Who Can Install Certified Fire Doors In Apartments?

Correctly fitted certified fire doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, providing residents in apartment buildings with extra time to safely evacuate the premises. When specifying fire doors there are a range of certifications to look out for and the type of fire door required will vary depending on its location and will range from thirty minute to two hour protection accordingly.

These certified fire doors have been tested and proven to provide this level of protection, but what happens when they are installed by a non-certified installer?

The Dangers Of Poor Installation In Certified Fire Doors

When properly installed, fire doors act as barriers that seal off combustible materials and prevent further combustion. Furthermore, they provide passageways for individuals to escape from hazardous environments while allowing firefighter access to affected areas.

A certified fire door that has not been installed to the manufacturer’s guidelines can bring with it catastrophic consequences, allowing fires in buildings to quickly become devastating.

Even an FD30 or FD60 fire door may only offer 5-10 minutes of protection if they are installed incorrectly.

Correct installation is just as important as the product itself, therefore it is your duty as a landlord or building owner to ensure all fire doors are installed by an experienced professional who is trusted by the manufacturer.

There are industry-wide formal qualifications for fire door installation, some accredited by UKAS or their agents. Using an experienced professional isn’t always the answer, especially if they haven’t undertaken the most recent training or are not familiar with the manufacturers product. – For reference the Fire Safety Order explains that a competent installer is: 'someone with sufficient training and experience, qualifications and knowledge to be able to implement fire safety measures in a building'.

Who Is Responsible For Fire Door Installation In Apartment Buildings?

As a landlord or property owner, you have sole responsibility to ensure that certified fire doors are properly installed and meet all applicable safety codes in your apartment complex.

It is also critical that they are with periodically inspected and maintained to maintain their effectiveness as lifesaving devices if ever needed. Failing to meet safety codes is a criminal offence and can incur significant costs and penalties, so it's essential to make sure certified fire doors are installed and inspected regularly, both for your own protection and for the peace of mind of everyone in the building.

Why Is Installation So Important For Certified Fire Doors In Apartments?

Your fire doors functionality will only be fully realised if it is correctly installed from day-one. There’s no if’s or but’s when it comes to this matter – an improperly installed fire door is no more effective than a none fire rated door.

Certified fire doors are always tested and regulated by third-party independent regulators, who assess the fire doors performance. These tests are done in a scenario where the fire door has been installed to the manufacturer’s exact guidelines and are not representative of the fire door if it has been poorly installed.

Some of the most common installation errors we’ve seen and been asked to fix at RW Joinery are:

• Missing or inconsistent fire protection between the wall and the doorframe. (often hidden by the architrave)
• Poorly installed fire seals
• Inconsistent gaps between the door leaf and frame
• Damage to the door during installation
• Poorly installed or missing ironmongery.
• Insufficient signage
• Undercuts greater than 3mm between the floor finish and door leaf.
• Installers not following the manufacturers installation instructions.

So, Who Should Install My Certified Fire Doors?

Finding a trusted installer with proven experience can sometimes be a hard task. But in the first instance search for installers affiliated to a third party certification body such as BM Trada Q Mark or Certifire FIRAS. However, partnering with a fire door manufacturer that offers a complete service package usually will circumvent this issue.

Providers such as RW Joinery offer a complete conception to completion service, which includes, specification, manufacture, installation and single fire certification.

By finding a fire door manufacturer with its own team of expert installers, you are assured that each fire door is installed to the correct guidelines, meaning your reputation is secured as well as the safety of your tenants.

Failing this, always look for installers with proven experience or third-party accreditations such as CTIB’s course, “Installation Of Fire Door Assemblies And Door Sets”.