The steel Window Association has claimed ‘the biggest step forward for the industry since the millennium’ with the achievement of FD30 half-hour fire rating for a number of door and screen configurations.
SWA president Kris Bennell, said the move “Opens up our industry to a whole new range of possible applications.
“It addresses an area we have been lacking in for some time, as well as representing the culmination of real effort from across the membership to come up with a solution that meets the latest requirements. It is one of the best bits of news to come out of the SWA in the past 20 years.”
The SWA tests were carried out in accordance with BS 476 Part 22: 1987 at the Exova Warrington fire research facility. The SWA can now offer both single and double doors, with and without side screens, tested and assessed from both sides. All were fabricated using the classic W20 steel sections.
David Northam of SWA member NSB Casements, who conducted the tests for the association, said, “Some of the steps taken, such as reducing the fixing centres and using steel studs rather than brass studs, are quite straightforward, but we also investigated a variety of technologies available across the fire industry particularly for strengthening the lock side of the frame to prevent bowing under heat.
“These recent fire tests on W20 fixed light, single and double doors, for internal applications, have been granted 30-minute fire protection for integrity, by test report and assessment. This means SWA member companies can now make the results available to building control as required. It is a landmark for SWA internal fire screens.”
The single and double hinged W20 doors – with and without fixed sidelights – are available with a number of single glass types and ironmongery options, which have been either tested or assessed. Importantly, this allows SWA members to ensure that where 30-minute fire protection is required, they can supply a product that to all intense and purposes has the same aesthetics as a conventional steel screen.
The fire door’s glazing, including Pilkington Pyrodur safety glass, was all seated on intumescent mastic tape, and then the perimeter filled with an intumescent silicone sealant. There is also an intumescent strip fitted around the entire doorframe to prevent flames escaping the side where a fire starts.
The new FD30 rated doorsets are available only through members of the Steel Window Association.
www.steel-window-association.co.uk
