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The Golden Thread for Fire Doorsets

The Golden Thread was created to provide an evidence chain of continued compliance through the Lifecyle of a fire doorset. For fire doorsets, the Golden Thread is the original design and test evidence. At each step in the lifecycle, evidence must be in place to validate that the door has been specified, manufactured, installed and maintained in line with the original test evidence.

Ongoing 3rd Party validation of capability is another major benefit of the new legislation. This not only ensures that the original test evidence remains valid, but that capability to specify, manufacture, install and maintain fire doorsets, also is validated. For responsible persons and tenants the Golden Thread does not only provide evidence of compliance, but provides peace of mind.

On this page the requirements to maintain the Golden Thread of evidence through the each stage of a fire doorsets life cycle are explained, with a useful checklist for specifiers available to download.

Design & Test

The original test evidence and scope of accreditation to which a fire door can be surveyed, manufactured, installed and maintained. For fire doorsets this evidence must include testing for the three primary performances of fire, smoke and security. Multiple mirrored test evidence for fire doorsets can be collated into a scope of accreditation. All the test evidence and scope of accreditation must then be approved and verified by a 3rd party government approved body.

Surveying

Surveyors must have knowledge of the original test evidence and the surrounding structure into which the fire doorset will be fitted. They must also be aware of wider fire legislation for the type of building the fire doorset will be installed into and its purpose such as flat entrance doorset or communal entrance door. This is key as the legislative and accreditation requirements for these two types of fire doorset are different.

For further information, please visit our pages on internal and external fire doorsets.

Manufacture

Fabricators of fire doorsets must be 3rd party certified and accredited before they can manufacture solutions. This includes auditing of their manufacturing processes, building and fully testing a doorset to ensure performance is maintained and annual auditing to further prove ongoing compliance and continued capability to manufacture to this standard.

Annual auditing of manufacturers also includes those who produce components used in the design and test evidence.

Installation

Installers must be 3rd party accredited and fully aware of the original test evidence before they can install a fire doorset. This will include training provided by the manufacturer.
This knowledge is critical in ensuring the fire doorset is installed as per the original design and test data.

Evidence of the installation of a fire doorset should also be captured and recorded. This is often uploaded to maintenance software or recorded in to data pins that can be installed into the fire doorset.

Maintain

Once a fire doorset is installed it is critical that it is regularly inspected and if maintenance is required, it is carried out by a 3rd party approved company against the original test evidence to ensure the doorset remains compliant.

Data pins or maintenance software are used to store all data for the doorset including the original test evidence, manufacture, installation and maintenance records. This data is also required by the building regulator and should be provided for all high risk buildings.

Flat entrance doors require annual inspection, with communal or external entrance doors inspected four times a year.

Downloads

Winkhaus Golden Thread Infographic A4

I1.6 MB

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