fire doors

Although high efficiency cam action door closers enable low operating forces within and below those demanded within BS8300, some users find any resistance on a fire door either very hard or impossible to manage.

Where such instances arise, the use of a free swing door closer is highly advised. A free swing door closer, when active, enables to door to move freely without resistance being experienced by the user; thus, it enables the door to perform as any standard internal door within a domestic dwelling. In addition to no resistance from the closer, the door can be left in any position desired by the user - fully open, slightly ajar or fully closed. On activation of the fire alarm or in the event of a power failure, the door will close from whatever position it has been left in, ensuring the fire door will perform as required in the event of a fire. Whilst the alarm is active or while power is out, the free swing closer will perform as a ‘normal’ door closer, so if opened it will automatically close again. Once the alarm has been reset or power restored, the free swing will become active once again.

Having been involved for many years in Fire rated products, gaining invaluable knowledge and insight into the Composite fire door industry Astraseal could see the requirement for a comprehensive fire door package. A start to finish solution backed up by extensive testing to the most onerous standards and certified by industry leading experts.

The package needed to provide a solution from enquiry through survey, design, manufacture, and installation and go on to include an opportunity for a maintenance contract. All stages of the process would need to be subject to testing, training programmes and certification to give clients the assurance that every door was backed up with unequivocal evidence proving its performance.

The package also needed to provide this one stop solution at a price that could not only compete within the composite fire door market but also offer clients huge savings over fire doors of other materials, and all of this needed to be available with shorter lead times than the market standards.

The ultimate fire safety door, fully third party accredited, at industry leading prices, available as a fast turnaround solution. A challenge indeed but one that Astraseal knew it could take on, resulting in higher fire safety door standards for the future.

Since Grenfell, fire safety in social housing has been in the spotlight. The standard of existing fire safety has been scrutinised and reviewed, with terms such as stay-put policy, EWS1 forms, The Hackitt Report, and ACM cladding all becoming household topics of discussion. Billions of pounds are being spent on Type 4 Fire Risk Assessments (FRA), cladding removal, door replacement programmes and waking watch. Housing groups are now putting more and more pressure on manufacturers and contractors to provide them with the assurance of compliance, with BIM and the Golden Thread becoming the expectation rather than the exception.

Simplicity in design is often thought to be the secret to creating timeless fashions and one way to achieve that desired blank canvas, is by using flush white doors.  This opportunity to rejuvenate and add a fresh clean look to interiors has now been given new impetus and inspiration with the introduction of the White Collection from Vicaima, a selection of quality interior doors for home, hospitality and commercial projects.

With the age of residents at Hanover Lodge, access was becoming problematic due to the heavy self-closing fire doors. Fireco products were recommended and Freedor SmartSound was found to be the best-suited product. 

We are pleased to announce that we have been working with fire door manufacturers in order to gain Primary Test Certification on a range of Fireco products.

Fire safety has been at the forefront of discussion in social housing circles, with much of the focus being on the compartmentation of a building.

British designed and manufactured, Powermatic controlled, concealed door closers designed for increased tenant safety are growing in popularity for use on fire doors in high-rise flats, apartments and HMOs.