The Best of British

Technical

Acoustics

EDSL Acoustic doors, offer a wide range of doors with excellent soundproof features; we design, manufacture and install doors throughout the UK. Our acoustic doors are tested to ISO standards, and achieve an average level of sound reductions up to 44dB (decibels). However the industry is always testing new products to try and further increase this sound reduction within a timber door.

Our acoustic doors are suitable for a wide range of projects including schools, hospitals, factories, airports, theatres, hotels and heavy engineering operations. Working alongside industry leaders enables us to offer you a comprehensive range of doors to suite every acoustic need and budget. Manufacturing our own doors, within our factory, allows us to add excellent soundproofing features; such as seals around the frame to stop sound penetrating around the door, drop-seals to the bottom of the doors and fantastic vision panels with excellent acoustic properties which also allow light through. Having the flexibility to manufacturer in house is one of the many reasons we are one of the UK's leaders in the door industry.

The purpose of an acoustic door is to prevent noise escaping from a room or for noise getting into a room.  A common mistake is to specify the same decibel rating to a doorset as that required in a party wall (i.e. breezeblock or brick cavity) exemptions exist for this and the average of the whole area of the wall is taken with the doorset as a proportion. 

The acoustic performance of a doorset can be influenced by:

  • Door size.

  • Door configuration (single or pair).

  • Door and frame material.

  • Glazing.

  • Choice/Size/Positioning of ironmongery.

  • Sealing arrangement.

  • Quality of installation.

  • If the door is going into an existing frame.

General Guidance on Acoustic Ratings

  • 20RwdB:  Normal speech is easily overheard.

  • 25RwdB:  Loud speech is clearly overheard.

  • 30RwdB:  Loud speech is clearly audible.

  • 33RwdB:  Some loud speech audible - normal speech inaudible.

  • 35RwdB:  Loud speech audible but not understandable.

  • 45RwdB:  Loud speech heard faintly.

  • 50RwdB:  Shouting will be barely audible.

Rw: – The “weighted Sound Reduction Index” is a number used to rate the effectiveness of a soundproofing system or material.  It expresses the difference between the sound intensity hitting one side of a structure and the resulting sound measured on the other side.  Therefore, the higher the Rw number, the better a sound insulator it will be.

dB: – The Decibel (abbreviated as dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of sound,  It is a unit expressing the ratio between power and intensity.  Normal conversation is at about 60 dB, a lawnmower at about 90 dB and a rock concert at about 120 dB.

Fire Certification

EDSL are proud to be part of the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Scheme.

This fully comprehensive UKAS accredited certification scheme for fire doors ensures that our performance and production facilities are regularly checked through audit testing and factory inspections.

Fire Door Manufacturers have a legal requirement to demonstrate their doors will resist the spread of fire. The BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Scheme has been designed and setup to allow all fire door manufacturers to demonstrate that their doors meet the industry standard requirements.  All of our fire door sets and frames are custom designed to meet your specific requirements, available in a range of finishes to meet your preference, these can also certified to FD30, FD60, FD90 and FD120. For further customisation, our doors can also incorporate any of our standard or bespoke glazed vision panel sets; providing a range of styles and finishes are perfect for use within areas such as residential properties, offices and hospitals.

Being part of this scheme allows EDSL to demonstrate consistent quality, ensure on-going compliance, maximize our products service life and provide peace of mind through independent verification by a third-party certification body.

Fire proof doors have two primary functions when fire breaks out, the first function is to contain flames and smoke to allow safe passage away from the building. This acts as a barrier and isolates the fire away from the area of escape, allowing the recommended amount of time given the distance of the exit point. The second main feature is to delay the spread of flames and smoke, depending on the specific requirement for the particular part of the building they operate within determines the relevant rating required.

We are the preferred and trusted supplier to many large construction companies, as well as direct suppliers to architects and interior designers; our commitment and quality to the development of fire doors gives these household construction names the peace of mind they require. Our work ethic separates us apart from the competition, as we constantly strive to improve service, value engineering and research into fire resistant door technology, which we are extremely proud of; all of which adds to our vast manufacturing experience and excellent range of fire resistant doors.

As well as being governed by an external regulating body, all our fire doors are manufactured to comply with Certifire regulations, and are supplied with an anti-tamper label displaying compliance; giving our customers the peace of mind that all our doors are manufactured to be fit for purpose. Complete our quick contact form to talk to one of the UK's leading manufacturers of certified fire doors, and ensure your door is installed correctly, given the importance of safety. Click on the more info button to talk to a member of our team about our supply and fit service.

