Fire Door Experts near completion on another fire door installation project despite last minute changes to the fire strategy.

Our team are nearing completion of yet another Specialist Door Solutions fire door-set installation in a hospital on behalf of our long-term client, Actiform. Working exclusively in the health care sector, Actiform manufacture and construct bespoke modular buildings which allow their clients  to tailor their buildings to match their exact needs.

The fire door-sets were procured through Specialist Door Solutions’ specific healthcare range using their Plasdoor range, which is perfectly suited to clinical environments.

Last minute changes were made to the fire strategy for the new hospital unit while our team were on site for the installations. These changes required an agile approach and responsive installations from our nimble and highly skilled fire door technicians to minimise disruption to the programme and also to avoid door re-manufactures.

The BWC (our holding company) team are on site at The Old Gramophone works as part of a large carpentry and joinery project ahead of the Fire Door Experts team attending to install the fire doors.

As well as the extensive general carpentry package, BWC were asked to consider options for the lift lobby recessed lighting panels, ready for the client’s review.

Our highly skilled carpenters carried out some precision engineering on site to create sample lighting panels, with circular recesses ready to receive the lighting rig.

A perfect example of the highly experienced and adaptable skillset our site technicians have, and their ability to think on their feet and come up with solutions to problems.

Fantastic work!

As one of the leading fire door installation companies, Fire Door Experts are very proud to be involved in this project.

Renowned for the quality of our fire door installation work, we were engaged to carry out this complex project to supply and install the fire door-sets and bespoke ironmongery for BOSS Design in Clerkenwell.

Our team worked closely with the main contractor, AQ CSL, and the architect, Ed Yuen, to confirm designs, specifications and ironmongery. Even when coming late to the party, Fire Door Experts were able to deliver this project to budget and in time for the opening of the studio.

Ironmongery:

• Concealed hinges in brass from SOSS. These invisible hinges give a sleek, stylish finish to any door, with performance to match.
• PVD (physical vapour deposition) brass kick plates and full height push plates, with a high quality lacquered finish.  These had to be procured in Germany due to their 2.5m lengths.
• Brass handles were mounted onto the full height push plates
• 600mm brass pull handles were used to complete the design aesthetic
• Fire rated Perko door closers provide the required self-closing mechanism, but continue the sleek door design

Fire Doors

• The doors were procured from one of our fire door manufacturing partners, Humphrey and Stretton.
• To give a high quality finish, the doors were factory spray painted in RAL 9016
• Shadow trim detail was used in lieu of architraves

Protecting future building users as part of a high end and complex office refurbishment.

Fire Door Experts have secured our first major fire door contract to supply and fit anti-microbial ironmongery as part of a timber door package for 135 fire door-sets, comprising a mix of non-fire rated, FD30s and FD60s door-sets supplied by specialist door manufacturer, Humphrey & Stretton Plc.

Standard ironmongery was included in the original specification, but after initial early discussions regarding how we could offer anti-microbial coating to all ironmongery on the doors we procure and supply, our Managing Director, Simon West, and Studio RHE, the architect behind the designs, along with Graham, the main contractor, saw this high profile refurb project as an ideal opportunity to add this extra layer of protection for the buildings’ future users.

“Given the current global situation with this horrendous pandemic, now more than ever architects, designers, main contractors and installers should be putting the safety of the end users of the buildings as utmost priority.  And this does not just mean design and fire compartmentation safety, but also the safety of buildings users and occupiers moving in and around buildings once they are completed and handed over.   Everything on a door that can be pushed or pulled really now should have an anti-microbial coating applied at procurement stage, which is simply wiped cleaned as normal ironmongery would be”.

Simon further commented that “The relative small percentage increase in procurement costs is negligible considering the benefit received with the knowledge that the anti-microbial coating lasts for the lifetime of the product it’s applied to, offering long term protection for all users of the property each time they move around the building and use a door”.

Fire Door Experts have recently partnered with specialist ironmongery suppliers Poole Waite and Co Ltd who have been working on an antimicrobial that features BioCote^® technology. Liz Bilton of Poole & Waite commented “We’ve worked closely with BioCote^® and are very excited to be able to offer ironmongery that protects against the transfer of a huge range of microbes and has been proven to reduce the number of bacteria on a protected product by as much as 86% in just 15 minutes, and 99.5% in just 2 hours”.

