EXOVA
Exova Group is one of the world’s leading laboratory-based testing companies. Their purpose is to make certain that all of the materials and products they test, inspect and certify are always safe in their end application, are of consistent and marketable quality, are compliant with all relevant industry standards and regulations, and are ultimately fit for purpose.
Exova perform smoke testing to the BS EN 1634-3: 2004 standard. This standard is designed to test the fire resistance and smoke control of door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware. Following testing, products are simply awarded a pass or fail. Martin Roberts’ premium architectural doorset, the Capital45, has undergone and passed smoke testing.
CERTIFIRE
CERTIFIRE is an independent, third-party certification scheme, underwritten by Exova, that is recognised as the mark of fire safety across the UK. The government recommends that companies invest in third-party accredited fire safety materials in their Approved Fire Safety Document B for maximum safety, and a product with a CERTIFIRE mark guarantees that it will hold its integrity for the noted amount of time in the event of a fire.
In order to earn a CERTIFIRE rating, fire doors are subjected to a furnace test in which they have to endure temperatures of up to 1,100°C for the designated time. The test ends when the doors are compromised and smoke begins to leak from them, or after 240 minutes, the maximum CERTIFIRE rating.
The CERTIFIRE rating of a door is represented by FD and then a number (30, 60, 120, 180 or 240). This number represents the total number of minutes a door maintains its structural integrity in the event of a fire.
The rating that your premises requires depends on how likely it is to suffer a substantial fire. If your business operates from a standard office block full of work equipment that does not pose an obvious fire threat, such as computers and standard office equipment, the lowest rated fire door should provide the sufficient level of protection.
However, if you’re investing in fireproof equipment for a warehouse or factory where industrial machinery and handling equipment is often used, a fire is more likely, and a door with a higher rating will be necessary. This is also true of buildings that contain invaluable items or documents, such as banks and government buildings.
You should keep in mind how long it takes your premises to be completely evacuated when investing in a fireproof door, as you will require one that will maintain its structural integrity until the building has been emptied. You should be aware of how long this takes from your fire drill records, and you should invest in a door that will stay intact for the length of the evacuation.
If you require fire doors, then take a look at our M2MFD range of fire rated doors, which are CERTIFIRE accredited up to FD240. Our fire doors are also available with optional LPS 1175 accreditation, making them the perfect choice if you want to protect personnel from external physical threats as well as fire hazards.