Security

EDSL provide a range of doors that focus on crime prevention in the home and to commercial premises.  We take security seriously, which is why all of our security doors are PAS23 and PAS24 accredited, giving you complete reassurance and peace of mind that your property is protected.  These principles have been proven to achieve a reduction of crime risk by up to 75%, by combining minimum standards of physical security and well tested components.  With our experience in architectural ironmongery, we are able to install custom security features that suit your specific requirements.

As expert manufacturers, we are able to adapt our security doors to cost effectively meet our customers requirements.  The types of security doors we supply are single and double, door and screen combinations, communal with access control, fire exit and flat entrance doors.  To meet fire safety regulations, all of these can be NFR, FD30s or FD60s, creating a fire resistance to the appropriate standard.  For those areas that require considerations towards soundproofing, we are able to manufacture our doors with acoustic properties, dramatically reducing sound reverberation.

A poorly manufactured, or installed, frame may compromise the integrity and, more importantly, the security of a door.  We design and manufacture our frames to protect, eliminating weaknesses in the structure and potential areas where the door could be pried open; further increasing the effectiveness of the doors manufactured with security in mind.

Finishes

EDSL can offer a wide range of finishes to our hardwoods and veneers from Stains, Lacquers, Oils, Primed or Painted Topcoats.  In addition, we can offer varying sheen levels from a matt to high gloss.

Hardwoods

EDSL, provide a wide choice of hardwood options, coupled with an attractive range of veneer finishes, which are all suitable for general usage. Select a frame of either softwood or hardwood, which can be factory primed for painting completion on site. Alternatively, you may wish to opt for a factory finished hardwood.

Our Joinery Doorsets can be supplied with solid timber rails and stiles with the architraves and frames supplied in primed softwood or MDF for site painting, or a factory finished hardwood to match the door. 

Our doors are manufactured with a hardwood crown cut veneer, offering a superior finish. All of the crown cut veneers in this range are book-matched to provide an attractive and carefully balanced pattern across the full door.  To achieve this excellent finish, we take successive leaves of veneer and create a mirrored effect by reversing each alternative leaf and aligning corresponding edges.

To complete your door, we fit a fully factory finished matching hardwood over veneered or exposed lipping and a matching glazing bead to suit.

Veneers

EDSL, provide a wide choice of soft and hardwood frame options, coupled with an attractive range of veneer finishes, which are all suitable for general usage. Select a frame of either softwood or hardwood, which can be factory primed for painting completion on site. Alternatively, you may wish to opt for a factory finished hardwood.

Our architraves can be supplied in softwood or MDF, primed for site painting, factory painted or factory finished hardwood to match the frame.  Our doors are manufactured with a hardwood crown cut veneer, offering a superior finish. All of the crown cut veneers in this range are book-matched to provide an attractive and carefully balanced pattern across the full door.  To achieve this excellent finish, we take successive leaves of veneer and create a mirrored effect by reversing each alternative leaf and aligning corresponding edges.

To complete your door, we fit a fully factory finished matching hardwood over veneered or exposed lipping and a matching glazing bead to suit.

Door Handings

To avoid confusion, we recommend that you provide floor plans that clearly identify the door openings together with the direction of the required door swing.

Handling & Storage & Installation

Bespoke joinery products and timber doorsets are delivered to site ready for installation. However, in order for this to be completed satisfactory, it is important that certain handling, storage, finishing and installation requirements are met. For best performance and to ensure that your guarantee is not invalidated, the following guidelines must be fully observed.

Our guidelines outline the procedures that must take place in accordance with guidance offered by BS 8000 Part 5 : 1990.  Covering details on the conditions in which our doors must be stored to reduce the risk of damage; resulting in potentially damaging the aesthetics and the functionality of the door.

A timber door must not be exposed to extreme temperature or humidity prior to unpacking. Packaging and protective wrapping should not be removed until the products need to be installed. Doors must be stored flat in a dry, well ventilated environment. Stack doors on at least three level bearers equally spaced along the length of the door. Under no circumstances should they be stored in damp or freshly plastered rooms.

