New Fire Door Safety guides launched

by Featured NewsFire Doors

Leader in fire safety hardware and producer of ‘Briton’ door controls and exit hardware, Allegion UK, has introduced a new series of guides to promote best practices in fire door safety across commercial, education, and healthcare settings. The guides aim to enhance awareness and understanding of fire door safety.

The guides, which aim to increase awareness of fire door safety in commercial, education, and healthcare environments, are based on original research from building managers and door hardware specialists in those sectors. According to Allegion’s research, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of fire safety responsibility and the significance of fire door hardware across all three sectors.

The guides are available on request and are designed to offer crucial and easily accessible information on hardware specifications, installation, and maintenance. They aim to assist responsible individuals in enhancing the fire safety standards of their buildings.

Raising awareness

Pete Hancox, country manager at Allegion UK, commented: “Specification, installation and maintenance are vital components of fire door safety, and we believe it important to raise awareness and improve knowledge on these crucial subjects. The ‘Briton’ door hardware experts at Allegion UK have extensive experience in fire door safety within commercial, education and healthcare environments, and we understand that there is a clear disconnect between legislative fire safety standards and the reality on the ground in these building environments.

“Our research has revealed fire safety is often compromised in these settings. In healthcare, three in four are unsure whether their building’s fire door hardware is installed correctly and operates as it should. Similarly, in education, over 50% of our respondents were not aware of fire door maintenance procedures in their building. And in commercial buildings, almost 40% are not up to date with the latest in fire safety regulations.

“Presently, there’s a real emphasis to raise fire door safety awareness and it’s an opportune time to support a crucial message. We hope our newly launched guides act as an invaluable resource for those tasked with improving and maintaining fire safety standards in these core sectors.”

A free copy of the Briton ‘Fire Door Safety in Review’ guide can be downloaded at: www.briton.co.uk/en/tradeprofessionals/firedoorsafety.html. To find out more about Allegion UK, visit: www.allegion.co.uk

Fire Door Market to reach $24bn by 2032

by Breaking NewsFire Doors

The Fire Door Market is expected to cross a valuation of USD 24 billion by 2032, according to the latest research report by Global Market Insights Inc.

An increase in fire accidents is expected to hasten the development of fire-resistant doors for residential and commercial buildings.

In 2021, nearly 486,500 fire accidents were reported across the US. As a result, the adoption of efficient fire security strategies has become increasingly vital for public buildings, offices, and other facilities to protect occupants against hazardous accidents. Growing concerns regarding security and safety will also escalate fire door installations to confine the fire to one area during emergencies.

Steel fire doors

The fire door market value from the steel segment will be nearly USD 11 billion by 2032, owing to the shifting preference toward rigid and strong doors for commercial establishments.

Steel doors come with unique characteristics such as heat, smoke, and toxin resistance, durability, and superior safety. Steel honeycomb has also become a preferred fire door material for interior applications, due to its excellent impact resistance and uniform crushing strength, further fostering product usage.

Sliding fire doors

The industry size from the sliding product type is set to exhibit 5% CAGR from 2023 to 2032, considering its airtight insulation, aesthetic design, and soundproof ability, among other key features. Factory development funding has also increased over the years to boost productivity and growth. These factors will contribute to the production of sliding doors, given their application scope in warehouses, shopping malls, and large public spaces for fire protection

EI60 fire-rated doors in industrial spaces

The fire door market from the EI60 fire resistance type will cross USD 9 billion by 2032, due to its usage in moderately crowded spaces including warehouses, parking lots, and industrial plants.

EI60 fire resistance class doors are equipped with self-supporting systems and safety sensors to increase building accessibility through automation. The increasing delivery of products in compliance with fire safety standards will support the growth opportunities for the manufacturers.

Safety standards

The commercial applications of fire door are projected to reach 5.5% gains through 2032, influenced by the rise in repair and refurbishment projects for commercial infrastructure. There has been a growing recognition about the improvement of facility management and the imposition of fire safety standards in commercial buildings. These factors, alongside the need for practical and innovative solutions to reduce fire risks, will augment the installation of fire doors, the report reveals.

Regulatory guidelines

The external fire door market surpassed USD 11.5 billion in 2022. Various regulatory guidelines associated with external fire door locations have been introduced to ensure rapid evacuation during fire outbreaks. The number of fire incidents has also surged in many developing nations.

Based on a report by Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, fire-related accidents killed approximately 35 people per day between 2016 and 2020. The necessity for ensuring building safety will therefore surge and promote external fire door espousal.

Rapid urbanisation in the APAC region

The Asia Pacific fire door industry expected to witness 7.5% growth between 2023 and 2032, due to the growing population and rapid urbanisation. As a result, the rate of spending on domestic manufacturing and construction is rising steadily in the region. These factors, along with an increase in smart city projects, will encourage building owners to install fire-resistant doors for the safety and protection of residents against fire outbreaks.

Product range expansion

Nihon Funen Co., Ltd, ASSA ABLOY, Hörmann Beteiligungs GmbH, Rapp Bomek AS, Chase Doors, VISTA PANELS LIMITED, UK Fire Doors Ltd., Republic Doors and Frames, Mesker Openings Group, and China Buyang Co., Ltd. are some of the key players profiled in the report. These companies are adopting product range expansions and other strategies to increase their footprint fire door market.

Rhino Engineering Group announces commercial partnership with Jewers Doors

by Featured NewsFire Doors

Rhino Engineering Group and Jewers Doors have announced the launch of a new partnership which will see Rhino proactively selling Jewers’ Phoenix range of insulated sliding and sliding/folding doors.

