BWF members such as yourselves frequently use our Member and Technical Helplines for assistance on a wide range of Employment, Health and Safety, Contractual and Technical issues. We’re putting up a frequently asked question every Tuesday in order to help members and illustrate the type of advice we are able to provide. If you have any questions that you would like to see featured, we would be happy to assist. This question and many others like it can be found in our Question Centre. If you want further advice on any of the issues, don’t hesitate to ring the helpline or browse our extensive publications library, which includes our Fire Doors Fact Cards of everything from Installation, to Building Regulations and Maintenance. You can also visit the Firedoors section of the site. This week: Can You Explain Certification of Fire Door Frames? Fire doors continue to be the most common topic raised recently on the technical helpline, with certification of frames one of the most popular topics. One aspect that does need clarifying is the difference between a fire door frame labelled with a CAF certificate number and sequential number and a BWF standard fire door frame. The CAF certificate numbers are given to companies which are certificated as licensed convertors. They use the green-tipped label, which shows the CAF certificate number and a unique item serial number, on the frames they make which are compatible with the doors of their linked manufacturer of fire doors. The fire doors themselves have their own specific CF series numbered certificate and labels. The BWF standard fire door frame, however, is manufactured to a minimum size and specification, for use with any FD30 door certificated under the Scheme. Companies making the standard frame are still certificated as licensed convertors, and the frames labelled, but the labels do not include the certificate number or serial number. There is also a BWF standard MDF fire door frame, although this can only be used with FD30 doors which have specific test evidence to prove that an MDF frame is compatible. The optimum solution is to purchase a doorset, thus ensuring that the fire door and frame are compatible and the certification is complete. The Scheme recently introduced specific labels for doorsets and door kits. There is no standard FD60 frame, as the variation in specification is so wide it is difficult to establish a lowest common denominator. So a bespoke frame is required for this fire door rating to the specification laid out in the FD60 fire door certificate and data sheet. Occasionally, the BWF receives enquiries concerning existing fire doors which an owner would like to upgrade or fit extra hardware. As the door is generally very old, and certification cannot necessarily be proven, it is usually recommend that a new fire door should be installed with up to date hardware and certification intact. The final scenario is the use of existing frames and a new fire door. This can pose several contradictions. Clients and customers often make the point that the decorative order needs to be maintained and just renewing the door is the easy option; or so they think. But to be sure the frame is compatible, its dimensions and density need to be determined, and the gap between the frame and the wall checked and filled. This means the architrave will have to be removed and so some decoration is inevitable. Again, the BWF usually recommends fitting a doorset instead to achieve proper fire protection. BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme