Industrial Fire Shutters

Fire Rated Shutters are a increasingly popular option and offer fire protection at up to four hours greater than would be the case for a standard non fire rated door or shutter. They can be used to section off and protect a particular part of a building, the whole building, or even provide protection between floors (horizontal fire shutters).

Fire Shutters help many businesses to ensure that they protect their goods, buildings and employees from the threat of fire by offering potentially significant delays to the spread of fire. If you are a business owner and take the security and safety of your business, premises and staff seriously, you may be surprised to know that every year many businesses are forced to close as insurance companies often refuse to meet claims because building regulations and Loss Prevention Council requirements have not been met in relation to fire spread. Fire Shutters from A&A are the perfect way to ensure compliance.

Technical details

There are three main methods of automatic operation. Firstly a fusible link involves the use of solder as connection in the circuit: heat radiated from a nearby fire causes the solder to melt and this activates the door.

Secondly a fire relay means that the fire shutter or fire door is connected to the fire alarm system. When the alarm is sounded, the fire shutter activates. Finally, a delayed audio/visual warning used in connection with the fire shutter is connected to the alarm system, and operates usually with a time delay very similarly to a fire relay. During this delay an additional alarm is sounded, warning those in close proximity to the door that is about to close, thus allowing them to exit the affected area.

Building regulations require that openings in fire resisting walls or partitions must have a door with an equivalent fire rating to that of the wall or partition.

OPERATION: This shutter has a soldered fusible link designed to melt at 68 degrees centre grade in a fire condition separating and releasing the shutter curtain allowing the shutter to close in a controlled manner. Testing of the door is done manually as is opening and closing the door, using a 418-volt 3- phase 50Hz motor drive. Emergency operation is via a manual hand chain.

CURTAIN: Constructed from solid 75mm curved galvanized steel interlocking lath sections manufactured to BS EN 10142 and BS EN 10143 with a zinc coating of 275g/m2 complete with zinc-plated mild steel end locks Curtain is available in 20swg (0.91mm) or 18swg (1.22mm) finished at the bottom with a galvanised steel ‘T’ shaped bottom rail.

GUIDES: Constructed from 65mm or 102mm x 32mm x 3mm thick galvanised steel channel manufactured to BS EN 10142 and BS EN 10143 with a zinc coating of 275g/m2, complete with splayed tops, bolted to 75mm x 50mm x 6mm thick continuous mild steel angle sections manufactured to BS4848 part 4, complete with 12mm x 50mm slotted fixing holes positioned at 550mm maximum centres.

HOODS: Constructed from 20swg (0.91mm thick) galvanised steel sheet manufactured to BS EN 10142 and BS EN 10143 with a zinc coating of 275g/m2, and fitted with hood support brackets constructed from mild steel angle sections manufactured to BS 4848 part 4 and finished with a zinc-rich primer paint as standard. The hood brackets support the hood and help to provide a fire seal at the head in the event of a fire. The number of support brackets used is determined by the width and fire resistance of the shutter.

BARREL: Constructed from high quality mild steel tube manufactured to BS EN 10219. Overall size of the tube varies to suit the width of the opening and weight of the shutter curtain. Tube wall thickness varies depending on the size of the shutter from 3.2mm to 19mm to achieve minimum deflection and a safety factor of 2. Barrels come complete with tempered steel helical torsion springs manufactured using hard drawn wire to BS 5216mounted on bright steel shafts of various diameters from25mm to 50mm

SHAFT: Shafts are held in place using mild steel bearing blocks incorporating high-speed bearings to ensure concentric rotation.