Protection of Fire Doors

[clio222]

Your thoughts please. I have came across Fire Doors and surrounding area ie coridors walls Goods Lifts covered in protective steel sheeting this was put in situ to due to the reoccurring extensive damage within this working area. The area is utilised by Retail worker transfering goods to and from storage area.

The FD were constanly getting damaged and as such the integrity of the FD`s were compromised, there is now consideration to put this practise through out other locations within the premises with similiar problems. However what are thought it would seem there is a catch 22 , my belief is that there should be no alterations to FD`s as this also effect the integrity especially with this this type of material in the Transfer of heat during a fire.

(At present time doors being held open with mag-locks not an option)

Any advice

[nearlythere]

Only things I can think of at this stage are the weight issues.
Can the hinges, frame and door structure take the additional weight?
Can the door still fully close overriding the latch?
The transfer of heat may be a consideration through any exposed screws or nails holding the sheet on. But I don't think I would not be overly concerned about this.

[kurnal]

I agree with nearlythere- we dont get overly concerned with heat conduction through screws securing handles, spy holes and the like. On balance it may be better to protect the integrity of the door with steel than have an unprotected damaged door.
The only caveat may be associated with the expansion of the steel in a fire situation and whether any buckling on the exposed face could push to door off its rebates and it may be better to ensure that the steel sheet stops short of the edges to avoid this

[Ken Taylor]

I've had them on doors in catering areas of schools and the like - much better than gouges in the timber. I agree that there should be a reasonable magin left around the plating - not only to allow for expansion but to provide some tolerance for the fitters and avoid exposed metal edges.

[Fishy]

Really bad idea.  Unless you know exactly what you're doing, the steel will distort and can either push the door completely out of the frame (if it is applied under the door stop), and/or it'll break the intumescent seals once they've activated.  If you don't carry the steel up to the edge then the protection is very limited - the lippings will still get knackered.  High-pressure laminate might be a better bet, plus you can get retro-fitted edge guards for fire doors - www.intastop.com, for example.

Yould could try 'phoning the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA - just Google) to see whether they have more specific advice.  I know that some door companies make doors with high-pressure laminate facings for just this type of application - but they won't be cheap!

[clio222]

Thanks to all for their replies most helpful

[kurnal]

Good to see opposing views.
Some of the 2 hr Hi pressure laminate doors have not withstood the collsions with pump action trolleys in one of our buildings, numerous with significant wear and damage after only 1 year. And thats even with magnetic hold open on most.

Does anybody across the length and bredth of the country have any photos or actual  documented evidence to prove it one way or the other?

[Ken Taylor]

Are the adhesive spray fixed protective sheets those that I sometimes see peeling away from doors and walls in certain health premises? Somehow screws seem a more reliable option. Plating should not, of course, come between the door and the stop or frame as Fishy rightly points out. The main culprits seem to be the trolley-pushers who use their conveyances to push open doors before them and go on to scrape both doors and walls en route - so robust and lasting solutions are needed. Is there evidence from fire incidents of doors deforming due to heated screw-fixed metal plates during their prescribed period of fire-resistance?

[kurnal]

Having checked Aunty lins book published by the ASDMA they point out the stresses that may be caused by expansion of the steel plate and recommend fixing the sheet with a glue that would release under hot conditions.

[John Webb]

My local large supermarket (currently being refitted*) has IR sensors on a couple of doors leading to/from storage areas. These open the doors automatically as people approach with trolleys so that the doors don't get bumped heavily. Could this be a solution?

(* some interesting revelations of the enormous service area above the sales floor ceiling, including alterations to the sprinklers and ADF as the ceiling is reshaped and replaced!)

[Big T]

Why don't you protect the edges of the trolleys with bubble wrap etc