BM TRADA has toughened up its Q-Mark fire door quality and performance testing scheme to tie in with Building Regulations’ greater stress on third-party auditing, make it less vulnerable to abuse and improve traceability.
The organisation says it has consulted widely with companies along the fire door supply chain on the changes; from manufacturers to customers, including installers and ‘controlling authorities’.
Previously, companies in the scheme had to put products through full-scale fire-resistance tests every five years. This is now down to three years. And, according to Rupert Scott of Chiltern Fire, the fire testing affiliate of BM TRADA, this actually means that the best-selling doors are subject to testing most years.
‘This is because under our audit programme both the door blank manufacturers, and joinery companies who process them further, have to test,’ he said.
BM TRADA has also redesigned the identification plugs which are inserted into the door edge and frame to verify that they meet the scheme criteria. The plugs now have a reference number in the centre, each of which is unique to a scheme member.
‘If more than one member has been involved in the preparation of a doorset it will be clear what each company has done,’ said a BM TRADA spokesperson. ‘And the unique reference numbers will make it even harder for the system to be abused.’
Another introduction, a silver centred plug, denotes that the product is a complete, factory-hung doorset. An orange plug indicates the door features correctly factory-fitted glazing.
