ASDMA’s guide to understanding the complexity of specialist custom-made fire doors and the importance of door design covers the function, aesthetics, certification, specification and configurations of doors.
Target Audience:
- Designers and specifiers of buildings
- Those approving fire door installations
To download the ASDMA’s fire door guide, click here.
Intumescent Fire Seals Association (IFSA) Fact Sheets
The Intumescent Fire Seals Association (IFSA) have produced some useful fact sheets on intumescent and smoke seals.
To download the IFSA Fact Sheet 01: Intumescent about replacing fire door seals, click here.
To download the IFSA Fact Sheet 02: Smoke Seals about smoke control in fire doors, click here.
Guidance and Recommendations for Acoustic Doorsets (Downloadable PDF)
Acoustics are becoming an ever increasing issue. This guide simplifies what is a complex subject through exploring acoustic issues in relation to testing, application of test data and the structure of a sound attenuating doorset. This document is for guidance purposes, where acoustic considerations are critical, reference should be made to qualified Acoustic Engineers.
Target Audience:
- Designers of bespoke doorsets
- Building designers
- Installers of bespoke doorsets
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
ASDMA Best Practice Guide (Downloadable PDF)
The Best Practice Guide can be used to provide a basis for reaching contractual agreement on specifications, the performance that is to be provided and the avoidance of anomalies that exist in Regulations and standards at the time of publication.
Target Audience:
- Designers of buildings and fire door installations
- Those tendering or awarding building or fire door contracts
- Those approving fire door installations
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
Guidance on Fire Door Installation (Downloadable PDF)
This guidance paper is designed to be of assistance during the planning and execution stages of contracts that involve installation of custom-made doors.
Target Audience:
- Those designing buildings and fire door installations
- Those tendering or awarding building or fire door contracts
- Those approving fire door installations
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
Guidance on Maintenance, Damage and Troubleshooting (Downloadable PDF)
This guidance paper is intended to assist in maintaining a trouble free door installation for the lifetime of the building. An additional guidance paper is available which deals with the installation of bespoke doors.
Target Audience:
- Persons approving fire door installations
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
Risk Assessment Considerations for Timber Fire Doors ASDMA Guidance for Responsible Persons (Downloadable PDF)
This document provides advice and guidance to take into account in the care, maintenance and risk assessment of timber fire and smoke control doors.
It gives a brief background to regulations and testing procedures and sets out to identify main factors that can potentially affect aspects of performance in fire conditions. It draws attention to considerations and required knowledge when undertaking care and maintenance work or when carrying out risk assessments.
The actions to be taken by those with responsibilities and duties under the provisions of fire safety legislation including risk assessments will vary according to conditions that apply in each particular case. The function of timber fire doors is important in securing protected escape. This document therefore seeks to help by providing pointers to a number of key considerations which may well need to be followed up by further specialist support if initial inspections raise questions regarding door condition.
Target Audience:
- ? Responsible and Competent Persons under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- ? Risk assessors, fire safety and facilities managers
- ? Fire door installers
- ? Persons approving fire door installations
- ? Those responsible for ongoing site maintenance
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
Safety A Matter Of Convenience (Downloadable PDF)
The primary purpose of a doorset is to provide a means for traffic to pass from one side of a wall to the other; however doorsets are often expected to provide additional performance functions such as fire resistance, security and sound attenuation. This guidance document looks at the practical issues of fire doors to ensure that they function effectively in all performance areas.
Target Audience:
- Building designers
- Installers of bespoke doorsets
- persons approving fire door installations
- Responsible persons under the RRO
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
Guidance for the Coordination of Bespoke Doorsets (Downloadable PDF)
This document provides for general guidance with regard to the coordination of bespoke doorsets. The guide covers recommendation with regard to the reference points generally used within the industry for the purpose of communicating dimensional information and for a common language for use by all parties concerned with the design manufacture and installation of bespoke doorsets.
Target Audience:
- Designers of bespoke doorsets
- Tendering or awarding building or fire door contracts
- Installers of bespoke doorsets
ASDMA member signing up to this guidance can be found from our members list.
Frequently asked questions relating to fire doors
How thick should a doorstop be for a fire resistant door frame?
The thickness of a door stop will depend on the detail which the door manufacturer has tested or has had assessed. The door manufacturer will provide details of the size of doorstop required with his door leaf. It is not necessary for a doorstop to be 25mm deep.
What is the minimum thickness I can use for a door lining?
That will depend on the thickness of lining for which the door manufacturer has test or assessment evidence.
Does a door frame have to be softwood or hardwood? Can I use either for the door lining?
Provided that the density exceeds 420kg/m3 and the timber is of good quality with minimal defects, then either softwood or hardwood is suitable for FD30 doorsets. For FD60 doorsets a good quality, straight grained hardwood with a density in excess of 650kg/m3 should be used unless the door manufacturer can provide evidence that softwood can be used. In all cases, you should follow the door manufacturer’s detail.
Can I have rebated meeting styles on pairs of 30 minute fire doors?
Yes – if the manufacturer has test or assessment evidence for pairs of doors with rebated meeting edges.
Can I have rebated meeting styles on pairs of 60 minute fire doors?
Yes – if the manufacturer has test or assessment evidence for pairs of doors with rebated meeting edges.
Should I put the intumescent strips in the door or the frame?
You should follow the door manufacturer’s instructions regarding intumescent seals. It is important to use the type, dimensions and location of seal that he details, as a change to any of these could negate the likely fire resistance performance of the doorset.
I have to fit an exit door to the outside of the building - do I need to have intumescent strips fitted in that?
If the door provides a route of escape into the fresh air, it is not necessary for it to be fitted with fire seals.
What are the tolerances allowed around a fire door?
BS8214: 2008 recommends a 4mm maximum gap at the head and at the long edges as good practice but the guidance of the door manufacturer should be followed. The gap at the threshold should be no more than 6mm. It is important that the door gaps are as even as possible around the periphery of the door.
Do you normally have to have an automatic door closer with a fire door?
All fire doors for public access should be fitted with a self-closing device. This may be a device which is linked with automatic opening (for example doors on hospital entrances which may be expected to close without human intervention) or a mechanical closer which, when the door has been manually opened, will return it to its closed position without further action on the part of the door user.
Can I put metal on the face of fire doors?
Only if the door manufacturer has either test evidence or assessment to permit this.
What if my FAQ is not covered?
ASDMA FAQs are designed to provide guidance on key industry issues. If you have any additional questions that are not covered here or within our downloadable guidance documents please complete the following enquiry form.
Please note that these FAQ are designed to act as a source of guidance, is does not however act as legal advice.