Installation of doorsets should be in accordance with the guidelines within of BS 8000 Part 5 : 1990.  Ensure the property where the doors are to be hung is completely dry, particularly freshly plastered rooms.  Install fire doors in accordance with the installation instructions attached to the door edge.  Do not cut apertures on site as this will invalidate the fire rating.

Correct installation of the door frame will not only maintain the structural integrity in a fire situation, but will also assist in the prevention of a twist, wane and cupping of the frame due to changes in humidity and natural timber moisture movement. Our guideline contains details and diagrams on how this should take place.

Maintenance of Doorsets

The decorative finish applied to external joinery must be maintained in service and moisture must not be allowed to penetrate into the timber throughout its life. 

Annual inspections should be made and touching up carried out as necessary in areas of wear on external doors.  Regular inspections should be carried out to ensure that doors are operating correctly and not binding on floors or against the lock keep, as this will cause damage to the door.  It is particularly important to check that intumescent / smoke strips are undamaged.

Glossary

APERTURE
An opening in a door where glass would be fitted.
 
ARCHITRAVE
A decorative moulding that surrounds the door and bridges the gap between the edge of the frame and the wall.
 

ASSESSMENT
A technical evaluation of the expected performance of a door assembly in lieu of testing, carried out by a competent authority, with reference to relevant test evidence, for changes to components or arrangements.

BEADING
The mouldings that surround a panel in a solid door, or a pane of glass in a door.
 
BESPOKE
Otherwise known as tailor made. Something which is built to meet individual or specific requirements – a “one-off”

BEVELLED GLASS
Glass that has the edge of one face ground down to create an angled edge along the perimeter. This creates a better fit.
 
BI-FOLD (BIFOLD)
These are doors that fold together (like an accordion) when they open on tracks. They can be top-hung or bottom hung.
 
BIFOLD DOORS – TOP HUNG
The weight of the door is borne by an overhead track and the bottom track is just a guide.
 
BIFOLD DOORS – BOTTOM HUNG
The weight of the door is borne by a floor level track and the top track is just a guide.
 
BIFOLD STACKING
When the doors are totally open and slide to the side where they form a “stack”
 
CASING
This is the framework that surrounds the door.
 
COMPOSITE DOOR
Made from GRP (glass reinforced plastic) wood & insulating polyurethane foam core.
 
CORE CONSTRUCTION
The internal centre section of a door of which the visible parts of the door are built upon.
 
CORNER BLOCKS
A decorative item which can form a junction between the vertical leg section of an architrave and the horizontal head section of architrave at the top.
 
DENSITY
The mass per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed in kilograms per cubic metre.

DOOR ASSEMBLY
The complete assembly as specified and installed, including door frame and one or more leaves, together with door hardware, glazing, seals and other components, supplied from more than one source.  

Note: A door assembly can also include associated over panels and side panels (which can be glazed) as part of a fire door screen.

DOOR CORES
 
Light Duty Core
Low frequency of use by public with high incentive to exercise care.
 
Medium Duty Core
Medium frequency of use by public with some incentive to exercise care.
 
Heavy Duty Core
High frequency of use by public with little incentive to exercise care.
 
Severe Duty Core
Subject to frequent or violent usage.

MDF
Medium Density Fibreboard
 
HDF
High Density Fibreboard
 
LDF
Low Density Fibreboard
 
GDC
Granular Density Core.  Also known as Chipboard Blank.
 
GRP
Glass Reinforced Plastic
 
DOOR LINING
This surrounds a door and often provides a matching finish with a complimentary style.

DOOR SILL
Also known as a threshold, this horizontal beam is used to support a frame by acting as a protective barrier against water or dirt.
 
DOOR THICKNESS
The actual measurement of the physical thickness of your door.
 
DOORSET
Doorsets are doors which come with an assortment of compatible hardware that allow for a quick and easy installation of a full door. External Doorsets in particular, are often supplied with various security hardware on top of the standard fitting accessories such as hinges and frames.
 
DOOR PAIRS
Two symmetrical matching doors installed adjacent to each other and modelled to form a pair of doors, creating double the size of opening of an individual door.
 
END GRAIN
The exposed face of timber produced when it’s cut through a plane that’s perpendicular to the grain.
 
FANLIGHTS
A fanlight is a window with glazing bars that is placed over another window or doorway, that opens like a fan, and is sometimes hinged to a transom.
 
FD30 FIRE DOORS
Doors that have been tested by an accredited test house to ensure that they are able to resist the passage of fire for more than 30 minutes. Likewise, FD60 fire doors will last at least 60 minutes.
 
