Traceability
Traceability of fire doors via product marking is a fundamental requirement of third party certification of fire doors.
For products processed under CERTIFIRE certification
Traceability is demonstrated through the application of fire door labels to the head of the fire door leaf.
Prime Door leaves will be supplied with one or two labels affixed to the top of the door, depending on whether they have already been machined with glazed apertures.
The primary label carries the name and contact details of the manufacturer as well as the CF (Certified Fire Door) number relating to that specific fire door specification and certificate. The label also carries a unique serial number.
The secondary label (if applied) confirms that the door has been factory glazed at the prime manufacturer’s facility.
If you are machining a glazed aperture in a flush prime door, you will be required to affix your CAF (Certified Apertures and Frames) glazed aperture certification label.
All of this information facilitates traceability of fire doors through the supply chain and will assist in the inspection and maintenance of fire doors once installed on site, as the original certificate detailing exact scope, can be referenced.
The Licensed Door Processor must keep records of the unique serial numbers to enable traceability of the door once it enters the supply chain and link the door, (via QMS, FPC documentation and record keeping), to the specification and production process.
Fire doors processed from Door Blanks/Cores carry a minimum of two labels, these are positioned side by side on the top edge of the door. The position of the labels must avoid the groove for the intumescent and/or smoke seal.
The first label provides information relating to the door blank/core and will include:
- The specific blank product name that the door has been manufactured from
- The fire door rating
- The name of the fire door blank manufacturer
- The CF certificate number relating to that specific fire door blank.
Note: Fire Door Blanks cannot be supplied with a label attached because blank product is commonly resized and lipped throughout processing. Both labels are attached by the Licensed Door Processor.
The secondary label is that of the Licensed Door Processor and it identifies:
- The CAF certificate number – this is the specific Licensed Door Processor CERTIFIRE certificate confirming scope.
- The contact name and details of the Licensed Door Processor
- The unique door number (enabling full traceability throughout the production chain)
- Whether the door is glazed or Non-glazed.
All doors processed through the third party certification scheme must be machined and fully glazed within the confines of the factory production controls of the Licensed Door Processor.
Fixing the appropriate glazed or Non-glazed door label in this instance is critical to allow a fire door inspector to know if a door has been glazed using the correct glazing system and material and that the work was completed by somebody who was licensed and trained to do so.
There are a number of other labels that can be applied to the door assembly including:
A Certified Fire Door Frame (if you have made a frame for the door)
and
A Certified Fire Door Set (if you have manufactured the complete door assembly, including the frame, and have affixed all the required hardware to the door and affixed the complete door to the frame prior to delivering to site).
NOTE: Labels should never be removed or painted over.
Products processed under other third-party certification schemes
Other schemes will document their traceability requirements during the certification process. An example of this is The BM TRADA Q-Mark plugs, which come in specific colours and indicate how the product has been supplied (e.g. doorset, doorkit etc) and carries a number relating to the BM TRADA Q-Mark manufacturer. For further information about the product or manufacturer, the BM TRADA Q-Mark register of products should be referenced.
Below is an example of the card used to show the various plugs and their meanings:
