Spec Finish

Feature FIND OUTMORE For further information on Profab Access and its range of access panels, riser doors and steel doors visit: www.profabaccess.com i www.thefis.org 23 BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 or BS 476 part 22, as outlined in Annex C of Approved Document B Volume 2. Where designated, the doors should also comply with BS 476-31.1 for smoke tests, BS8214 for the installation for fire doorsets and should be specified and installed in accordance with BS 9999:2017 for the code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. Clear communication Dame Judith Hackitt noted that alongside questionable compliance, there was a distinct lack of recording what was installed and called for a ‘golden thread’ of information running through all stages of the design and construction, to provide a resource of information to ensure that buildings will be successfully maintained. The file of information should include the initial specification, backed up with test evidence and a record of any changes made before construction. Manufacturers have been taking on board the recommendations of theHackitt Report and can provide comprehensiveBIM objects, alongwith corresponding digital data and certifications to ensure they obtain the necessary comparable product data. Manufacturers’ technical teams are able to help those specifying products by using their deep knowledge to ensure the correct products and systems are correctly specified, andwhere products interfacewith other products, their performance can bemaintained. Some specifics The new Construction Playbook states that ‘Engaging early with the supply chain and developing clear, appropriate outcome- based specifications are critical factors in achieving timely and cost-effective delivery’. Riser doors should be specified as bi-directionally fire tested models to comply. This is because the doors are not symmetrical and, as such, require testing with both faces towards the test furnace, something that is easy to miss in the process as required by ADB, in addition to the asymmetrical clauses of BS EN 1634-1. Because the riser doors are physically tested in both directions, it provides confidence that the integrity of the door will adequately withstand exposure to fire and smoke from both directions for the stated time period. Third party testing Specifying products, including fire doors that have been third party tested by a certified provider, will also further enhance the golden thread of information, as it provides a clear trail of evidence that ensures the passive fire product complies with all current legislations, whilst also going above and beyond in terms of best practice. The certification of fire doors by an independently accredited third party certification body also provides architects and their clients with the highest degree of confidence and assurance that the doors have met the test requirements, and that the manufacturer has robust factory control processes in place and test specimens are witnessed and signed off by the third party. It’s worth noting here that it is possible to market products years after a single test, and, as we have seen recently at the Grenfell Inquiry, resulting in changes to the makeup of products going unnoticed – with dire results. Guidance TheApprovedDocuments accompanying the BuildingRegulationsmake it clear that the person specifying the product is responsible for ensuring that they comply; they have to rely on the information provided but sometimes it only appears as a claim inmarketing information. Specifiers canmitigate this risk byworking closelywith themanufacturer and asking them to provide evidence that can be recorded. The very nature of bi-directional fire testing means that because the riser door is exposed and tested fromboth directions, it is compliant with the ADB and associated required standards, whilst also reflecting the principles of the Draft Building Safety Bill to help ensure a building will deliver, and continue to deliver, the highest standards in fire safety. As part of their combined commitment to improve and legitimise the testing, certification and installation of riser doors, Profab Access and the Finishes & Interiors Sector are working closely to develop comprehensive guidance for industry professionals. This includes installation guides that recommend best practices and methods for the correct installation of riser doors, while also providing clarification on testing requirements for riser doors to ensure legal compliance, and raising awareness of the significant importance of third party independent fire testing certification. Have a clear understanding of the fire testing that each product has undergone and the legislation it complies with Turn to page 14 to read Joe Cilia’s article about specifying and installing fire doors.