FINGER JOINTED
Where short pieces of wood are joined to create a longer piece of wood. The joint looks like interlaced fingers.
 
FINISH
Referring to the surface of a door or accessory, the finish is the final coat or layer of the product which provides it protective properties and, in some cases, visual changes. Many doors are available Unfinished, fully finished or primed so be sure to check what finishing touches are needed.
 
FLAT PANEL
This is a panel on a door that is not raised, beveled or profiled.
 
FLUSH DOOR
These doors use two smooth flat panels on a hollow lightweight frame or solid core that provides a minimalistic look that can be used as is or customised for a unique look.

FRAME
Frames are designed to fit into an opening and then support an External Door being fit in such a way that it is well sealed, allowing it to reduce transmission of things such as noise and providing security. It is common for these frames to come as either unfinished or fully finished in a variety of size configurations to allow easy matching to any new or existing frames and doors.
 
FROSTED GLASS
Produced by sandblasting clear glass, this semi-opaque effect scatters light making it difficult to see through but still allowing some light to pass.
 
FULLY FINISHED DOORS
These doors have been finished to a factory standard, ensuring that they are finished professionally before arrival so they can be installed without hassle.
 
GLASS/GLAZING BEAD
The moulding used to fix pieces of glass in position within a door.
 
GLAZING BAR or ASTRAGAL
A solid piece of timber that separates individual panes in a multiple pane door.
 
GLULAM
Glulam or glued laminated timber is one of a range of structural timber composites. Glulam is made by gluing together strength graded laminates to produce large section structural components that can be straight or curved. Beams are manufactured in stock or bespoke sizes.
 
GROOVES
These are lines cut into the face of the door that create a pattern or design.
 
HANDING
This is a term used for pair doors, it describes the door that is opened first and away from you. A right handing would open away from you with it's hinges on the right.
 
HARDWOOD
This is wood formed from strong, broad-leaved trees, which are generally of much higher density and surface hardness than softwood tress, making them more desirable for external applications.
 
HIGH DENSITY CHIPBOARD
A manmade timber product manufactured when wood chips and resin are mixed together and pressed into sheets. Lighter in weight than MDF but is very stable and is ideal for use as a door core or substrate.
 
HINGE STILE
Also known as a Hanging Stile; this is part of the door frame and used for fixing the door hinges to.
 
INLAY
A complimentary decorative piece often in the form of a strip or pattern which is embedded into the door. These are often using alternative colours to the door to create a more unique look compared to similar door styles.
 
INSERT
Similar to an inlay but usually slightly thicker and it may not be flush with the door’s face (front of the door).
 
INTUMESCENT STRIP
Often used for fire sealing purposes, an Intumescent Strip will expand when exposed to heat which allows it to close a gap between the door and its frame to try and seal the room to prevent fire spreading.
 
·      SODIUM SILICATE is a medium pressure seal.  When the temperature reaches around 100 degrees Centigrade it will expand and seal the air gap around the door and help to hold the door in place.
 
·      GRAPHITE is a high pressure intumescent.  Depending on the formulation this can expand at a temperature range of between 170 and 300 degrees Centigrade.  Graphite is flexible so it can be used on shapes. Sodium is only available in rigid form whilst Graphite is multi directional.
 
·      MONO AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE is a low pressure intumescent ideal for ironmongery protection.  Mono Ammonium Phosphate will “go off” very quickly in a fire and is multi directional.

JAMB
A vertical part of the door frame that hinges are mounted onto.
 
KNOT
The remains of a branch in timber. A branch sawn off close to the trunk or shed naturally forms a sound or live knot. A broken branch stub that becomes surrounded by new growth produces a loose or dead knot in the timber.
 
LACQUERED DOOR
A protective sealing layer that also provide visual benefits by reducing any natural decay in the timber. The finished lacquer often produces a hard and durable coating that will help protect against small damages.
 
LAMINATED WOOD
Laminating refers to the method of gluing strips of thin, clear wood to the core in order to act as a sort of protective skin that’s generally thicker than a veneer and more durable as a result.
 
LAMBS TONGUE
is a particular shaped profile that resembles a lambs tongue.
 
LEAF
The most common type of door, a leaf is technically any door featuring a single panel that fills a doorway. Chances are that most of the doors in your home are single leaf.
 
LIGHT
This refers to an individual pane of glass within a door e.g. a ‘2 light’ door has two panes of glass.

