Fire door checks

[snowman]

Hi guys...

Been lurking a long time checking things out but now in need of some assistance.

Having taken on fire issues within an NHS Trust i have found our fire door checks to be either none existant or extremely poor.

Does anyone have a list of checks that need to be carried out?

Any help appreciated...

Cheers
Snowman...

[AM]

From Bs 5588 pt 12:

Doors on hold open devices should be released daily, and a simulated power failure/fire alarm activation should be carried out monthly to see if they close fully into their frames.

Fire doors should be inspected every six months, in particular, it should be insured that heat/smoke seals are undamaged, doors are not structurally damaged or excessively bowed or deformed, gaps between the doors are not so small as likley to bind or so large that the smoke seals won't work, and that hanging devices, securing devices, self-closing devices and auromatic release mechanisms are all operating correctly.

[Les Potter(elementalfire)]

when checking a door it should be opened to 90 degrees if it is not held on a magnetic door holder. greater than 90 degrees is not a fair check on the latch and in some cases a door can bounce back and not hold, with the perko type door closing device, if it is opened excessively the device can fail to pull the door closed. if the door is opened less than 90 degrees in some cases this can prevent some closers from actually closing the door effectivey.

therefore a 90 degree check is the fairest judge of all of the actions for each fire door. it checks the closing devices and the holding devices at the same time.

[Dinnertime Dave]

with the perko type door closing device, if it is opened excessively the device can fail to pull the door closed.

I may be mistaken and I’m sure I will be told if I am but, I seem to remember a building studies lecture at Fire Service College where the subject of Perko devices was discussed. It is my recollection between naps that they weren’t a great idea.

[Davo]

Dinnertime Dave

Quite right. The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers COP 2nd edition p 15 says they do not meet BS8214 and are not recommended.

'a closing device should be able to overcaome any latch mechanism or seals if present on a fire door. In the absence of a latch, the closer will be required to retain the leaf in the closed position during fire. This type of closer does not perform either of thses functions'
Not to mention the joiner invariably overbores the door, I know of one door where we took the Perko out when it went faulty and found 150mm bored out, no intumescent either.
However, 12 months or so Perko introduced a new model they say is suitable, I don't know of anyone using them though.

My advice is to stick to surface mounted at all times.

[johno67]

Details of the newer 'Perko Powermatic' can be found by using the following link.

http://www.perko-powermatic.co.uk/perko-powermatic/frameset.htm

They seem more appropriate than the old type which were pretty poor, however I haven't come across this type in practice, so I can't vouch for them.

[johno67]

Snowman,

I think that 'Section 4 Maintenance' of BS 8214: 1990 'Fire door assemblies with non-metallic leaves' would be your best bet.