UCL Fire Technical Note No: 013

Fire Safety Technical Guide

FIRE DOORS - QUICK OVERVIEW & UCL GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

1.0.
Key:

Fire Door Key:

Description: A Fire Door with 30 minutes Integrity & 30 minutes Insulation properties (also shown as FD30/30) and complete with Intumescent Seals Smoke Seals use brushes as better wearing that rubber strips. Vision Panel - required (NB: If in a fire door must be FRG 30/60) Fire Resisting Resistance) Glazing (30/60 minutes Key: Description: A Fire Door with 60 minutes Integrity & 60 minutes Insulation properties (also shown as FD60/60) and complete with Intumescent Seals Self-Closing Device complying with BS 6459: Door Closers FD30(S)SC&VP = Fire Door 30/60, Smoke Seals, Self Closing & Vision Panel required Push Bar Emergency opening device complying with BS EN 1125: 1997

FD30

FD60

(S)

SC FD30(S) SC & VP PB

VP

FRG 30 / 60

1.1.

Fire Door Signs - All fire doors MUST be signed using one of the following standard signs, which should meet 80 mm x 80 mm Ridged Plastic with 4 x screw holes in size
Description, Uses and Conventions

Sign, Colour & Pictogram

1. (S13) FDKS - positioned at eye level, on both faces of each leaf of self-closing fire doors.

2. (S14) FDKL - Used on fire doors without Self-Closing devices, i.e. cleaners cupboard, some types of stores and plant rooms / service ducts - only fix to outer door face, at eye level.

3. Used on doors connected to 'magnetic door hold open devices', this releases the doors on activation of the fire alarm system. Signs to be placed on the visible open leaf at eye level when the door is held open; this is to avoid the obstructing of the fire doors when released automatically.

FIRE DOORS (GENERAL) 2.0. Fire resisting, means that the construction is designated as capable of resisting the passage of flame and smoke, and providing insulation as defined in under the prescribed conditions of test appropriate to such construction in accordance with the current British Standard 476.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date Last Amended: 15 Feb 07 1.

Issued by the - Fire Officer, UCL, Estates & Facilities, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.

UCL Fire Technical Note No: 013 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.1.

Where Fire Doors are (Generally) Required: (1). All doors to staircases from corridors or rooms, cross corridor partition doors, all doors to Laboratories, Workshops, Storerooms, Plant Rooms, Service Ducts, Kitchens & Tea Points; and to defined fire compartments. Certain circulation areas, which extend the escape route from the stair to a final exit or to a place of safety, entrances & lobbies; all doors leading onto external fire escapes (except the top door) and doors between basement and upper floors etc. Corridors that are protected from adjoining accommodation by fire resisting construction principally: corridors in dead-end conditions (that is where escape is only available in one direction) all doors leading off the corridor including offices.

(2).

(3).

2.2.

UCL Design Requirements for Fire Doors: (1). Generally - All fire doors on circulation routes should open in the direction of escape and should not be double swing, but rebated to ensure intumescent and smoke seals work correctly. The exception is doors forming a mid-corridor smoke break; these may be double swing but must have smoke seals/brushes. Vision Panels Generally, all doors (regardless of being Fire Doors) should have Vision Panels (VP) provided. Except, where there is a need for privacy such as WCs or sleeping accommodation or a specific need such as etc. Particularly doors to Laboratories, Kitchens and areas where hazardous items such as chemicals or glassware pass through the doors regularly, the provision of Vision Panels reduce the possibility of an accident occurring by doors be opened onto these hazardous items. All doors on circulation routes, corridors or stair enclosures MUST have Vision Panels that comply with Disability Access requirements (see approved Document Part M, The Building Regulations), they should also be fire resisting where necessary. Doors in Circulation Space The Work Place Health Safety & Welfare Regulations 1992 (Regulation 18) requires that all doors on Main Traffic Routes (including lobbies to the stairs etc) must be provided with Vision Panel. See Page 5 Smoke Seals In addition to Intumescent strips, which are standard on new fire doors and form part of the upgrading of older fire doors, certain doors MUST be fitted with Cold Smoke Seals or Brushes. In general, all fire doors leading onto stair enclosures, protected corridors (Dead-End Conditions) and cross corridor partition doors, protected lobbies and doors to all sleeping accommodation are to be provided with smoke seals. UCL requires that smoke seals fitted to all new doors are the BRUSH TYPE and not rubber strip type, as these strips are not as durable and long lasting in maintenance terms, as brushes.

(2).

(3).

2.3.

Self-Closing - Where self-closing devices are specified, then standard overhead units are to be used meeting the latest edition BS 6459: Door Closers. Door closers and accessories should comply fully with the latest edition BS EN 1154 - Building hardware Controlled door closing devices, including its Annex A. Please note that the strength and features of the control must be correct for the size of door to which it is to be fitted, bearing in mind: (1). (2). the door is subject to other factors such as air pressure; draughts, heavy traffic use: abusive treatment; use by elderly, infirm or disabled; whether the door is to be latched or unlatched in its closing movement;

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date Last Amended: 15 Feb 07 2.

