Electric Locking: Which is the right solution for the application? Article #2 - Meeting British Standards
In this series, Roy Buckingham Dip.GAI Reg.AI M.InstAI , Regional Specification Development Manager at ABLOY UK , explains how to select the most appropriate electric locking solution, based on functional and regulatory requirements and current best practice.
Article two: Meeting British Standards
When looking to achieve compliance with electric lock specification, the “ability to release” and “durability of ability to release” must be proven. Compliance with BS EN 179, BS EN 1125 or BS EN 13637 gives this evidence.?
The device must be simple to use by all, including the disabled, and it should be tested to a known performance standard for use as an escape locking device. The electric locking solution must therefore be part of a performance tested solution that meets a performance standard for escape hardware i.e. EN 179, EN 1125 or EN 13637.?
Any door that is defined as a fire rated door, must be additionally fitted with hardware that can be proven to not be detrimental to the doors fire performance and this hardware must therefore be fire tested in accordance with the requirements of EN 1634.??
The only way of being sure that the fitting of any hardware to a fire rated door would not compromise its fire performance and ability to hold back the fire and/or smoke for the required duration, is via the proof obtained by fire testing the complete door set with the hardware installed.?
Therefore, any form of electric locking that is to be fitted to a fire rated door must have adequate and verifiable test evidence specific to the door for the given application. An electric locking solution that is fire tested on a single leaf, single action fire door may not be suitable for use on a double action or double leaf door.
It should be noted that an electric lock hardware manufacturer would only have to carry out minimal fire testing to prove their products are fit for purpose and designed for use on a fire door, to achieve the required CE certification.
A CE mark shows that the minimum performance requirements of the product have been met, however the CE certification does not provide sufficient evidence that the lock is suitable for the given door application. It should also be noted that the CE mark is not an indication of quality. Alongside the CE mark, a Declaration of Performance (DoP) document has to be publicly available and provided to the customer upon request.
This evidence will not therefore mean the product is suitable for use in every fire door, in any size or configuration available. It is therefore essential to check with the fire door manufacturer that their scope of evidence covers the use of the specific locking solution that is proposed.?
Following the Grenfell tragedy there has been a distinct shift by building control officers who now regularly request the provision of fire test evidence for the combined door and hardware solution and not separate test evidence for the door and the hardware.?
There are 3rd party certification schemes that will permit the interchange of components on a fire door, such as the Certifire scheme, which can also be used to verify the suitability of a given locking solution on a fire door application.
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BS 9999 states:?
“Doors in fire-separating elements are one of the most important features of a fire protection strategy, and it is important to select a fire door that is suitable for its intended purpose.
Security requirements should not override the need to provide adequate means of escape. All security locks and/or devices on an exit door should be openable from the escape side by a single manual operation not requiring the use of a key. Integrated elements such as locks, letter plates and security viewers should not reduce the fire resistance of the door.”
Approved Doc B 2019 version states:
“Any test evidence used to verify the fire resistance rating of a door set or shutter should be checked to ensure both of the following.?
a. It adequately demonstrates compliance.?
b. It is applicable to the complete installed assembly. Small differences in detail may significantly affect the rating.?
Hardware used on fire doors can significantly affect their performance in a fire. Notwithstanding the guidance in this approved document, guidance is available in Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors published by the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) and Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI).”?
For further information on compliant electric locking solutions, please visit: https://fal.cn/3v5gw.
Or contact Roy Buckingham Dip.GAI Reg.AI M.InstAI on 07976 744 678, or via [email protected].