ADSA leads industry-wide initiative to ensure safe automation of fire-rated doors

Automation is increasingly used across healthcare, education, transport and commercial sector buildings to improve accessibility, manage footfall and support safer movement. However, retrofitting automation to manual fire doors isn’t always a simple upgrade. Modifications such as installing operators, routing cables or replacing closing devices can alter the door’s construction and, potentially at least, affect its integrity as a fire-resisting system.

In response, ADSA has brought together a cross-industry Steering Group including representatives from leading manufacturers Record UK, dormakaba and GEZE UK alongside those of the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, the British Woodworking Federation and also a leading fire test house.

Controlled testing will be carried out to replicate common retrofit scenarios, with the initial focus on timber fire doors. The aim is to understand how typical modifications – such as drilling for cabling or changing hardware – influence fire performance and build a robust evidence base for the industry.

Fire performance

Darren Hyde, technical and training manager at ADSA, said: “Many of the questions we receive now relate to automating existing fire doors. When you retrofit automation, you’re potentially changing the construction of the door. What we want to do as an industry is understand exactly how those modifications affect fire performance.”

While new-build projects benefit from tested and fully specified door systems, retrofit environments are far less predictable.

“In new-build scenarios,” continued Hyde, “manufacturers can provide clear test evidence for complete systems. In retrofit situations, that level of certainty doesn’t always exist. We want to close the gap in understanding.”

Expected later on this year, the  findings from the test programme will inform new guidance for engineers, specifiers and building owners. Rather than prescribing a single solution, the guidance will help professionals to assess the impact of common modifications and apply practical measures (such as appropriate cable routing, fire stopping and installation methods) in order to maintain door integrity.

Accessibility and fire safety

The initiative also reinforces the need to consider accessibility and fire safety together. While automation delivers clear benefits, it must be implemented with a full understanding of its impact.

At the same time, ADSA recognises that full door replacement isn’t always necessary. With the right technical approach, many existing fire doors can be adapted safely and responsibly.

By bringing together industry expertise, testing and practical guidance, ADSA and its partners aim to close the knowledge gap around retrofit automation and support safer and more informed decision-making across the built environment.

*Further information is available online at www.adsa.org.uk