Fire, smoke and acoustic seals perform a vital function in fire-rated doors, providing effective acoustic protection during everyday use while preserving life and containing property damage should the worst happen. Mann McGowan has been at the forefront of intumescent technology for decades, manufacturing a portfolio of products tested to various national and international standards, and available in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the GCC region through Westport Building Materials LLC.
Intumescent material
The key to all fire and smoke seals is the performance of its intumescent material. Remaining inert in normal conditions it expands to many times its dormant size to seal critical gaps on and around a fire door, when exposed to a heat source typically exceeding 100°C to 250°C. Mann McGowan developed a unique formulation of graphite to achieve market-leading performance and is also the licensed converter of Palusol Hydrated Sodium Silicate and Interdens Mono Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) materials.
Fire and cold smoke seals
The Pyrostrip range of fire seals is available in either graphite or Palusol. As well as a fire seal between door leaf and frame, for ‘S’ rated doors (requiring cold smoke protection) Pyrostrip includes a brush or fin detail ensuring a cold smoke seal around the perimeter before the heat activates the intumescent; the Flexifin seal also provides effective acoustic performance.
Ironmongery protection
Hinges, latches, locks, pivots and closers on timber-based fire doors are often forgotten and can seriously undermine the fire integrity of the door set. Pyrohinge, Pyrolock and Pyrocloser kits are manufactured from either graphite or Interdens and insulate the timber, slowing down the charring process and providing fire protection from 30 minutes to over an hour in some tests. These are precision cut on CNC machines and can be produced in volume to fit all makes and sizes of fire-rated ironmongery.
Fire-rated air transfer grilles
Where there is a need for air transfer through a fire door the integrity of the door must be maintained. The Pyrogrille intumescent grille offers the solution, its slim design allows ease of installation and can be supplied with decorative cover grilles of various designs.
Glazing seals
For glazed apertures on fire doors it is vital to use a fully tested system of glass, bead and intumescent seal. Pyroglaze is a range of glazing seals for 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes fire resistance for both timber and steel systems; the self-adhesive semi-rigid PVC encapsulated strips are quick and easy to install between fire-resisting glass and timber glazing beads.
Also available is a range of self-adhesive tapes for shaped apertures in timber or steel doors.
Acoustic seals
Acoustic seals help isolate rooms from airborne noise generated within a building. Mann McGowan’s range of acoustic seals can also be used in conjunction with our intumescent fire seals to provide complete protection.
ACS-1 is a smoke and acoustic perimeter door seal which is surface fixed into the corner of the door frame and doorstop. Three separate air pockets provide a very effective acoustic performance, achieving up to 43dB on Moralt cores and 35db on both Halspan and Strebord cores in testing.
Smoke and acoustic requirements must also be considered for the threshold of a fire-rated doorset. Cool smoke is less buoyant and not protecting the bottom of the door could allow potentially harmful gases to pass under. Mann McGowan’s range of automatic drop-down seals offers the ideal solution; these can be face-fixed or rebated into the bottom of the door and have achieved acoustic sealing properties of up to 50dB.
Please note fire-test evidence must always be referred to when specifying products for fire doors.
For more information, go to www.mannmcgowan.co.uk
