FAQ’s

The Fire Resistance can be defined as the time (in minutes), during which a given construction system maintains, under standardized fire conditions, the requirements that are requested in terms of:

• Stability / carrying capacity; (for structural elements)
• No emission of flammable gases from the face not exposed to fire;
• Tightness through the passage of flames and hot gases;
• Thermal resistance sufficient to prevent temperatures higher than those established by the Standard on the unexposed side. (140 ° C – average or 180 ° C maximum above the initial test temperature).
  According to current legislation, the same definition is has it follows:
  ‘Fire resistance’ means the property of a building element or other components of a building to maintain stability and/or tightness, thermal insulation, mechanical strength, or any other specific function for a fixed period of time to the heating process resulting from a fire.

Fire resistance class R
R15; R30; R45; R60……… R240
Applies exclusively to structural elements (metal structures, concrete, mixed, wood). It is a classification that results from the fire resistance tests according to the appropriate European standards and is, generally, reflected in the classification report, based on the results of the test, written by the same laboratory, according to European own standards.

Fire resistance class E (formerly designated PC)
E15; E30; E45; E60;…… E240
This classification expresses the capacity of the building element, not to let it pass or produce flammable flames or gases on the side not exposed to fire.
The fire resistant door(E) must therefore be impervious to flames and hot gases.
In the course of the standard fire resistance characterization test, the loss of the “E” requirement occurs whenever one of the following occurs:
1. opening of gaps, in the model to be tested, greater than the dimensions fixed by the standard (EN 1363-1);
2. ignition of a piece of cotton laid at a distance of 30 mm from the face not exposed to fire for a maximum of 30 s (EN 1363-1 standard);
3. presence of persistent flame on face not exposed to fire.

Fire resistance class EI (formerly designated CF)
EI15; EI30; EI45; EI60;…… EI240
This classification occurs when during the test, the element meets the above requirements and also the thermal insulation requirement.
The fire resistant door (EI) shall withstand, without significant deformation, during the time for which it has been classified (mechanical stability), shall be impervious to flame and hot gases (tightness) and shall be thermally insulated for a specified period of time (thermal insulation).
The insulation requirement “I” (E + I = EI)
The ability of the building element to maintain, on the surface of the unexposed face, an average temperature of not more than 140 ° C, above the initial test temperature.
In the course of the standard fire resistance characterization test, the loss of the “I” requirement occurs whenever one of the following occurs:
1. the unexposed face, exceeds 140 ° C average temperature or 180 ° C maximum temperature above the initial test temperature,
2. loss of any of the requirements for classification E.

Fire resistance class EW
EW15; EW20; EW30; EW60;…… EW120
The “W” radiation requirement translates the ability of the building element to reduce the transmission of heat by radiation.
In the course of the standard fire resistance characterization test, the loss of the “W” requirement occurs whenever one of the following situation occurs:
1. the energy radiated by the building element, exceeds 15kW / m2
2. loss of any of the requirements for classification E (PC).

NOTE 1 | The fire resistance rate covers all the lower rates, including flameproof rates.

I1– The thermocouples on the leaf should be placed 25 mm from the gap (between frame and leaf) and those on the frame should be placed 100mm from the corner connection. During the test, the increasing of temperature in the leaf and the frame (at any point on the side not exposed to fire) must not exceed the initial temperature of over 180 ° C and the average temperature must never exceed 140 ° C.

I2 – The thermocouples on the leaf should be placed 100 mm from the gap (between frame and leaf) and those on the frame should be placed 100 mm from the corner connection. During the test, the increasing of temperature in the leaf and the frame (at any point on the side not exposed to fire) must not exceed the initial temperature of over 180 ° C, the temperature of the frame must not exceed 360 ° C and the average temperature must never be above 140 ° C.

The thermocouples are electronic devices whose function consists in measuring the temperature. Are fundamentally composed of two filaments of different metals or of alloys of different composition. The filaments are welded at one extremity, designated hot joint or measuring joint, and the other extremity, the circuit is closed.

EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 – Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware – Part 1: Fire resistance test for door and shutter assemblies and openable windows
EN 1191:2000 | Resistance to repeated cycles of opening and closing
EN 20140-3:1998 | Sound insulation for sounds of air conduction
EN 1026:2000 | Air permeability
EN 1027:2000 | Watertightness
EN 12211:2000 | Wind resistance
EN 12046-2:2000 | Operation Forces
EN 948:1999 | Torsion Resistance
EN ISO 10077-1 | Thermal transmission coefficient
ENV 1627-30:2000 | Anti-intrusion security
EN 1523:1999 | Ballistic Resistance

Part of a building comprising one or more spaces, rooms or floors, enclosed by elements of construction with the appropriate fire resistance to ensure the protection of the building, prevent the fire spreading to the rest of the building or split the fire load, during a certain period of time.

Yes. A fire rated door must have a closing recovering system: ability of a building element that furnish a doorway to, in case of fire, take a position that guarantees the door closes without human intervention. To respond to this function, is incorporated a hidraulic doorcloser (per leaf) that may be apparent (with articulated arm or sliding rail) or hidden (embedded on top of the leaf).

An anti-panic bar is a mechanical device installed in a door to allow its easy open in case of emergency evacuation, by pressing with the user’s body, without using the hands.

NOTE: All combinations of accessories and hardware are possible, both in doors with anti-panic bar and with a pair of handles.

The free passage (W x H) corresponds to the width / height measured between the inner boundary of the frame, equivalent to the largest dimensions so that persons or objects can pass through the door.

It is a theoretical unit used in to evaluate the necessary width to the passage of people during evacuation. The correspondence in metric units, rounded down to the nearest whole number, is as follows:

• 1 UP = 900mm
• 2 UP = 1400mm
• n UP = n x 600mm

Positioned on the opposite side to the hinges we can see the inside face of the door. When we press the handle or the anti-panic bar, we put into action its rotational movement that can process up to the right or to the left. Thus we define its direction of opening (right door or left door).

An emergency exit is an exit to a protected escape route or a safety zone, which is not normally available for public use.