LIGHT REFLECTANCE VALUE (LRV)
This is a measure as a percentage of visible and useable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source.  The scale measures from zero (absolute black, absorbing all light & heat) to 100 percent (pure white, reflecting all light).  The 2010 Equality Act requires all new and refurbished public buildings and work places comply with current regulations ensuring safe entry, exit and safe passage throughout the building.  

The LRV should be at least 30 points between door face and the adjacent frame/wall. This standards also requires the door face and its fitted ironmongery to be at least 15 points.

LININGS/CASINGS
Another name for an internal door frame.
 
LINTEL
This is the top section of the doorway and is also otherwise known as the head or the top jamb. Often made of concrete, steel or stone, this structural, horizontal block will be supported by two vertical supports and can be a load-bearing structural component, a decorative element, or both.
 
LIPPING
A layer of timber that can be reduced slightly without affecting the inner core by exposing it. This is often the part of the door that will be used for rebating or resizing a door slightly.
 
LOCK STILE
Part of the door frame, this vertical piece is often used for installing any locking mechanisms.

LOUVRE DOORS
A Louvre Door is a lightweight door with horizontal slats that allow some light and air through but are angled as such to keep direct light and weather out where possible. If a Louvre Door is to be used externally it must be correctly treated first as these are intended for internal use otherwise.

MDF, MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD
This is a manufactured wood product made of wood fibre and resins which is then pressed out into sheets of varying thickness.  MDF is very stable and versatile, ideal for use as a substrate or door core, underneath the timber veneer.
 
MEETING STILES
The edges of two doors where they meet as a pair. May be described as square meeting stiles (SMS) or rebated meeting stiles (RMS)
 
MICROPOROUS
Used to describe a type of finish that allows timber to dry out while protecting it from rainwater.

MITRE
Two pieces forming an angle, or a joint formed between two pieces of wood by cutting bevels of equal angles at the ends of each piece.

MORTISE
A recess or hole, formed in one piece to receive a projection or tenon on the end of another piece.
 
MORTISE & TENON DOOR
These doors are constructed using Mortise & Tenon joints which give it exceptional durability. This is achieved by slotting the parts of the door together in such a way that it would take considerably force, of which is unlikely to occur when fitted, to move them apart at all.
 
MOVEMENT
The swelling and shrinkage of wood as a result of changing moisture content. Movement in length is always negligible. Movement parallel with the growth rings is greater than at right angles to them. The degree of movement varies between species.
 
MUNTIN
A vertical component usually used in a 4 or 6 panel door, to separate 2 individual panels. It is usually positioned in the centre of a door that has an even number of panels.
 
OPENING or APERTURE
A hole in a wall into which a frame is positioned (BRICKWORK OPENING) or the opening within a frame into which the door is positioned (FINISHED OPENING).
 
OVOLO
Is a rounded convex moulding
 
PANES
Usually refers to pieces of glass
 
PAINTED FINISH
The door has been painted to achieve a high-quality finish. This can be a colour or even grained timber effect.
 
PAIR MAKER
A timber moulding that is shaped to fit on a door edge to easily create a door pair.
 
PANEL
Every door will be made up of panels that will either be wood, plastic or glass.
 
PENCIL ROUND
Is a subtle edging profile
 
PRE-FINISHED
A pre-finished door is one that has been painted or varnished by the manufacturer and is ready to install.
 
PREHUNG
A pre-hung door will already be attached as a fully functioning unit, which can be installed into the aperture (door opening) without any further assembly.
 
PRIMED
Doors that have been prepared with an undercoat ready for a topcoat finish.
 
RAILS or STILES
The components forming the horizontal framework of a panelled door, e.g. Top rail, Mid rail, Bottom rail.
 
REBATING
This makes doors into a pair, by machining a groove into the edges of two doors, creating a partial overlap where the doors meet.
 
REVEAL
The vertical side of an opening in a wall.
 
SAFETY GLASS
Glass that is heat treated so that, should it break, it becomes granular and does not create sharp shards. All of JB Kind’s pre-glazed doors comply with building regulations and meet European standards.

SANDED
Smooth surfaced – smoother than a planned surface.
 
SAP
Liquid – mostly water – contained within cells in a tree or timber.