The Phoenix range will sit as complementary to Rhino’s existing range of products and provide its customers with the ability to source a wider choice of doors, with different ratings and capabilities, from a single source.

This new partnership will see Rhino selling three doors from the Phoenix range – Osprey, Swift and Kingfisher – and branding these as Rhino-SFI, Rhino-FI and Rhino-SI, respectively. Rhino-SFI will be the sliding/folding variant, while Rhino-FI and Rhino-SI will be bi-folding and sliding only, respectively.

As part of this new agreement, Rhino Site Systems Limited, the in-house door installation and maintenance wing of Rhino Engineering Group, will also become an approved installer for the Phoenix door range.

Stuart Lawrence, Group Managing Director of Rhino Engineering Group, commented: “We’re delighted to be embarking on this new collaboration with Jewers Doors, diversifying our product range to enhance the support we provide to our customers.

”Jewers has a brilliant national and international reputation, and we’re looking forward to working closely with them to develop a partnership that delivers real value to both companies.”

Mark Jewers, Director of Jewers’ Phoenix range, added: “An alliance with Rhino Engineering Group opens up several market sectors where Jewers haven’t traditionally been strong with our Phoenix products, and we relish the opportunity to work with a company we have respected for several decades.” 

To find out more about Rhino’s existing range of security-rated CPNI sliding/folding doors, visit www.rhinodoors.com  To find out more about Jewers Doors, visit www.jewersdoors.co.uk/ 

Fire door manufacturer expands ahead of 100th anniversary

by Featured NewsFire Doors

Specialist manufacturer of fire rated, acoustic and PAS 24 security doors and doorsets, E&SW Knowles, is adding a second factory to boost its manufacturing capacity, ahead of its 100th anniversary next year.

The Birmingham-based manufacturer employs 114 people and is expanding its operation into a second building, adding 13,750 sq ft to its existing 44,500 sq ft capability to support strategic growth and further improve manufacturing efficiencies and customers’ experience.

The investment has been announced following the company’s recent acquisition by Sentry Doors Limited. The two companies’ product ranges are complementary and have minimal overlap in the industry sectors they serve. The partnership will provide both businesses with opportunities for further innovation and growth.

Managing director Steve Horner said: “This strategic acquisition along with our 100th anniversary will mean that 2023 will be a very big year for us.

“We wanted to do something that marked this achievement but also put a marker in the sand about where we are going and our intention to become the UK’s leader in timber fire safety and security doorsets.

“We are committed to the West Midlands area, and will create 10 more jobs next year alone. The new facility will mean more new machinery, processes, and infrastructure to support our growth ambitions.  We are very proud of our 100-year heritage and industry experience but are also looking ahead to ensure we remain competitive, customer-focused, and innovative.”

Under-reported fire door issues putting lives at risk

by Breaking NewsFire Doors

New research to mark Fire Door Safety Week (31 October – 4 November 2022) has found that a third (32%) of the British public would not report a problem with a fire door, with a perceived lack of personal repercussions being one of the main reasons for not reporting.

Organisers of Fire Door Safety Week said the findings show that there is a “clear lack of accountability” over reporting fire door issues, and that lives are being put at risk as a result.

Despite three quarters (75%) correctly believing that propping a fire door open stops it performing its role in the event of a fire, 44% would not take action over a propped open fire door as they would not know who to report it to, and almost half (49%) do not feel it is their place or role to report it.

Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation which founded Fire Door Safety Week, said: “There were 243 fire-related fatalities in England in the past 12 months, so individual action really is crucial in preventing tragedies. Fire doors propped open put lives at risk in the unfortunate event of a fire. Without being properly closed, a fire door cannot hold back the spread of fire and smoke to fulfil its life-saving role.”

The research showed that propped open fire doors are a common occurrence, with 10% of respondents having seen a propped open fire door in their place of residence on some occasions and 20% in the workplace. It also identified that the two most common objects used to prop open a fire door are a wedge and a fire extinguisher.

31% incorrectly believed that a fire door that was propped open with a wedge or a fire extinguisher was safe and 18% did not believe a propped open fire door poses a risk to those in the building so would not take action. 15% believed that keeping a fire door closed stops it performing.

Gavin Tomlinson, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair for Protection and Business Safety said: “We urge everyone to help keep buildings and their occupants safe and Close the Door on Fire.  A fire door can only protect from fire and smoke if it is closed. We ask if people see a fire door propped open, they close it. It is a simple ask that could save a life.

“Everyone has a role in ensuring their buildings remain safe from fire, and if you have any concerns, then please ensure these are reported to the building owner or person responsible for the fire safety of that building. If it continues to be a problem or you are concerned about fire doors in a building, you can contact your fire service for advice and support.”

The research also found a lack of understanding over what constitutes a safe fire door with 44% believing that either: a fire door is a normal door covered in fire-resistant paint (13%), a fire door is a normal door but with ‘fire door’ signage (13%), or that any timber door was a fire door (7%).

Helen Hewitt added: “There is clearly still a dangerous lack of understanding and need for education on the role of fire doors. The encouraging news is that when people are better informed about fire doors, they’re more likely to report issues. Half (49%) of respondents said having a better understanding over what fire doors do and how they work would encourage them to take action.

“To Close the Door on Fire, this year’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign aims to help address the lack of education and accountability around fire doors and reporting. This will be a crucial step in reinforcing the message that a closed fire door can be the difference between life and death and driving positive action to reduce fire-related fatalities.”