What is Certifire? A Complete Guide to Fire Door Certification

Fire doors are installed around communal buildings to maximise safety for people in the event of a fire breakout. Having fire doors that are tested and certified to the highest standard is a must-have, and Certifire ensures this. Our experts at G Johns & Sons provide a comprehensive guide to fire door certification, highlighting the importance and benefits of Certifire-approved passive fire products.

Certifire Definition and Why is it Important? 

Certifire is an independently run third-party certification scheme run by Warringtonfire Certification. The scheme’s focus is on covering passive fire protection products and systems (such as fire doors, closers, door locks, hinges, insulation, etc.) rather than active suppression systems.

Certifire-approved ensures that fire products and systems are of high performance, quality, reliability, and traceability.

The scheme is recognised globally by regulatory authorities, so having the Certifire stamp of approval increases confidence that the product is fire-safe and meets expectations, boosting its popularity.

Advantages of Certifire Approved Ironmongery

There are many advantages of Certifire certification, especially for manufacturers, specifiers, and building owners in the UK, for passive fire safety products:

• Independent Third-Party Validation: The products are approved by Warringtonfire (a third-party body), meaning the quality of the product isn’t self-declared by the manufacturer.
• Traceability & Consistent Manufacturing: Certifire products have a register, meaning it’s easy for specifiers to check details and conduct audits and post-installation checks.
• Reduction of Risk: Using Certifire products helps building designers and contractors demonstrate that they have met regulatory requirements, which is crucial for any fire-safety related matter.
• Financial Benefits: As Certifire is well-recognised, certified products may have easier acceptance for high-assurance projects, as they can prove third-party testing. Therefore, making Certifire-approved products more popular in the ironmongery industry.

How Passive Fire Products Become Certifire Approved 

To achieve Certifire certification, products must meet a range of requirements before being approved. The stages include:

1. Evaluating: Experts will provide a relevant test to establish a clear scope for certifying the product.
2. FPC Audits (Factory Production Control): Manufacturing sites are audited (also aligned with ISO 9001) to ensure ongoing quality of production.
3. Sampling/Testing: Products will be regularly sampled and tested to ensure they continue to meet the required performance standards. 
4. Certificate Issuance and Regulation: Once the product passes all requirements, a certificate is issued, and the product is added to the register.
5. Surveillance Audits: Annual checks to ensure the product is still compliant with regulations.
6. Renewal: The certification typically expires every five years and must be renewed or reviewed. 

Discover Certifire Approved Ironmongery at G Johns & Sons

G Johns & Sons are architectural ironmongery specialists, specialising in the supply of door and window ironmongery. We offer a range of Certifire-approved products, including mortice latches and sash locks, as well as fire-rated hinges and door closers, ensuring that buildings have access to the best fire-protection products available.