NZ vs European Fire Resistance Standards for Fire Doors.

NZ vs European Fire Resistance Standards:

Fire resistance is a critical aspect of building construction, essential for ensuring the

safety and integrity of structures in the event of a fire. It measures a material's ability to

withstand the effects of fire and to prevent or slow down the passage of flames, smoke,

and excessive heat. This property is evaluated through rigorous testing of various

building components such as roofs, walls, columns, ceilings, floors, and doors.

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European Standards:

In Europe, fire resistance standards are defined under EN 13501, which categorizes

building structures based on their ability to withstand fire using methods like (R)EI.

These methods assess both load-bearing (R) and non-load-bearing (EI) systems. Here’s

what each component of the classification means:

-R (Resistance to collapse): This indicates the load-bearing capacity of the

element and its ability to maintain structural stability during a fire.

- E (Resistance to fire penetration): This refers to the integrity of the element,

measuring its ability to contain flames and prevent the passage of fire to other

areas.

- I (Resistance to heat transfer): This measures the insulation ability of the

element, determining how well it can limit the transfer of excessive heat during a

fire.

For example, an element that meets all these criteria for 30 minutes would be classified

as "REI 30". Apart from these, European standards also include categories like Radiation

Control (W), Mechanical Resistance (M), Self-Closure (C), Smoke Leakage (S), and Fire

Protection (K), ensuring comprehensive evaluation of fire safety features in buildings.

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New Zealand Standards:

In New Zealand, fire resistance is regulated by the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC),

which outlines specific requirements for passive fire protection systems. The fire

resistance of building elements is determined through testing according to standards

like NZS/BS 476.20:1987.

The fire resistance rating (FRR) in New Zealand is expressed as a series of numbers (e.g.,

60/60/60), each indicating the number of minutes the element can withstand fire under

specific conditions:

- Structural adequacy/stability: This refers to the ability of load-bearing

elements like walls and floors to support a load during a fire. For example, a

rating of 60 means the element can maintain structural stability for 60 minutes.

- Integrity: This measures the ability of an element to prevent the passage of

flames and hot gases to the non-fire side or other parts of the building during a

fire.

- Insulation: This assesses how well the element can limit the temperature rise on

the non-fire side during a fire.

For instance, a wall with an FRR of 60/60/60 can withstand fire for 60 minutes in terms

of structural stability, integrity, and insulation. For non-load-bearing elements like

doors, the focus is on integrity (E) and insulation (I).

An example rating for a fire door

might be "-/120/30", indicating it can maintain integrity for 120 minutes and restrict temperature rise for 30 minutes.

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In addition to these core criteria, New Zealand standards also address specific

requirements for smoke control doors, denoted by adding "SM" to the FRR (e.g., "-

/60/30 SM"), necessitating features like smoke seals to comply with smoke control

regulations.

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Both European and New Zealand standards aim to ensure that buildings are equipped

to resist fire effectively, providing occupants with crucial time for evacuation and

minimizing damage to property. These standards undergo continuous refinement and

updating to incorporate advancements in fire safety technology and understanding.

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To find out more or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Glideaway.

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