regula ons (England & Wales) Approved Document

Stability Integrity Insula on

Specimen collapses or Fire penetration to the Temperature increase

Furnace Furnace Furnace

5/ Iden fying Fire Doors:

These schemes are designed to ensure that ﬁre doors are

Door manufacturers who are members of third party

Labels should be applied to the top edge of the door and

Plugs may be ﬁ ed to the hanging s les of door leaves. In the

7/ Timber Fire Doors Basic Considera ons:

i/ Buildings are generally compartmented to delay the spread

8/ ‘Competent Person’ - Qualiﬁca ons:

ASDMA recommends that the 'Responsible Person' employs

Ac ons to be taken to reduce risk are likely to vary according to the

9/ Reducing Risk contd. d/ Addressing Convenience:

9/ Reducing Risk contd.

ii/ Swing Free Closers :

iv/ Delayed Ac on Closers:

ADVICE: ASDMA recommends that all doors operated by swing

WARNING: The area around doorways must not be used for

9/ Reducing Risk contd.

e/ Perimeter Intumescent Seals:

NOTE 1: The frequency of inspec on can be determined rela ve to

Ÿ Perimeter Intumescent seals expand when exposed to

9/ Reducing Risk contd.

f/ Intumescent Gaskets (Hardware):

NOTE 1: For some applica ons full intumescent encasement of the

9/ Reducing Risk contd. ii/ Smoke Sealing - Maintenance:

Ÿ Unless the geometry of the door ac on during its swing

ADVICE: Smoke seals are generally low cost items. ASDMA

9/ Reducing Risk contd.

ii/ Hardware - Maintenance:

Ÿ Mechanical items such as hinges, locks, latches, closers,

ﬂoor springs etc. are likely to wear over me.

Maintenance provisions should comply with the

occasional light lubrica on.

Ÿ Hardware inspec ons should generally take place when