Author Topic: Single chain Perko closers  (Read 3171 times)

Offline Suttonfire

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Single chain Perko closers
« on: May 14, 2019, 03:49:06 PM »
I have recently seen several notices issued by the Fire Authority stating the single chain Perko closers on flat entrance doors are 'non compliant' (despite effectively closing the door). I've also read on here and heard from other sources that they are not acceptable. However, I can't see any direct reference to them being not acceptable in any approved guidance which I have read (whereas rising butt hinges are often specifically identified).

Can anyone point my in the direction of any guidance which I have missed?

Do you routinely recommend the replacement of operational single chain perko closers, which work at the time of inspection, simply because they are 'non compliant'?

I would obviously check the data sheets applicable to door sets when checking which type of closer is acceptable where that information is available, but I would be interested to hear what peoples views in relation to older door sets are - where a single perko closer was part of the original installation.

Offline Tom Sutton

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Re: Single chain Perko closers
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2019, 08:48:03 PM »
All fires doors when tested will have door furniture that has been tested to the approved British Standard. For door closers, it will be BS EN 1154:1997 and only one Perko type closer meets that standard and that is the Perko Powermatic Concealed Fire Door Closer.

Check out https://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-door-fitting-and-ironmongery/.
All my responses only apply to England and Wales and they are an overview of the subject, hopefully it will point you in the right direction and always treat with caution.

Offline Suttonfire

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Re: Single chain Perko closers
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2019, 07:28:52 AM »
Thanks, but I?m thinking more about existing ?notional? fire doors, which have been fitted with single chain Perko closers, and would have been considered to be acceptable at the time of installation. As the PBF guide advises against upgrading/replacing notional doors as a matter of course in many cases, it would seem to indicate that the existing perko closers could be left ?as is? if they are doing their job.

Yet, the Fire Authority routinely issue notices stating that they are not acceptable - even in the circumstances where retaining an original ?notional? door would be acceptable in accordance with the guidance.

Offline AnthonyB

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Re: Single chain Perko closers
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2019, 11:13:31 AM »
Even as far back as 1993 (& possibly 1986 but I don't have an original copy of the guide) the advice was they were not recommended in the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers guide to Ironmongery on  timber fire and exit doors.

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Offline Fishy

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Re: Single chain Perko closers
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2019, 05:45:14 PM »
They are probably 'non-compliant' with the Construction Products Reg's as they probably can't comply with the ENs for self-closing devices, but this only covers kit on sale, not kit already installed.  They're a bad idea generally, though, because to close the door over a latch they generally have to be adjusted to slam the door closed, and a) this can wreck the frame & its fixings and b) it makes the flat occupants tend to disable them.

The whole idea of flat entrance doors of 'notional' fire resistance is being brought into question in some of the guidance issued by Government post-Grenfell, in any case - hence the vast growth in the sale of flush timber fire resisting flat entrance doorsets.