Cherry Tree Academy, Colchester- Fire Safety Improvement Works

Project Overview:

A school in Colchester required the installation of new fire doors to enhance safety and comply with fire regulations. The existing doors in certain parts of the school were outdated and no longer met the necessary fire safety standards. The primary goal was to replace these doors with FD30-rated fire doors, which provide a 30-minute fire resistance rating, ensuring a higher level of protection in case of a fire emergency.

Objectives:

Compliance with Fire Safety Regulations:
- Ensure the school meets current fire safety laws and regulations.
- Replace non-compliant or deteriorated doors with FD30 fire-rated doors.
Minimize Disruption to School Activities:
- Complete the installation during non-peak hours to avoid disruption to school activities.
- Ensure the installation was carried out safely while school operations continued smoothly.
Aesthetic Considerations:
- Ensure that the new doors matched the school’s existing aesthetic, which included a traditional, welcoming atmosphere.
Quality and Durability:
- Select fire doors that are durable and easy to maintain, providing long-term protection and reliability.

Process:

Initial Consultation and Site Assessment:

The first step was a detailed site assessment to understand the school’s requirements. The project team, including fire safety experts and door installation specialists, inspected the existing doors and identified locations where new FD30 fire doors were necessary. During this phase, the team considered factors such as door width, doorframe condition, access routes, and compliance with local fire regulations.

Specification and Material Selection:

The decision was made to install FD30 oak fire doors. Oak was chosen because of its natural aesthetic appeal, which blended well with the existing school design. FD30 fire doors are required to have a core material capable of resisting fire for 30 minutes, and oak doors offered a combination of beauty, durability, and fire resistance. The doors were certified to meet BS 476 Part 22 standards.

Procurement:

After finalizing the specifications, the doors and all necessary hardware (including fire-rated hinges, intumescent seals, and fire-rated door closers) were ordered from a reputable supplier. The procurement process also included ensuring that the doors were pre-treated with a fire-resistant finish to guarantee their longevity and continued fire safety.

Preparation and Installation:

The installation took place over a series of evenings and weekends to minimize disruption to school activities. A skilled team of door fitters and fire safety engineers handled the installation, ensuring that each door was properly fitted into its frame with adequate seals and gaps. The installation process involved:

Removing Old Doors: The old doors were carefully removed, and any necessary adjustments were made to the doorframes to ensure that the new doors would fit securely.
Fitting New FD30 Doors: The new oak fire doors were installed, with careful attention paid to ensuring the door frames were perfectly aligned and the doors were properly sealed.
Installing Fire-Rated Hardware: Fire-rated hinges, locks, and closers were installed, ensuring the doors could perform to their full fire-resistance potential.
Testing: Once the installation was complete, each door was tested for proper operation, ensuring that they closed and sealed correctly.

Final Inspections and Compliance Checks:

After installation, a thorough inspection was conducted to ensure the doors met all relevant fire safety standards. This included verifying the fire rating of the doors, checking the effectiveness of the seals, ensuring that the door closers worked as intended, and confirming that the doors were fully operational.

Handover and Documentation:

Upon completion of the installation, all necessary documentation was provided to the school, including the fire safety certificates for the doors, maintenance instructions, and installation reports. The school was also given guidance on how to maintain the fire doors and conduct regular checks to ensure ongoing compliance with fire safety regulations.

Challenges Encountered:

School Schedule and Minimizing Disruption: Scheduling the work outside of school hours was crucial to minimize disruption to students and staff. This meant coordinating with school administrators to arrange work during weekends and school breaks.
Existing Building Layout: Some parts of the school had unique or irregular doorframe sizes, which required additional customization of the FD30 doors.
Ensuring Aesthetic Consistency: While ensuring fire safety, the doors also needed to maintain the aesthetic integrity of the school, especially considering its traditional design.

Results and Outcomes:

Compliance Achieved: The school’s fire safety was significantly improved, and it is now fully compliant with current fire regulations. The FD30 oak fire doors were installed in key areas, such as classrooms, corridors, and stairwells, to provide essential fire compartmentalization.
Aesthetic Harmony: The oak fire doors seamlessly integrated into the school’s aesthetic, maintaining the warm and welcoming environment while offering enhanced safety features.
Improved Safety and Peace of Mind: The installation of fire doors provided students, teachers, and staff with greater safety in case of a fire. The doors offer peace of mind knowing that the school has taken the necessary steps to safeguard the building and its occupants.
Long-Term Durability: The new fire doors are not only fire-resistant but also built to last, reducing the need for future replacements and repairs.

Conclusion:

The project successfully met the school’s fire safety needs while ensuring minimal disruption to school operations. The careful planning, quality materials, and skilled installation contributed to a safe, compliant, and aesthetically pleasing solution. The new FD30 oak fire doors provide long-term protection against fire hazards, ensuring that the school remains a safe environment for students and staff.