E07. Bradley Grove on Fire-Rated Steel Doors, Testing & What Makes a System Fire-Rated

Bradley Grove, Commercial Manager at Forster Profile Systems UK, joins us for a special episode of The Detail by iSteel for Fire Door Safety Week to explore the engineering, testing and specification behind fire-rated steel doors and glazed screens.

In this episode, Bradley helps demystify fire-rated steel doors, explaining why fire performance is about far more than simply using fire-resistant glass, and how steel profiles, glazing, seals, hardware, fabrication and installation all work together as part of a complete tested system.

In this episode, we discuss:

– What being an approved Forster manufacturer actually means
– What makes a complete fire-rated steel door system
– The difference between fire-rated and non-fire-rated steel doors
– What E30, EI30, E60 and EI60 fire ratings mean
– The engineering behind slim fire-rated steel door systems
– How fire-rated steel doors and glazed screens are tested
– Why tested fire-rated systems have defined limitations
– Why glass, hardware and other components can’t simply be changed
– The importance of correct fabrication and assembly
– What architects, designers and homeowners should look for when specifying fire-rated steel doors.

We also explore some of the common misconceptions surrounding fire-rated glazed doors and why something that appears incredibly slim and simple can be the result of extensive engineering, development and testing.

The Detail is the podcast by iSteel, exploring craftsmanship, architecture, interiors and the people behind beautifully designed spaces.