Building a new property is exciting, but navigating the world of building regulations and safety features can be daunting. Many properties require internal fire doors. These aren't just internal doors; they're lifesavers in case of a fire, compartmentalizing the building and giving precious time for evacuation.
So, how do you order the right fire doors for your new build? Let's break it down:
Understand the fire door regulations
Start by understanding the specific regulations in force and locations on the property where fire doors are required and the resistance rating. E.g. FD30. Building regulations govern the requirement for fire doors but you should consult your local building authority or a fire safety professional if you need any guidance.
The best routes to ordering fire doors
There are two basic routes to ordering made to measure fire doors and fire door parts:
1. As a fully certified fire doorset
The easiest and safest route to sourcing a fire door is to order it as a fully certified doorset from a single manufacturer - often referred to as a door kit. BS EN 12519 defines a doorset as: ‘…complete unit consisting of a door frame and a door leaf or leaves, supplied with all essential parts from a single source’.
2. Certified fire door leaf, frame and ironmongery
The leaf and parts of a doorset can be sourced from different suppliers as long as they are compatible and tested to the same standard. The doorset will not be compliant if any part is non-compatible. BS EN 12519 defines this as: ‘…complete assembly as installed, including door frame and one or more leaves, together with its essential hardware supplied from separate sources’.
What are the pro’s and con’s of a bespoke fire doorset?
In this instance, everything is supplied as a complete unit from one supplie, fully fitted up and finished, direct from the manufacturer. It comes fitted with all compatible fire rated components, including any glazing and is pre-assembled in the factory. The main benefits of this route are:
- It guarantees that the entire doorset and components will match the fire tested original design and Fire Certificate
- It reduces labour costs / carpentry on site
- Pre-drilling of the fire door leaf in the factory ensures a perfect fit with the frame
- It saves time sourcing compatible fire rated parts from different suppliers and coordinating delivery
The main down side of this route is:
- The lead time is considerably longer to supply than for individual components and therefore procurement has to be planned well in advance
- There is less choice of suppliers who can supply fully certified doorsets
- It is more expensive to purchase a fire doorset, however some of this is clawed back through reduced installation costs
What are the pro’s and con’s of sourcing parts separately for fire doors?
In this instance, the fire door leaf, frame and hardware components are sourced from different suppliers. To ensure that the door assembly is safe and fully compliant the specifier must take care to ensure it is a. Altered only as defined on the door leaf Fire Certificate. b. Fitted with compatible components as per instructions and Fire Certificate. c. All components must be listed on the door leaf Fire Certificate.
The main benefits of this route are:
- Potentially faster lead times from point of ordering
- Greater choice of products
- Initially cheaper, excluding installation costs and shipping
The main drawbacks of this route are:
- It puts the onus on you the purchaser to check all components are to spec and covered by the fire certificate
- It increases time / labour on site, which may cost you more overall
- More time spent sourcing suppliers
- More logistics / deliveries to site
What are the constituent parts of a bespoke internal fire door?
A fire doorset consists of many fire resistant parts which together provide the necessary protection. The fire door leaf itself is constructed with fire resistance parts and a solid core designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke for a specified length of time. FD30 fire doors provide fire resistance for 30 minutes and FD60 fire doors for 60 minutes. FD30 protection is adequate in most residential homes. Along with the door leaf the frame and sealant is supplied which are also fire certified.
Intumescent strips should be fitted to the stiles and head of a door set, in grooves in the edge of the door or frame. In the event of a fire, when exposed to extreme heat, they expand to close any gaps that might facilitate the spread of smoke and fire. Essential ironmongery on every doorset include handles, hinges, latches and locks where required, all of which need to be fire rated to the same standard as the doorset.
Additional Ironmongery that may be required depending on the type of property and location in the property include:
- Door closer
- Signage
- Door viewer
- Threshold seals
- Letterbox
- Air transfer grill (ATG)
Ordering bespoke fire door sets
It’s important to speak with an experienced manufacture like Denleigh who manufacture the door sets with fire resistance materials and can supply a valid fire certificate and CE mark for the doorset. To reduce risk and ensure the best quality finish we recommend ordering the complete doorset with doors, framed and ironmongery, which will make sue everything is compatible to the regulations.
Denleigh can design a bespoke fire door to suit the aesthetic needs of your property, whilst ensuring its compliant to the regulations. This can include custom size, width, thickness, many different designs including panels, grooves and inlays, stylish veneers and stains, glazed fire doors and designer handles. We can even supply all of the hardware in the same finish for consistency.
Conclusion: The art of ordering bespoke fire doors
The best route to ordering a made to order fire door depends on the specifics of your project, but which ever one you choose, as door experts, Denleigh can provide everything you need. From product advice, custom door design and all the fire door parts doors need to look great and comply with the regulations. Contact us with your requirements today.