Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

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ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions leads the way in fire door safety

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland continues to lead the market by ensuring its range of door closers do not compromise fire safety regulations. At the end of 2017, several UKAS Accredited authorities withdrew certification for almost all door closers used on uninsulated metal fire doors. With around eight out of 10 metal fire doors sold in the UK being non-insulated, this left many doorsets deemed non-compliant.

A number of certifications have now been reinstated, but with a caveat meaning they can only be installed on the fire risk side of a door. In many properties and locations it can be difficult to determine which side of the door is most at risk of fire, so this caveat challenges the use of many door closers on the market for installation on uninsulated metal fire doors.

Metal fire doors provide superior levels of fire performance compared with other door materials, with a fire integrity performance of four hours often possible. However, this is reliant on compatible performance from the hardware devices that enable them to satisfy industry standards and provide the door's desired functionality

In response to the ongoing challenges and needs in the industry, ASSA ABLOY has continued with substantial testing and standardising of its door closers.

As a result, its door closers have demonstrated that use on metal fire doors is not restricted by the side of the door to which it is required to be installed and remains fully compliant with EN1634 on any uninsulated metal fire door. With no caveats attached to the series, this takes away a huge risk of error in the design, manufacture and installation process. Furthermore, stringent testing has proved the EN1634 range dependable for up to 240 minutes of integrity.

The combination of these market leading door controls combined with premium fire doors from the Door Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, ensures high quality solutions and uncompromised performance throughout the commercial and industrial building market in both timber and steel.

Specifying and buying the right product solution is essential for compliance and peace of mind, however, regular fire door checks are vital in maintaining a high quality performance and can highlight potential risks within a fire doorset. Ignoring or not acting on these risks once they have been highlighted can lead to huge consequences for building owners and managers, as liability rests with them.

Door Group is one of very few manufacturers to offer a complete solution of timber and metal doors, hardware and ironmongery through a 'cradle to grave' approach of technical specification, manufacture, installation, fire door inspections and service, and maintenance packages in support of architects, contractors, facilities managers and end users.

Using BRE-certified inspectors we can help reduce the risk to building occupants by ensuring all fire doors and their associated component parts, such as door controls, remain compliant and achieve the latest known standards. Whilst we offer impartial advice through this service, we can also help retain building compliance through upgrades, replacements and routine maintenance.

To find out more about ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Door Controls visit www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk or for more information on ASSA ABLOY Door Group's service and maintenance capabilities visit www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk

15th May 2019