Dorgard Fire Door Retainers – Supply and Installation
Safely Hold Fire Doors Open Without Using Door Wedges
Kings Fire supplies and professionally installs Dorgard wireless fire door retainers for commercial and public premises across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and the surrounding Home Counties.
Dorgard provides a practical solution for premises where fire doors are regularly wedged or propped open. It allows a fire door to remain open during normal use but automatically releases the door when the fire alarm sounds, allowing the door closer to shut the fire door.
This can improve accessibility, ventilation and movement throughout a building without compromising the essential purpose of the fire door.
What Is a Dorgard Fire Door Retainer?
Dorgard is a wireless, sound-activated fire door hold-open device.
The unit is fitted near the bottom of the fire door and listens for the continuous sound of the building's fire alarm. When the fire alarm operates, the retaining mechanism releases and allows the fire door to close under the action of its existing door closer.
Because Dorgard is wire-free, it does not normally require connection to the fire alarm panel or alterations to the building's electrical wiring.
Why Fire Doors Must Not Be Wedged Open
Fire doors are designed to restrict the spread of fire and smoke through a building. For a fire door to perform correctly, it must be able to close fully into its frame.
Wedging or propping open a fire door can prevent it from closing during a fire. This could allow fire and smoke to spread more quickly, placing building occupants at greater risk and compromising protected escape routes.
Where there is an operational need to hold a suitable fire door open, an appropriate automatic fire door retainer may provide a safer solution.
Benefits of Dorgard Fire Door Retainers
Dorgard can provide a range of practical benefits:
- Holds suitable fire doors open during normal use
- Releases automatically when the fire alarm sounds
- Reduces the temptation to use unsafe door wedges
- Improves access through frequently used doorways
- Assists wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility
- Improves ventilation and airflow within the building
- Uses wire-free technology
- Avoids the need for connection to the fire alarm panel
- Can be installed with minimal disruption
- Allows the fire door to close when required
Where Can Dorgard Be Used?
Subject to a suitable assessment, Dorgard fire door retainers may be appropriate for a wide range of premises, including:
- Schools, colleges and educational buildings
- Offices and commercial premises
- Care environments
- Healthcare premises
- Community centres and village halls
- Hotels and hospitality premises
- Factories and warehouses
- Public buildings
- Apartment communal areas
- Retail premises
The suitability of a sound-activated fire door retainer depends on the building, the fire risk assessment, the fire strategy, the fire alarm system and the position and purpose of the fire door.
Dorgard should not simply be installed on every fire door without considering these factors.
Professional Dorgard Supply and Installation
Kings Fire provides a complete Dorgard supply and installation service.
Before recommending installation, we will consider the proposed location and whether the product is appropriate for the fire door and premises.
Our assessment may include:
- The condition and operation of the fire door
- The suitability of the existing door closer
- The door's ability to close fully into its frame
- The fire alarm sound level at the proposed position
- The floor surface and installation location
- The use of the doorway
- The building's fire safety arrangements
- Any information contained within the fire risk assessment
Following installation, the Dorgard unit will be function-tested to confirm that it releases and allows the fire door to close when the fire alarm operates.
Dorgard Compliance
Dorgard is UKCA and CE marked and tested to applicable standards, including EN 1155.
The standard Dorgard is classified for Normal, Category B installations under BS 7273-4:2015+A1:2021.
Product compliance does not automatically mean that Dorgard is suitable for every fire door or every type of building. The proposed installation must still be assessed in relation to the premises, its fire strategy and the required level of protection.
Where a higher level of system integrity or a directly interfaced solution is required, an alternative fire door retaining system may be more appropriate.
Dorgard Testing and Maintenance
Dorgard units should be inspected and tested routinely in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Checks should confirm that:
- The unit holds the door correctly
- The release mechanism operates
- The fire door closes fully when released
- The door closer is functioning correctly
- The unit has not been damaged or obstructed
- The batteries are in satisfactory condition
- The fire alarm remains sufficiently audible at the device
- The floor plate and contact point remain secure
Building users should also be instructed not to obstruct the fire door or prevent it from closing.
FAQ
Can Fire Doors Be Legally Held Open?
Fire doors should not be held open using wedges, hooks or other improvised objects.
A suitable automatic fire door retaining device may be used where it releases the fire door when the fire alarm operates and where the installation is appropriate for the building's fire safety arrangements
Does Dorgard Connect to the Fire Alarm System?
The standard Dorgard is a wire-free, acoustic device. It listens for the sound of the existing fire alarm and does not normally require a physical connection to the fire alarm control panel.
How Does Dorgard Detect the Fire Alarm?
Dorgard listens for the continuous sound of the fire alarm. When the required alarm signal is detected, the unit releases the door, allowing the existing door closer to shut it.
Will Background Noise Release the Door?
Dorgard is designed to recognise a continuous fire alarm signal rather than ordinary short-duration sounds. However, the environment and expected background noise should be considered when assessing the proposed installation.
Can Dorgard Be Installed on Any Fire Door?
No. The fire door, door closer, fire alarm sound level, premises and fire safety strategy must all be considered.
Some buildings, locations and higher-risk situations may require a different type of fire door retaining system.
Can Dorgard Be Installed in Schools?
Dorgard may be suitable for schools and educational premises where fire doors need to remain open for accessibility, supervision, ventilation or regular movement between rooms.
Each proposed location should be assessed before installation.
Can Dorgard Be Installed in Care Homes?
The suitability of an acoustic fire door retainer in a care home or other sleeping-risk premises requires careful consideration.
The building's fire risk assessment, evacuation strategy, fire alarm system and required category of door-release system should be reviewed before installation.
Does Dorgard Need to Be Serviced?
Dorgard units require routine inspection, functional testing and battery replacement in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
The fire door and its door closer must also continue to operate correctly.
What Happens When the Fire Alarm Sounds?
When Dorgard detects the fire alarm, it releases its hold-open mechanism. The fire door's existing closer should then close the door fully into its frame.
What Happens at Night?
Dorgard includes a night-time release function designed to help prevent fire doors being left open indefinitely when a building is less likely to be occupied.
The operating settings should be configured in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the requirements of the premises.
Dorgard Installation Across the Home Counties
Kings Fire supplies and installs Dorgard fire door retainers throughout:
- Bedfordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Northamptonshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Oxfordshire
- London
- The surrounding Home Counties
We support schools, businesses, managing agents, care providers, landlords and other responsible persons with practical fire door safety solutions.
Request a Dorgard Supply and Installation Quote
Are fire doors within your premises regularly being wedged or propped open?
Kings Fire can assess your requirements and provide a quotation for the supply and professional installation of Dorgard wireless fire door retainers.
Our experienced fire safety team can also assist with fire door inspections, fire risk assessments, fire alarm servicing and other fire safety requirements.
Call Kings Fire on 01462 337037 or complete our online enquiry form to request a quotation.