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What's the difference between E and EI fire ratings for glazed partitions?
Short answer: E (Integrity) prevents flames and hot gases from passing through. EI (Integrity & Insulation) also restricts radiated and conducted heat transfer, providing thermal protection.
Deeper explanation: Using FD ratings (which apply to timber doors only) for steel-framed glazed systems is technically incorrect and can cause issues with certification, regulatory approval and building control. E and EI classifications are the proper European standards for glazed fire-resistant systems.
What's the maximum height for fire-rated glazed door systems?
Short answer: FirePro fire-rated doors can be specified up to 3000mm as unlatched single and double doorsets, providing cleaner sightlines with overhead closers mounted directly to the door frame. In most instances, this height eliminates the need for an overpanel.
Deeper explanation: These unlatched double-door solutions are fully tested and certified for use across a range of structural applications, offering flexibility without compromising compliance.
Can I integrate different fire ratings in one partition system?
Short answer: Yes. FirePro's robust structure allows the seamless integration of different fire performance products (e.g., EI60 doors into EI120 screens, or EI30 doors into EI60 screens) without requiring separation posts. This is achieved by testing products to the higher rating required within the system.
Deeper explanation: For example, an EI120 sidelight and/or overpanel section would incorporate an EI60-rated door leaf which has been tested to a 120 minute integrity only (E) standard, ensuring the entire assembly maintains the required fire performance characteristics.
Does ironmongery need to be tested with the fire door system?
Short answer: Ironmongery and automation should be tested as part of the specific fire door system they are being used with. Relying on generic fire test data may not be compliant and can leave uncertainty around performance.
For full compatibility, the ironmongery and associated components should be tested alongside the exact fire door system. This provides complete certification for the system as a whole, reduces reliance on third-party data, and gives a clearer understanding of how all elements will perform together.
Deeper explanation: FirePro works with fully tested and certified ironmongery solutions including pull handles, locks, automation, and sensors, ensuring architects, designers and contractors can specify with confidence.
Can I add accessories to a fire rated partition or door?
Short answer: Any accessory on the protected side (the side that is not directly in contact with the fire source) must not burn for more than 10 seconds during testing, according to EN1364 / EN1634. It is worth noting that test data for predominantly steel-faced doors doesn't guarantee performance on steel-framed glazed systems.
Deeper explanation: FirePro E (Integrity) and EI (Integrity & Insulation) systems have been rigorously tested with manifestation films, bonded aesthetic trims, signage, ironmongery, automation units, and safety sensors on the protected side of both screens and doorsets.
Does the supporting construction affect fire performance?
Short answer: Yes. A system tested within rigid, high-density supporting construction cannot automatically be installed into lightweight plasterboard or aerated brick, even if the fixing method looks the same.
Deeper explanation: The supporting construction directly affects fire performance, stability, and certification compliance. Fire-rated products only perform as tested — the surrounding construction matters just as much as the product itself.
Can I have a concealed deflection head in my fire-rated glazed partition?
Short answer: Yes. FirePro offers a concealed deflection head — a feature highly favoured by interior designers when minimising sightlines is crucial.
Deeper explanation: This innovative design ensures a sleek and uninterrupted aesthetic whilst meeting exacting fire safety standards. The concealed deflection head is typically used with framed glass variants of the FirePro system.
How can I achieve minimal butt joints without visible black lines?
Short answer: FirePro screens can feature neat butt joints and mitred corner joints, ensuring a clean and seamless finish with minimal visible sightlines.
Note however that while the appearance of the joint is minimal, there will still be a 4mm wide mastic joint visible which is available in various colours.
Deeper explanation: Butt-jointed glazing can be installed with one-piece deflection heads, providing unique flexibility and performance whilst prioritising both fire safety and structural integrity. Mitred butt-jointed corners are also available, subject to specific configuration requirements.
Can I integrate access control and room booking systems?
Short answer: Yes. FirePro has been developed to allow technology to be integrated within a fully tested tech panel/security post, which is available in a range of widths to accommodate different access control and interface requirements. This makes it possible to position elements such as room booking systems, push-to-exit buttons and access control readers alongside certified doorsets.
Can I integrate concealed access control in fire-rated glazed doors?
Short answer: Yes. FirePro offers a range of electric locking solutions from different suppliers, including access control lever handles and concealed lockcs which can be placed in the head of the door frame. These can be paired with a tech panel/security post that can hold break glass units, 'press to exit', and access control readers.
Deeper explanation: Pre-fabrication in Radii Planet Group's factory ensures seamless operation. FirePro is fully certifiable with test data based on bi-directional fire performance.
What BIM support is available for fire-rated glazed partitions?
Short answer: Radii Planet Group provides project-specific BIM families, tailored design support, and CGI visualisation. This gives project teams the opportunity to assess enclosure lines, frame profiles, door positions, materiality, proportion, light and overall atmosphere in a more immersive and considered way.
Deeper explanation: Project-specific Revit models improve accuracy and can identify clash detection with other trades.
CGI visualisation helps manage client expectations, covering fire-rated doors, screens, and glazed solutions. Our in-house visualisations department is an important part of the pre-contract process, helping architects and designers communicate and refine design intent for fire-rated glazing with greater clarity. Far more than presentation tools, visualisations allow fire-rated concepts to be explored in detail before construction begins, giving project teams the opportunity to assess enclosure lines, frame profiles, door positions, materiality, proportion, light and overall atmosphere in a more immersive and considered way.
They also help bring greater confidence to the specification of fire-rated elements, making it easier to understand how glazed screens, doorsets and associated details will sit within the wider interior scheme. By visualising these features early, project teams can balance compliance, performance and aesthetic intent more effectively, while ensuring that fire-rated requirements are considered as an integral part of the design rather than a late-stage addition.
How do I maintain fire integrity when a fire rated system is to be installed alongside a raised access floor?
Short answer: FirePro’s integrated underfloor support system maintains fire integrity, bridging the certification gap between the floor slab and the top of the raised access floor.
Deeper explanation: FirePro's tested underfloor support is an integral part of the certified system (not an add-on) and is fully tested to EI120. This support runs beneath both doorsets and screens, eliminating the need for concrete upstands, providing complete peace of mind and full fire compliance from one supplier.
This is a key advantage of our fire-rated range. By replacing the raised access floor locally with an underfloor support arrangement, the fire rating is kept specifically within the FirePro system itself. This means the certified performance is delivered as one complete assembly from slab to bulkhead, rather than relying on separate suppliers/installers certification for the system.
