Fire Door Performance

Manufacturers often make claims that their products are tested and achieve a certain performance level. But did the products pass that test? And if so, then how do they prove it?

In the UK, all fire door designs should be tested to BS 476 Part 22 or the European equivalent BS EN 1634 Part 1, to represent how they will function in a fire, and that the manufacturer can demonstrate that there is evidence supporting the performance of the door. It is also important for a manufacturer to demonstrate that the products they make are consistently ‘fit for purpose’ and that passing the fire test wasn’t a one-off event.

Ways of Demonstrating Fire Door Performance

There are three ways in which manufacturers describe their compliance:

1.Self-declaration

Self-declaration is where a manufacturer makes their own claim of conformity by stating that the door, doorset or door component ‘complies with’ or is ‘designed to’ or ‘tested to’ a certain standard. These claims are no guarantee that products will meet the right standards or that they will continue to do so.

2.Test certificate

A test certificate tells the purchaser that a company’s products have been tested and they have a certificate to prove it. But caution still needs to be taken with this information as it only provides a snapshot of the product test.

3.Third-party certification

Third-party certification tests and verifies a fire door’s design, performance, manufacturing process and quality assurance during manufacture. The company is independently audited to ensure that all the management and manufacturing processes and systems are in place to ensure consistency with the product that was tested. The product too, is subjected to regular scrutiny, with frequent testing taking place on standard products to ensure that the test wasn’t just a once-only event. In the BWF Fire Door Alliance Scheme, all manufacturers and companies that are licensed to cut an aperture and glaze doors are third-party accredited.

Third Party Certification for BWF Fire Door Alliance Members

For BWF Fire Door Alliance Prime Door Manufacturer members, third-party certification involves passing a comprehensive audit which includes submitting a full-sized fire door to be tested to BS 476: Part 22 or BS EN 1634-1 at a UKAS accredited test facility. This is an independent manufacturing audit by a UKAS accredited product certification body to ensure consistency of manufacturing processes and regular scrutiny of the fire door to ensure that the testing was not a one-off result.

Understanding Fire Door Labels

When a fire door is manufactured or modified by a BWF Fire Door Alliance member, a label, or labels, with unique numbers is placed on the top edge of the door.

Find out more