Winkhaus launch range of UKCA External Fire Doorsets

In the Autumn of 2023, door and window hardware manufacturer and fire door solutions systems house Winkhaus UK, are launching a range of timber and composite UKCA 3rd Party certified external fire doorset solutions. The launch follows an 18-month development, test and accreditation program, with the new range significantly increasing the scope of compliant fire doorset solutions for specifiers in social housing and residential new build.

Mark Alton, the Fire Product Manager for Winkhaus UK, says ,“Fire safety and fire door legislation has changed significantly in recent years, with the testing and accreditation requirements for external fire doorsets significantly different than those for internal solutions. The design and test evidence for a fire doorset is the “Golden Thread” that flows through the lifecycle of a fire door and is the reference point for the other stages of specification, manufacture, installation and maintenance. It is therefore critical for specifiers to understand the differences in legislative requirements between an internal and external doorset so that they are included in any specification.”

What are the differences between an internal and external fire doorset?

An external doorset as defined in EN:14351-1 is “a doorset which separates the internal climate from the external climate of a construction, for which the main intended use is the passage of pedestrians”.

The three main differences in legislation between an internal and external fire doorset are:

1. Testing for external fire doorsets must be carried out to the European standard EN:1634 for Fire resistance and for Smoke control.

2. Under the Construction Products Directive (CPD), all external fire resistant doorsets are covered by a harmonised standard and therefore must be conformity marked CE or UKCA. They are also subject to the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) system 1 requirements, which effectively means that the AVCP must be completed by a 3rd Party to deliver a 3rd Party UKCA certified solution.

3. External fire doorsets require a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and a 3rd Party classification as specified under EN:13501-2

In addition, weather protection testing is only completed for external fire doorsets.

Verification and certification from a 3rd Party is not only in place to ensure solutions are fit to be brought to market, but that they are continually manufactured, installed and maintained to the same levels as identified in the original testing and declaration of performance. Design & Test is not only the initial activity required to create a range of fire doorset solutions, but the golden thread that is referenced throughout the lifecycle of a fire doorset. Fire doorset manufacturers are 3rd Party audited to ensure they continue to manufacture the same products with ongoing factory process audits, traceability through manufacturing and annual sample testing.

The table highlights the requirements to be included in both internal and external fire door specifications and should be used as a checklist when reviewing tenders for new fire doorsets to ensure all the required points are covered in any proposal.

The introduction of the external range of fire doorset solutions is in addition to the existing range of 3rd Party accredited timber and composite internal fire doorset solutions from Winkhaus UK. Earlier this year Winkhaus expanded this range introducing a wider scope of internal fire doorset door designs and glazing options for their manufacturing partners to take advantage of.

All Winkhaus internal and external, timber and composite fire doorset solutions are DLUHC compliant, are tested to EN:1634 for fire resistance and smoke control, are tested to PAS:24 for enhanced security and are 3rd Party certified as part of the BM Trada Q-Mark certification scheme, offering a truly mirrored range. Our new mirrored range of external timber and composite fire doorset solutions are also 3rd Party UKCA certified.

The Winkhaus UK Technical team have been involved in the creation and implementation of the latest standards and guidance for fire doorsets over the past decade. Winkhaus fire doorsets solutions are manufactured through our partner network of over 50 3rd Party certified companies. With our partner fabricators, we have the one of the largest evidence banks of compliant solutions for both timber and composite fire doorsets, all independently audited by BM Trada as part of their Q Mark scheme.

This not only ensures our test evidence is always compliant, but always expanding to provide the most comprehensive range of options for all your project requirements.

For further information on the new ranges of external timber and composite fire doorset solutions or our expanded ranges of internal timber and composite fire doorset solutions, or for advice and support with your specifications, please visit www.winkhaus.co.uk/en/firedoorsets or email marketing@winkhaus.co.uk.

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