SAPWOOD
The outer area of a tree trunk or log, which in the growing tree contains living cells and reserve materials such as starch. Sapwood is generally lighter in colour than the inner heartwood, although not all species show a clear difference between the two. The sapwood is more vulnerable to attack by biological organisms but is also usually more permeable than the heartwood – this makes it easier to treat with preservatives.
 
SEMI-SOLID CORE
The centre of the door is part solid and part cellular components.
 
SHAKE
Wood that’s split to reveal its natural texture.
 
SHAKER STYLE
This type of door has a simple, flat, recessed centre panel and usually no detailing. Most often the shaker style doors have right angled edges, although occasionally you will find those that have a slight bevelled finish.
 
SHORT GRAIN
When the general direction of wood fibres lies across a narrow section of timber.
 
SIDELIGHT
A panel which is usually fixed at the side of a hinged door. A sidelight is normally a narrow panel of glass set alongside a larger door.
 
SKIRTING
This is a decorative wooden board running along the bottom of an interior wall, to finish the join between the wall and the floor.
 
SLAVE DOOR
The door or doors that follows the lead door (see lead door).
 
SLIDING DOOR
Using a fixed rail, these doors slide back and forth rather than rely on hinges to swing open. This is a common design for doors that transition from an interior to the exterior of a building as they can be built into much bigger and better sealed frames.

SMOKE SEAL
This seal is intended for use with Fire Doors, by closing the gaps between the door frame and the door on all sides it can prevent deadly fumes from passing into other rooms which can provide vital time for escaping the building.
 
SOFTWOOD
This wood is derived from conifer trees such as pine trees and is generally more aesthetically pleasing than hardwood, but less durable. As such, you’ll generally only find softwood door indoors.
 
SOLID TIMBER CORE
A core constructed with solid wood, either one block or several pieces, that is used to act as a base for veneers, panels and mouldings which creates the visual aspects of a door. This is achieved by laminating the timber together for an increase of stability and strength, this core offers a heavier sturdy design that provides sound reduction and better insulation than other cores.
 
STABLE DOOR
A door capable of opening and closing as two halves, this is intended to allow you to open the top half whilst keeping the bottom half closed.
 
STAINED DOOR
Stains allow a door's natural grain to be complimented in a variety of ways whether it be by adding a distinctive colour or affecting the lightness of the wood's shade. These often provide a door with additional protective properties too such as UV protection.
 
STANDARD CORE
Standard core doors have a cellular structure inside the door. This means that the door is lighter in weight than solid or semi-solid core doors and is well suited to domestic use.
 
STOP
Part of a door's frame that prevents it from swinging outwards completely.
 
STILE
This refers to the side of the door. Specific terms are hanging stile (hinge side), leading stile (side that opens into a room) and meeting stile (door pairs).

STUD PARTITION
An interior timber-framed dividing wall.

SUSTAINABLE SOURCES
This refers to products that use materials that are sustainably gathered and replenished so that the resource doesn't run out, for example for every tree cut down another would be placed. Sustainable sources like this are usually in the form of a specialist plantation as to cause the absolute minimum damage possible to the environment. 

THRESHOLD
Also known as a saddle, doorstep or door sill. This refers to the material placed between the door and floor to help reduce drafts.

TIMBER GRAINING
The wood effect seen on cut wood products, this varies between different species of wood and often provides a unique pattern.
 
TONGUE
A reduction of the thickness of the edge of a board. Also see Tongued and grooved.

TONGUE & GROOVED
Boards with one edge that’s grooved and the other that’s flanged with a tongue or extended edge. When assembled side by side the tongue fits into the groove.
 
TOP RAIL
Part of a door's frame, this piece is the uppermost horizontal piece of the frame.
 
TOUGHENED SAFETY GLASS
Reinforced glass that offers stronger bonds meaning in the event of any shattering it will break into small fragments instead of potentially more damaging small shards. 
 
U-VALUE RATING
The thermal resistance performance of a door, if the rating is above 2.0W/m2k then it does not comply with the Part-L standard. Any door with a rating below 2.0W/m2k does meet the standard, the lower the number the better.
 
UNFINISHED DOORS
These doors are untreated, this means they can be customised to your liking by finishing them with your own choice of stain, varnish or paint after applying a protective basecoat.
 
VENEER
A thin slice of decorative timber placed on the visible face of your door that exists primarily for aesthetic reasons but will add a slight amount of extra protection. Generally used on internal doors.
 
VENTS
Added to certain doors to allow for controlled ventilation.
 
