Fire door installations for SEND School

Following our customers fire risk assessment, a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school in Reading, they approached RES Fire for a quotation to install 16 double and 49 single FD 60s and FD 30s fire doors. RES Fire was selected due to our certification to the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Installation scheme.

After providing a detailed quotation and schedule of works, which was accepted by the customer, our passive works supervisor set about ordering the required doors from Sentry Doors – who provide high quality, fully compliant fire rated fire doorsets which are tested and certificated to the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturers scheme.

RES Fire commenced the project during the summer vacation, working methodically from block to block, firstly removing the old doors, then installing each new doorset in turn.

The installation is done in a number of key stages for each door
– Frame fitting
– Packing and fire stopping
– Door hanging
– Hardware / Closer installation
– Testing
– Plug insertion

For the frame fitting, the installation must be a perfect fit which is both true and level, thus ensuring the permitted gaps will be within tolerance. Any gaps are filled with “Blue 60” fire rated foam as part of a complete system specified and tested by BM TRADA and tested to BS-EN 1634-1 & BS476-22. “Blue 60” fire rated packers are used alongside the foam to ensure an even surface along the frame.

Fire stopping works were completed by our technicians under our certification to the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Stopping scheme.

The door hanging must use the correct supplied fire rated hinges and ensure a perfect fit.

Any final hardware is then installed such locks, latches, signage and closers.
The door is then tested to ensure that the closer shuts the door onto the latch from any position and that all the gaps are within tolerance.

For each fire door installed, a special plug is inserted by our technicians which identifies the fire rating of the door and a unique certified installation company number under the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Installation scheme.

Any subsequent inspection of the doorset can quickly authenticate the rating and installation of the fire door.

RES Fire chose Sentry Doors to provide the various fire-rated doorsets required for this project. Sentry Doors have been manufacturing fire doors for over 25 years, All doors were pre-ordered based on detailed measurements being provided.

Sentry Doors fire doorsets undergo extensive independent testing in a UKAS-approved test house. These tests, alongside their Q-Mark certification, help them to ensure that their products can play a key role of a premises fire safety measures.

A number of different fire doorsets were required around the school site such as double doors in corridors and hallways, single doors to classrooms and offices, as well as cupboard doors to electrical equipment.

Dependant on the requirements as specified in the Fire Risk Assessment and supporting fire strategy plans, doorsets were supplied and installed as either FD30s or FD60s.

– FD30s fire doorsets prevent the spread of fire and smoke for up to 30 minutes
– FD60s fire doorsets prevent the spread of fire and smoke for up to 60 minutes

As part of the BM-Trada Q Mark scheme, all doors are documented in a Record of Installation Activites Form as well as being logged on our UPTICK customer management software.
Information such as door reference, door type, location, fire rating and installation date are documented.

To ensure all the fire doorsets are ready to be regularly inspected and maintained, all the installed fire doorsets have been catalogued in our UPTICK fire safety customer management software.

Key information such as the doorset reference, location and fire rating are all at hand. RES Fire will inspect the doors on a 6 monthly basis in accordance with current
British Standards and the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Maintenance scheme.

Any defects can be identified and recorded by our technicians using the UPTICK APP backed up with photographic evidence and then provided to the customer in an easy to follow report.

Due to the customer having other works undertaken during the summer holidays and planned for the October half term, our original schedule of works has remained flexible to suit the customers requirements. With weekend works planned by our technicians the project will be completed on time as originally planned.

“This is an important project for the school and is rewarding to be involved delivering compliant doorsets to a timescale that works for the customer”

James Hill, Passive Supervisor