Performance of fire-resisting timber doorsets

Performance of fire-resisting timber doorsets

Date Published

10 August 2022

Document Type

Category

Author

TRADA
Summary

Fire-resisting doorsets are required to be able to contain a fully developed fire, to facilitate escape of a building’s occupants and allow fire-fighting, and to protect the structure from the effects of fire. The doorset therefore must have resistance to fire, expressed in terms of time.

This Wood Information Sheet is intended as a guide to architects, quantity surveyors, building surveyors, building control officers, fire prevention officers and builders. It compares the various performance requirements for timber fire-resisting doorsets and makes recommendations on their specification.

Key Information

The bulding regulations and most fire protection/prevention codes call for a minimum performance with respect to integrity.

To determine the fire resistance time, adoorset is exposed to a ‘standard’ fully developed fire in a test furnance until failure occurs according to certain criteria.

There are some requirements regarding radiation effects and insulation to resist the rise in unexposed face temperature.

Case studies

When the late Maggie Keswick Jencks was diagnosed with cancer, she resolved to do something to help others who had the same diagnosis, to create a place of refuge for them where they would find practical and emotional support in a non-institutional environment.

Hardman Square Pavilion stands at the heart of Spinningfields, Manchester’s busy commercial district, yet this new building is utterly unlike the surrounding metallic and glass towers;
the structure is timber, an exposed glulam frame which is clad with timber weatherboards overlaid with planting.