V- JOINTED
Usually tongued and grooved wood with a V-shaped channel in the centre of the board.
 
WANEY EDGE
A natural wavy edge on a plank. It might still be covered by tree bark.
 
WARP
To bend or twist as a result of damp or heat.  Caused by exposure to moisture, heat, or excessive weight/force; warps are deviations in the construction which lead to an uneven surface such as a curve.
 
WEATHER BARS
To be used with External Doors; Weather Bars help seal the bottom of the door to prevent the outside elements such as water and rain from getting inside.
 
WEATHERBOARD
A resilient material added in order to seal the door from the elements, protecting from water and air infiltration.

IRONMONGERY

ESSENTIAL IRONMONGERY
A vital part of any fire rated doorset is the essential ironmongery.  Without this hardware the doorset cannot function or operate effectively.
 
The following items are essential to fire doorset performance.
 
·      Hanging devices: Hinges and Pivots.
·      Operating devices: Faced fixed or concealed closers or floor springs.
·      Securing devices: Locks, latches, flush and face fixed bolts, roller catches, cylinders.
·      Furniture: Levers, knobs, pull handles, push plates.
·      Statutory signage: Fire door keep shut, fire door keep locked, automatic fire door keep clear.
 
All essential ironmongery must be tested or assessed for use in the chosen door core and to the desired fire rating.  Ironmongery should be CE marked and comply with relevant test standard and be suitable for the duty of use with regards to durability and cycle testing

BACKSET
This is a measurement of the horizontal distance from the front of the door lock to the centre of the keyhole and is generally measured from the centre of the lock edge for a bevelled front and from the lower section of the lock for a rabbeted front. This will obviously vary greatly depending on the specific design of the door.
 
BUTT HINGES
This type of hinge is to be used to provide an attachment between two abutting surfaces such as the door and the jamb.
 
CYLINDER LOCKS
A mechanism utilising a rotating cylinder that is prevented from moving by 5 or more pins, by using a key to push each pin back a specific distance the cylinder is free to move and can then be operated.
 
CYLINDER PULL
These pulls are intended ot be used to pull a front door closed from the outside when there is no handle to use. These come in a variety of styles but are generally small in size.
 
DEAD LOCKS
These locks utilise a rotating cylinder that can be either controlled from one side only (single cylinder) or from both sides (double cylinder). These can be operated by the use of a key.
 
DEADBOLT
A type of latch that securely closed a door by being placed into a receiver in the door's frame or jamb.
 
DOOR LATCHES
A mechanism that moves between a pre-cut hole in the door frame to hold the door in place until the handle or knob is turned to retract the latch allowing the door to be opened.
 
ESCUTCHEON
A protective plate to be fitted around a keyhole to reduce potential markings on the door when the lock is operated.
 
EURO PROFILE
Designed specifically for use with other Euro Profile accessories, these fittings and locks use different cylindrical locks than standard accessories and require wider keyholes provided by euro locks.
 
FACE-PLATE
A solid or plated trim that allows a latch to pass through the edge of a door.
 
FLUSH-BOLT
These bolts feature flat heads allowing them to be installed in a more subtle fashion, making them less noticeable when not in use.

LATCH PACKS
These packs contain everything you need to fit your door including handles, hinges and a latch mechanism..

LETTER-PLATES
Part of a letterbox, this is typically in the form of a hinged flap that seals the opening when not in use.
 
LOCKSET
This simply refers to the overall locking mechanism, including the handle if it has one.
 
MORTISE LOCK
A lock designed to fit into the edge of the door, utilising between two to seven levers at a time. This lock can be operated from either used of the door using a key and is commonly used alongside other accessories to create a secure door.

MULTIPOINT LOCK
A lock system utilising several locking points for added security and strength, typically these are operated by a single handle.
 
NIGHT LATCHES
Sometimes referred to as a Yale lock, these are operated by a turn and key combination.
 
OPENING
The actual opening of the doorframe where your door will be hung measured from the floor to the head rabbet vertically and between the jambs vertically. The opening size will be slightly larger than the door itself as it will need to also include room for clearance.
 
POCKET DOOR SYSTEM
This is a sliding door system that is built into the wall so that the door disappears on opening completely into the pocket. A popular, contemporary door solution that is ideal for properties with limited space.
 
