China’s 2024 Fire Door Product Acceptance and 3C Certification Requirements
In 2024, China’s fire door products must adhere to the 3C compulsory certification system. Fire door products, including those from any fire door manufacturer in China, must obtain certification and pass a comprehensive product inspection before production and sale. Without a certification or if the product exceeds the certification scope, fire door production and sales are prohibited. However, some companies continue to produce or sell fire doors without certification or beyond the scope of their certification, which significantly compromises product quality.
Several fire doors in the market lack proper factory certification, product labels, or have incomplete or inaccurate information on the labels, violating national fire door standards. Additionally, some unscrupulous sellers contract uncertified manufacturers to produce fire doors, using counterfeit labels to sell substandard fire doors at lower prices. These products not only violate China’s laws but also fail to meet the safety standards required for certified fire doors.
1.2 Structural Design Issues in Fire Doors
The structural design of fire doors directly affects their fire resistance and insulation performance. During the certification process, some manufacturers reduce the number and size of openings in the door panels, increase door thickness, and minimize the size of the fire-resistant glass used. However, once these doors reach construction sites, modifications often occur to meet customer preferences. Changes like adding peepholes, altering fire lock models, or using different types of fire-resistant glass can significantly decrease the fire protection performance of the doors. This inconsistency between certified designs and installed products leads to non-compliance with fire door safety standards.
1.3 Material Reduction Issues in Fire Door Manufacturing
During certification testing, the materials used in fire doors typically meet or exceed national standards. However, to reduce costs, some manufacturers use lower-grade materials in the actual products. For example, the minimum standard for steel fire doors requires steel plates with a thickness of 0.8mm, yet some companies opt for thinner steel plates (e.g., 0.75mm or less). Similarly, the density of fire door cores should be at least 360 kg/m³, but some fire doors use cores with only two-thirds of the required density. For wooden fire doors, untreated or insufficiently treated wood is used, which severely limits the fire-resistant performance of the doors.
1.4 Product Models and Specifications Do Not Match Building Requirements
During building design, the evacuation width and opening direction of fire doors are carefully specified. However, in practice, discrepancies in fire door product models and installation methods often occur. These mismatches can result in fire exit doors with openings that don’t meet design specifications, limiting the evacuation capacity of escape routes and creating fire hazards. Additionally, some buildings improperly install normally open fire doors in areas where they shouldn’t be used, or they fail to install fire doors according to proper fire safety standards, increasing the risk of fire separation failure.
2. Key Aspects for Fire Door Inspection
To ensure compliance and safety, several key aspects must be meticulously checked during fire door inspections:
2.1 Market Access Documentation and Product Source
Inspect whether the fire door products come with valid certification documents and inspection reports. The fire door model should match the certified product, and supporting documents such as purchase agreements and supply records should be available, ensuring that the product follows the certification system and originates from a legitimate fire door factory.
2.2 Labels and Identification
Every certified fire door must feature clear product labels, quality inspection marks, and certification marks. Permanent nameplates made of aluminum or stainless steel should be attached in visible areas, providing full details including manufacturer name, address, trademark, product model, fire resistance rating, and production date.
2.3 Overall Structural Design
Carefully compare the fire door’s overall dimensions with the certified specifications. For double doors, ensure the larger door panel meets the required size. Discrepancies in dimensions can disqualify the product.
2.4 Door Leaf Thickness
Measure the fire door leaf thickness to ensure it aligns with the inspection report’s specifications. If the door features embossed structures, the depth should also match the certified design.
2.5 Door Frame Sidewall Width
The door frame’s sidewall should be measured for adequate width. A fire door frame with insufficient sidewall thickness compromises the door’s fire resistance.
2.6 Connection Between Door Leaves
For double fire doors, check the connection between the door leaves. Whether it’s a rabbeted or butt-joint style, the fit should be tight, with no gaps that could compromise the fire door’s sealing performance.
2.7 Door Leaf and Door Frame Overlap
Inspect the overlap between the door leaf and door frame, ensuring it meets design standards and includes sealing components for effective fire prevention.
2.8 Quantity of Fire Door Hinges
Ensure that each fire door leaf is equipped with the proper number of fire-resistant hinges, generally three per door for standard fire doors, to maintain structural integrity and prevent deformation.
2.9 Internal Structure of the Door Leaf
For fire door quality assurance, cutting a section of the door leaf may be necessary to verify its internal structure. The typical internal composition for steel fire doors includes cold-rolled steel sheets and fire-resistant core materials, while wooden fire doors feature fire-resistant boards and treated wood.
2.10 Fire-Resistant Glass and Dimensions
Ensure that the fire-resistant glass used in the fire doors meets the certified specifications. Any deviation from the approved glass dimensions can negatively impact the door’s overall fire rating.
2.11 Fire Sealing Strips
Check the fire sealing strips between the door frame and door leaf. These strips should have the proper certification and must expand rapidly in the event of a fire to block the spread of flames.
2.12 Type and Performance of Fire Door Core Materials
Inspect the materials used to fill the fire door core, ensuring they meet the certification standards. Common materials include expandable perlite or vermiculite, and these should be tightly packed with no visible damage.
2.13 Fire Door Hardware
The fire door hardware, such as fire locks, door closers, and sequencers, must also meet national fire safety regulations and be properly installed according to the certified design.
2.14 Door Opening Dimensions
Compare the actual door opening width with the building’s fire safety design plans. The installed fire door must meet the width specifications for safe evacuation.
2.15 Weight of Fire Door Leaf
Lastly, check the weight of the fire door leaf against the certified product’s weight. Significant differences in weight could indicate the use of substandard materials.
By focusing on compliance with national standards and ensuring the use of certified materials, fire door manufacturers can avoid common issues in production and installation. This detailed inspection checklist is crucial to maintaining the quality and safety of fire-rated doors in any building project.
