Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers’ Association (ASDMA)

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FAQs

The thickness of a door stop will depend on the detail which the door manufacturer has tested or has had assessed. The door manufacturer will provide details of the size of doorstop required with his door leaf. It is not necessary for a doorstop to be 25mm deep.

That will depend on the thickness of lining for which the door manufacturer has test or assessment evidence.

BS8214: 2008 recommends a 4mm maximum gap at the head and at the long edges as good practice but the guidance of the door manufacturer should be followed. The gap at the threshold should be no more than 6mm. It is important that the door gaps are as even as possible around the periphery of the door.

You should follow the door manufacturer’s instructions regarding intumescent seals. It is important to use the type, dimensions and location of seal that he details, as a change to any of these could negate the likely fire resistance performance of the doorset.

If the door provides a route of escape into the fresh air, it is not necessary for it to be fitted with fire seals.

Provided that the density exceeds 420kg/m3 and the timber is of good quality with minimal defects, then either softwood or hardwood is suitable for FD30 doorsets. For FD60 doorsets a good quality, straight grained hardwood with a density in excess of 650kg/m3 should be used unless the door manufacturer can provide evidence that softwood can be used. In all cases, you should follow the door manufacturer’s detail.

All fire doors for public access should be fitted with a self-closing device. This may be a device which is linked with automatic opening (for example doors on hospital entrances which may be expected to close without human intervention) or a mechanical closer which, when the door has been manually opened, will return it to its closed position without further action on the part of the door user.

Only if the door manufacturer has either test evidence or assessment to permit this.

Yes – if the manufacturer has test or assessment evidence for pairs of doors with rebated meeting edges.

Yes – if the manufacturer has test or assessment evidence for pairs of doors with rebated meeting edges.

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The Complexity of Fire Doors – a Guide by ASDMA

ASDMA’s guide to understanding the complexity of specialist custom-made fire doors and the importance of door design covers the function, aesthetics, certification, specification and configurations of doors.

Target Audience

  • Designers and specifiers of buildings
  • Those approving fire door installations
Download this Guide

Guidance and Recommendations for Acoustic Doorsets

Acoustics are becoming an ever increasing issue. This guide simplifies what is a complex subject through exploring acoustic issues in relation to testing, application of test data and the structure of a sound attenuating doorset. This document is for guidance purposes, where acoustic considerations are critical, reference should be made to qualified Acoustic Engineers.

Target Audience

  • Designers of bespoke doorsets
  • Building designers
  • Installers of bespoke doorsets
Download this Guide

ASDMA Best Practice Guide

ASDMA's Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors can be used to provide a basis for reaching a contractual agreement on the specification and performance of timber fire doors, as well as for avoiding the anomalies that exist in regulations and standards at the time of publication.

Target Audience

  • Designers of buildings and fire door installations
  • Those tendering or awarding building or fire door contracts
  • Those approving fire door installations
Download this Guide

ASDMA Fire Door Installation Guide

ASDMA's guide to fire door installation is designed to be of assistance during the planning and execution stages of contracts that involve installation of custom-made doors.

Target Audience

  • Those designing buildings and fire door installations
  • Those tendering or awarding building or fire door contracts
  • Those approving fire door installations
Download this Guide

Timber Door Maintenance, Damage & Troubleshooting Guide

ASDMA's Timber Door Maintenance, Damage & Troubleshooting Guide is intended to assist in maintaining a trouble free door installation for the lifetime of the building. An additional guidance paper is available which deals with the installation of bespoke doors.

Target Audience

  • Persons approving fire door installations
Download this Guide

ASDMA’s Fire Door Risk Assessment Guide

ASDMA's guide to Risk Assessment Considerations for Timber Fire Doors provides advice and guidance to take into account in the care, maintenance and risk assessment of timber fire and smoke control doors.

It gives a brief background to regulations and testing procedures and sets out to identify main factors that can potentially affect aspects of performance in fire conditions. It draws attention to considerations and required knowledge when undertaking care and maintenance work or when carrying out risk assessments.

The actions to be taken by those with responsibilities and duties under the provisions of fire safety legislation including risk assessments will vary according to conditions that apply in each particular case. The function of timber fire doors is important in securing protected escape. This document therefore seeks to help by providing pointers to a number of key considerations which may well need to be followed up by further specialist support if initial inspections raise questions regarding door condition.

Target Audience

  • Responsible and Competent Persons under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
  • Risk assessors, fire safety and facilities managers
  • Fire door installers
  • Persons approving fire door installations
  • Those responsible for ongoing site maintenance
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Safety A Matter Of Convenience

The primary purpose of a doorset is to provide a means for traffic to pass from one side of a wall to the other; however doorsets are often expected to provide additional performance functions such as fire resistance, security and sound attenuation. This guidance document looks at the practical issues of fire doors to ensure that they function safely and effectively in all performance areas.

Target Audience

  • Building designers
  • Installers of bespoke doorsets
  • Persons approving fire door installations
  • Responsible persons under the RRO
Download this Guide

Guidance for the Coordination of Bespoke Doorsets

This guide covers reference points generally used within the industry for the purpose of communicating dimensional information and common language for use by all parties concerned with the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke doorsets.

Target Audience

  • Designers of bespoke doorsets
  • Tendering or awarding building or fire door contracts
  • Installers of bespoke doorsets
Download this Guide