Issued by the - Fire Officer, UCL, Estates & Facilities, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.

UCL Fire Technical Note No: 013 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(3). (4). 2.4.

whether smoke or other seals are to be fitted to the door set. Perko fitting are not normally acceptable on standard doors (UCL fire Officer should be consulted if no other option).

All Fire-Resisting Doors Should Be: (1). Close fitting to the frame with a maximum gap of 5 mm, but 3 mm is the accepted working gap and hung by a minimum of 1 pairs of all metal hinges with a melting point of not less than 800C (both nylon and nylon bushed hinges are unacceptable). Fitted with an effective self-closing device (not normally a Perko Type) capable of closing the door tight against the stop, overcoming the resistance of any latch or lock provided.

(2).

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date Last Amended: 15 Feb 07 3.

Issued by the - Fire Officer, UCL, Estates & Facilities, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.

UCL Fire Technical Note No: 013 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.5.

Door Frames:

The selection and installation of door frames is as important as the door itself. Where purpose built frames are installed they should be matched with the recommended door as the fire resistance of one may depend on design features of the other. In special instances a purpose built door may be installed in an existing frame, advice should be sought from the door manufacturer. Whichever method is adopted the following guidance should be considered: Any gaps between the rear of the frame and the wall must be infilled with mineral wool, plaster or intumescent paste. When intumescent material on a frame faces the same on the door edge; they must be of the same type. Door frames will not be accepted if they are less than 30mm thick for FD30 doors and 44mm thick (hardwood) for FD60 doors unless accompanied by a relevant test certificate. Steel door frames are subject to distortion when heated and will only be accepted if a relevant test certificate can be provided. Intumescent Materials:

2.6.

Door edges are the part of a door-set most susceptible to penetration by fire. The pressure of a developed fire, drives hot gases between the door and frame leading to loss of integrity. Traditionally this weakness was countered using a large door-stop. But this method relied on a very close fitting door with a gap of less than 3mm between door and frame. The modern solution to this problem relies on the use of intumescent materials applied or set into the edge of doors or door frames opposite the door edge. Intumescent materials expand at around 100C to several times their original size and fill the gap between the door and the frame. An intumescent strip can be fitted either in the frame or in the door edge itself and must follow the centre line of the door edge; on no account must an intumescent strip be fitted to the door stop as the door will be forced open when the strip expands. Several points should be considered in their use: They are applied along the top edge and sides, intumescent material is not required along the bottom edge. There are several types of intumescent material and it is important to use the correct type as specified by the manufacturer or the door-set. The differing types are not interchangeable. Where a door is required to have intumescent strips and flexible seals this is best achieved by using a single strip combining both functions. On fire doors up to 30 minutes fire resistance, it is acceptable to interrupt the intumescent strip for hinges or latches. On fire doors exceeding 30 minutes fire resistance, where double intumescent strips are required, one of the strips must be continuous the other may be interrupted. The long standing requirement to provide oversize doorstops on fire doors is no longer applicable to doors with edges fitted with intumescent protection. A 12mm planted stop fixed with nails is acceptable in this case. Intumescent materials must not be reduced in size during installation by planing or sawing. In particular, installers should be aware that some are fitted beneath veneers or door trims.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date Last Amended: 15 Feb 07 4.

Issued by the - Fire Officer, UCL, Estates & Facilities, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.

UCL Fire Technical Note No: 013 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GLAZING IN FIRE DOORS 3.0. If a Vision Panels or glazing is required in a fire door or partition then the glazing has to be Fire Resisting Glazing of 30 / 60 minutes integrity (FRG30/60) meeting BS 476: Part 22 1987 - Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of non-load bearing elements of construction Glass Types meeting FRG30: Pyro Clear Glass: Georgian Wired: 6 mm Polished Plate Georgian Wired (PPGW) 5 mm FIVESTAR 6 mm PYROSWISS 6 mm PYROSHIELD

3.1.

Note 1:

It is very important to be able identify Pyro FR Glazing by the use of an Acid Etching with the trade name in the corner of the pane and marked with BS 476 Part 22. If the Acid Etched Trade Name or BS 476: Part 22 information is NOT visible then the GLAZING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS FRG30 AND MUST BE REPLACED! Safety glazing that is marked with BS 6206: 1981 / BS 6262 Series is NOT FIRE RESISTING GLAZING and is often is mistaken for FRG30 and is not acceptable!

Note 2:

Note 3:

3.2. 3.3.

Glazing to FRG30 in design, imbedded in intumescent paste rebates etc Fanlights above fire doors are to be sealed so they cannot be opened and the construction to meet either FRG30 or FR30, as required.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date Last Amended: 15 Feb 07 5.

Issued by the - Fire Officer, UCL, Estates & Facilities, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.

UCL Fire Technical Note No: 013 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

VISION PANEL DIMENSIONS (SEE APPROVED DOCUMENT M)

End

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date Last Amended: 15 Feb 07 6.

Issued by the - Fire Officer, UCL, Estates & Facilities, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.