BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 – Doorsets

Once you’ve booked a test, you can expect to receive a Test Date Booking Form – securing the booking date and agreeing the timeline for delivery and installation.

Closer to the time, we’ll ask you to complete a Customer Test Details Form, to confirm the exact details of the test. At this point we’ll also ask you to submit a full technical specification and CAD drawings in .dwg format.

Delivery of the doorsest will be suitably ahead of the test date. A member of our technical team will comprehensively document the materials and methods of construction of the doorset and its component parts, independently verifying it against the supplied specification.

Our in-house build team will prepare a supporting wall construction within one of our furnace restraint frames, with openings for the doorsets to be installed into.

The doorset can be installed by the test sponsor or by one of our in-house installers. A member of our technical team will document the installation process, recording details and measurements as necessary.

The test takes place within a test construction, mechanically mounted to a restraint frame and hung on the front of a 3m high x 3m wide vertical furnace – representing a compartment wall in practice.

The test is carried out to the Standard temperature-time heating curve ISO 834, also known as the Cellulosic curve and to the pressure conditions as described in BS EN 1363-1:2020.

Common durations for this test methodology are 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes and 240 minutes – each including a nominal overrun period intended to directly extend a products field of application.

The doorset(s) are evaluated by the times in completed minutes for which the test specimen continues to maintain its separating function during the test without:

• Causing ignition of a cotton pad applied.
• Permitting the penetration of a gap gauge.
• Resulting in sustained flaming.

Insulation will be evaluated by the time in completed minutes for which the test specimen continues to maintain its separating function during the test without developing temperatures on its unexposed surface which:

• Increase the average temperature above the initial average temperature by more than 140 K
• OR
• Increase at any location (including the roving thermocouple) above the initial average temperature by more than 180k.

Radiation will be measured and reported against the total number of elapsed minutes and when the measured radiation exceeded the values of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kW/m².

The sample is prepared for testing – measurements are taken, an array of thermocouples affixed, and positions marked for measurements to be taken during the test.

The frame is then mounted on the front of either our 3m high x 3m wide or 2.4m high x 1.35m wide vertical furnace so that one face of the sample is exposed to the fire.

The sample is evaluated for 2 criteria:

• Integrity – the ability to prevent the passage of flames and hot gasses
• Insulation – the ability to restrict temperature rise on the unexposed face

The result for each criteria is expressed as the number of whole elapsed minutes for which the sample maintains that ability.

Integrity is evaluated by:

• Sustained flaming, lasting at least 10 seconds on the unexposed face
• Opening of a gap, hole or crack which allows penetration of a 6mm or 25mm diameter gap gauge into the furnace
• Ignition of a cotton pad when held against the specimen in a wire frame holder for at most 30 seconds

Insulation is evaluated by:

• Average temperature rise: The thermocouples at the geometric centre of the sample and the centre of each quadrant are considered. The average temperature of these 5 thermocouples must not rise more than 140°C above its initial value.
• Maximum temperature rise: Of the array of thermocouples applied, the temperature of any individual thermocouple on the door must not rise more than 180°C above the initial value of the average thermocouples. The temperature of any individual thermocouple on the frame must not rise more than 360°C above the initial value of the average thermocouples.
• A handheld roving thermocouple is also used to evaluate for maximum temperature rise when needed.
• Failure to maintain Integrity constitutes a failure to maintain Insulation.

Radiation and lateral deflection are also measured and reported against the total number of elapsed minutes. Radiation is also specifically stated where it exceeds the levels of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kW/m².

Doorsets can optionally be tested for Integrity only or Integrity and Radiation if there is no intention to demonstrate Insulation ability.

• Same-day confirmation of test results by email and/or phone.
• On request, a link to the video of the test and any required intermediate reporting of test observations and data.
• A comprehensive Test Report. This is a multi-page document detailing the test results, test data and a breakdown of the assembled components including photos and drawings.
• A BS EN 13501-2:2023 Classification Report. This document summarises the results, defines the performance classification, and defines the field of application – the scope of allowable changes to the doorset in practice from that which was tested. By default, this includes the Direct Field of Application (DIAP) rules, most of which are generic to all types of doorsets.
• An Extended Field of Application (EXAP) Report. This document expands upon the scope allowed in the DIAP rules – each EXAP standard contains rules specific to the type of doorset tested. The EXAP Report can be referenced in the Classification Report to provide the complete package.
• Classification and EXAP of doorsets may sometimes be based on multiple test reports, if the aim is to cover a product family or if supplementary evidence is needed to allow a specific rule.
• Price for Classification and EXAP on request, subject to the scope of work and type of doorset.
• There is no “Test Certificate” available, this is a misnomer. Testing and Certification are separate processes.
• The Test Report may be used by a third party for product assessment and certification.

• The construction of the test specimen should represent the element in practice.
• Symmetry, and direction of fire exposure. Is the construction symmetrical through its thickness? If not, it may need to be tested from each direction.
• Choice of wall construction. Classification and EXAP can allow for the doorset to be installed into various wall constructions in practice – the widest field of application is usually achieved by testing in one of the Standard Supporting Constructions defined in the test standard. Testing in other wall constructions (Associated Supporting Constructions) limits the scope to the wall construction you tested in.
• Amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), coming into force in September 2029, will require a system or product to have a performance classification.