Fire Door Experts prove again they’re on point and have the best interests of all involved at heart, from the original design team through to the building’s end users.

If you’re involved in an upcoming refurbishment project, why not speak to our team to find out more about this exciting ironmongery offering. It’s also worth remembering that existing ironmongery can be treated with BioCote^® through Poole Waite and Co Ltd Swap Out service making it perfect for any refurb or maintenance project.

Working with our clients, not just for our clients…

It’s vital, when working on projects, that all parties concerned work for the betterment of the project, especially when a variety of suppliers are involved and an ever-increasing scope of work.

Fire Door Experts were originally engaged by Hanevo back in December 2018 to carry out the installation of 250+ fire doors on a fix only basis. Due to the quality and timeliness of our work, the clear communication channels and our professional project management, we have developed an excellent relationship with Hanevo which has led to further works being awarded for fire door maintenance work and the supply and installation of a number of fire doors, including;

Maintenance Work

Essential maintenance is now completed on 76 existing bedroom doors to the nurses home at Whittington Hospital where doors were maintained back to their originally intended fire rating. Work included resizing the doors by the addition of hardwood lippings to achieve correct door margins, the addition of batwing seals to add smoke control, the replacement of existing hinges with fire rated hinges, new overhead door closers to ensure the doors close correctly and appropriate fire door signage.

Further Maintenance Work

Whilst in the same block, we completed the maintenance of the existing kitchen and store room fire doors to maintain them to current standards.

Replacement On-Call Doors

15 On-Call bedroom doors have been replaced with 30-minute rated FD30s Ash veneer door-sets and integrated over panels. As well as offering passive fire protection, these replacement doors have an enhanced acoustic rating offering better potential for rest for the staff in a busy area of the hospital. Door-sets were supplied by Humphrey and Stretton with ironmongery from Spiller Door Controls Direct.

Improved Escape Route and Fire Compartmentation

We have just been awarded the contract to replace the existing stairwell doors in the nursing home for 60-minute rated FD60s fire door-sets and associated ironmongery, coupled with the supply and installation of new FD30s veneer leaf and a half door-sets to add corridor breaks and improve the fire compartmentation of the building.

Fix Only Door Installations

Whilst these new stairwell and corridor break doors are in manufacture, we have since recommenced on site for the second phase of the 18 month fire door replacement programme we were originally engaged for. This sees us replacing all the existing non-fire rated doors around the hospital on Level 1 with SDS Specialist Door Solutions fire door-sets, whom we are preferred installers.

Fire Door Surveys

We are currently working through reports having just completed a fire door survey of the existing fire doors on Level 2 of the hospital. Once complete, we will submit our survey report to Hanevo and The Trust with our recommendations.

Given the numerous steps involved in the fire door procurement process, especially when working on multiple concurrent sub-projects, strong project management skills are required along with clear and concise communications. Fire Door Experts pride ourselves on offering a true full circle service providing peace of mind from project conception to completion and beyond.

During these testing times, whilst our fire door technicians are strictly adhering to Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures, we are carrying out essential fire door maintenance works for a London borough on behalf of Wates Living Space.

The London borough have just received a fantastic letter of commendation from The House of Commons highlighting how well these essential works have and are being managed given the current challenges we all face.

High spec bespoke installation? Not a problem for Fire Door Experts!!

It’s not every day we get asked to install such high spec doors as these – but it’s just another day fior our team!

Banham Security approached FDE to install these extremely high spec, bronze doors. As with Banham’s security and locks business, they supply and fit the very highest standard equipment, so who better to install these extremely high specification doors for them?!

This was just another day in the office for the FDE team, whom continually rise and deliver to any door installation challenge.

Regardless of the size or scope of the project, every FDE customer is assured the same level of professionalism and attention to detail.

Fire Door Experts are back on site at Euston Station for the 13^th month running, working on behalf of Skanska and Network Rail for all enabling works for their HS2 project.

This contract originally started off as a small contract to supply and install two Assa Abbloy Steel doors for a riser wall. Now into our 13^th consecutive month as our contract has grown, this demonstrates our quality of work and the varied, high skillset of our site teams as we are able to absorb whatever works that Skanska and Network Rail decide to engage us with.

This fast developing and successful relationship really is a testament to our site team and their dedication and highly adaptable skillset.