Fire Door Manufacturing

BM TRADA is a leading certification body that provides rigorous testing and certification for fire doors. The BM TRADA fire door manufacturing process followed by Preventr involves several steps to ensure each fire door meets the required safety standards:

1. Design and Material Selection: Manufacturers must select appropriate fire-resistant materials, such as solid timber, steel, or composite cores, depending on the fire rating required. Intumescent seals are incorporated into the door edges to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
2. Testing and Certification: Fire doors undergo rigorous testing under controlled conditions to assess their ability to withstand fire for a specified time. BMTRADA tests ensure the doors meet the required fire door regulations, such as FD30 or FD60 ratings, indicating the number of minutes the door can resist fire.
3. Auditing and Ongoing Compliance: Once a fire door has passed the initial tests, manufacturers are subject to regular audits by BM TRADA. These audits check that every fire door manufactured continues to meet the same high standards.

The BM TRADA certification is highly regarded in the industry and provides assurance that a fire door has been manufactured and tested to the highest standards.

A leader in fire door manufacturing in the UK must adhere to several key factors to stand out in the market:

1. Compliance with Standards: Top manufacturers ensure their fire doors are certified to meet all relevant fire door regulations and standards, including BS 476 or EN 1634, which are critical in the UK. These certifications prove that the doors have undergone rigorous testing to withstand fire for a specific duration.
2. Innovative Design and Quality Materials: High-quality fire door manufacturing companies, such as Preventr, use premium fire-resistant materials, such as solid timber cores, steel, or advanced composite materials. Intumescent seals and fire-rated glass may also be incorporated, offering enhanced safety features.
3. Accreditation and Certification: Leading manufacturers hold certifications from recognised bodies such as BM TRADA, Certifire, or BWF-CERTIFIRE, ensuring that their fire doors are consistently compliant with the highest safety standards.
4. Customisation and Versatility: The best fire door manufacturers provide a range of options, from internal fire doors for homes to specialised commercial fire doors, offering bespoke designs to suit the specific requirements of a building project.
5. After-Sales Support and Education: A top manufacturer will also offer ongoing support, such as installation guidance and maintenance advice, to ensure that fire doors continue to meet safety regulations after they are installed.

In the UK, fire door manufacturing must meet strict standards to ensure their effectiveness in the event of a fire. The key standards include:

1. BS 476 Part 22: This British Standard relates to fire resistance testing for doors and shutters. Fire doors that meet this standard have undergone rigorous testing to prove their ability to withstand fire for a specified period, such as 30 minutes (FD30) or 60 minutes (FD60).
2. EN 1634-1: This is the European standard for testing fire resistance of doors and shutters. It is a widely recognised certification that ensures fire doors meet EU fire safety regulations.
3. BS EN 1154 and BS EN 1935: These standards relate to the hardware used in fire door installation, including fire door closers and fire door hinges. The hardware must be fire-rated and tested to ensure it will not fail during a fire.

Manufacturers must also comply with building regulations, such as Approved Document B in England, which provides guidance on the fire safety measures required in buildings, including the use of fire doors.

The time it takes to manufacture a fire door in the UK can vary depending on the complexity of the design, the materials used, and the manufacturer’s production schedule. On average, the manufacturing process for a standard FD30 fire door can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. This timeframe may be extended for custom-designed fire doors or larger orders that require specialised features, such as fire-rated glass panels or bespoke finishes.

During this period, the door is not only built but also rigorously tested to ensure it complies with fire door regulations. Manufacturers who adhere to BM TRADA or other certification processes may require additional time for quality assurance checks and certification before the fire door is ready for installation.