A new UK National Foreword has been published alongside the revised version of the extended application (EXAP) standard, EN 15269-2, following concerns raised within the industry about potentially unsafe design practices previously permitted under the standard.
Assa Abloy Door Group says industry testing revealed that the addition of a threshold to a steel fire doorset – previously allowed without further evidence under EN 15269-2 – can compromise fire performance, ‘particularly when used with certain core constructions commonly specified in the UK’.
It said: “While this concern arose too late to influence the technical content of the revised standard, the UK voted against its publication due to these safety implications. Despite this, the revised EN 15269-2 proceeded following broader European consensus, with only a limited amendment stating that thresholds should be constructed from fire-resistant material.
“To address the resulting gap and guide industry best practice, BSI has now issued a UK National Foreword. Although non-normative, it provides an explicit advisory that thresholds should only be included where supported by direct fire testing evidence to EN 1634-1.”
Assa Abloy says this foreword ‘reflects growing awareness and internal industry discussions on the risks posed by assumptions in fire doorset design, and aligns with guidance currently being communicated to members by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF)’.
Brian Sofley, MD at Door Group, said: Assa Abloy Door Group welcomes this clarification, and strongly encourages manufacturers, specifiers, and contractors, to act on the guidance now available. Ensuring that fire doorsets are supported by robust test evidence is essential for protecting lives and meeting compliance expectations.”
In line with this, Assa Abloy Door Group confirms that its Powershield range of steel fire doorsets (pictured) ‘meets the most rigorous fire testing requirements, including full compliance with EN 1634-1’.