What is CE and Certifire certification?
The CE marking indicates that the marked product complies with the legislative requirements set by the European Union and is recognised for ensuring the product meets regulatory standards.
Certifire certification is achieved via an independent third-party scheme that focuses solely on fire product certification. Certifire assures you of a product’s quality and conformity, as well as ensuring the performance, quality, reliability and traceability of the product is up to standards. The Certifire brand is globally recognised as the international mark for fire safety.
What does fire door rating mean?
Fire doors and components are tested to see how effective the door and additional hardware would be at preventing the spread of fire and smoke. The fire door rating tells you how long that door would withstand a fire, providing all the additional hardware has the same rating.
The required rating of a fire door changes depending on its location, the layout of the building, and the risks listed in your risk assessment, so it’s vital to get the right fire-rated door for the right location that would prevent the spread of fire long enough to allow for a full evacuation.
| Fire Door Rating | Minutes of Fire Resistance |
|---|---|
| FD30 | 30 |
| FD60 | 60 |
| FD120 | 120 |
| FD240 | 240 |
The most commonly used fire doors are rated at FD30, which is the minimum requirement, however, if a fire risk assessment requires a higher fire-rated door, they must be installed instead with the same FD-rated hardware. (i.e. door closer, latches, seals etc.)
What does the grading of hinges mean?
Fire Door hinges are graded based on several different factors, including durability, fire/smoke resistance, and security to name a few. A hinge designation is vital in identifying what it’s suitable for, including the weight of the door it can support.
This grading mechanism is a European Standard, and ensures hinges are correctly tested and identified for the correct usages.
Do I need anything else to make hinges compliant?
Depending on the hinge that you get, you will need to ensure the hinges are installed with Intumescent Hinge Pads if they aren’t built into the hinge. Without the Intumescent Pads, the hinges will not make your door compliant to Fire Safety regulations, so pleas ensure to purchase the pads alongside your hinges (if required).