PULL HANDLE
Larger than most typical handles, these are not designed for controlling a latch and simply are intended to help pull open a swinging door on a hinge. These handles work well with other accessories such as pictograms, finger plates on the alternate side and can also make use of door closers.
 
RIM LOCK
A lock fitted into the inside surface of a door that can only be opened from the exterior, this design is commonly used on less secure doors such as internal doors.
 
SASH LOCK
A lock designed to hold the door shut even when locked, it is designed to be usable with standard handle designs and features a second spring loaded bolt
 
SPYHOLE
a small hole in a door that you can look through to see who or what is on the other side.

STRIKE-PLATE
The plate found on the inside of the doors that protect the jamb from the locking mechanism.
 
THUMB-TURN / SNIB-TURN
Sometimes referred to as a Snib-turn; Thumb-turns are a form of privacy lock with a rather simple design also known as a Turn and Release. The inner side has a turn handle to lock the door whilst the outer side features an unlock system using a coin for emergencies.
 
TRACK
The track will be found in bifold and sliding doors and is often a metal track that the doors themselves slot into. The track is called as such because it resembles a train track.

BRITISH STANDARDS / BODIES / ORGANISATIONS
 
BM TRADA Q-MARK FIRE DOOR MANUFACTURE SCHEME
A fire door manufacture scheme where doorsets are tested and approved by an independent, third-party scheme, assuring you of consistency in performance standards.
 
BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010 APPROVED DOCUMENT PART B.
VOLUME 1: DWELLINGS
Fire rated doors, door assemblies and doorsets installed into building in the UK need to satisfy the requirements of the UK Building Regulations Approved Document Part B.
 
BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010 APPROVED DOCUMENT PART B.
VOLUME 1: BUILDINGS OTHER THAN DWELLINGS
Fire rated doors, door assemblies and doorsets installed into building in the UK need to satisfy the requirements of the UK Building Regulations Approved Document Part B.
 
APPROVED DOCUMENT E
Resistance to Sound (Acoustics).
 
APPROVED DOCUMENT M
Access to and use of buildings (The Equality Act 2010)
 
APPROVED DOCUMENT Q
Security in dwellings.
 
DD171 : 1987
Means for the Mechanical Testing of doorsets.
 
BS 8214 : 2016
Timber based fire door assemblies.  Code of practice.
 
BS 8439 : 2008.   -    Light Reflective Value (LRV)
This requires the Light Reflective Value (LRV) to be at least 30 points when measured between the surface of the door and the adjacent frame/wall.
 
BS 476 : Part 22 : 1987   -    Building Regulations
Resistance to the passage of fire and smoke in a building.
 
BS 83002 : 2018    -   Vision Panels
Relates to vision panels.  The minimum zone of visibility should be between 500mm and 1500mm above floor level, with a maximum interruption of 150mm vertically within the zone. 
 
BS 9999 : 2017
Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.  Code of practice. 
 

TYPES OF TEST EVIDENCE
 
PRIMARY TEST EVIDENCE
This is direct test evidence from fire testing undertaken by a company.  Products must replicate the fire tests carried out.
 

BM TRADA Q-MARK FIRE DOOR MANUFACTURE SCHEME CERTIFIED
Doors that have been tested and approved by an independent, third-party scheme.

BM TRADA Q-MARK FIRE DOOR INSTALLATION SCHEME CERTIFIED
Fire Door Installers are registered with the scheme and their work is continually assessed by the independent body.

CASCADED 3rd PARTY SUPPORTIVE TEST EVIDENCE
Assessments written by a 3rd party such as BM Trada (Global Assessment) or IFC (Field of Application).  These assessments cover a wide range of historic testing and offer a wide scope of application.
 
3rd PARTY CERTIFICATION
This brings together Primary Test Evidence and Cascaded 3rd Party Supportive Evidence to provide a scope of certification.  3rd party schemes also require an annual factory audit and a destructive audit test. 3rd party certification for the manufacture of fire rated doors may become mandatory in the UK.
 
CERTIFIRE
An independent, audited process to ensure that Fire Doors are manufactured to specific standards.
 
DDA – DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT
The act protects people with disabilities including blind, partially blind and those in wheelchairs.
 
FSC®
The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent organisation that promotes the responsible management of forests worldwide. The FSC standard is recognised globally.

IFC (International Fire Consultants)
An independent, audited process to ensure that Fire Doors are manufactured to specific standards.
 
PAS 24   -    Security
Enhanced security performance requirements for doorset.

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