Fire will penetrate any gap and it is vital the perimeter of a doorframe is effectively sealed. The newly developed wedge-shaped EcoGuard seal is designed for application between the gaps of a doorframe and the surrounding wall during installation. Its compressible nature ensures a precise and dry fit can be achieved in varying gap widths without the need for messy intumescent mastic.
New product development manager Stephen Hutsby said: “Those installing EcoGuard can rest assured they are using a fully certified product that is guaranteed to meet all relevant fire safety regulations. We have fire tested to BS standards with EcoGuard fitted on either side of the door for 30 minutes and both sides for 60 minutes. EcoGuard also meets BS smoke performance criteria without the application of any additional sealing. It also meets EN standards for acoustics.”
EcoGuard has been tested in accordance with BS 476 part 22 and provides an even coverage around the frame, which simplifies the fire stopping process and eliminates the need to consult the guidelines in tables two and three of BS 8214.
Its verified performance characteristics give architects peace of mind that EcoGuard is a certified product that won’t invalidate a doorset’s fire performance. And because these characteristics are printed on each strip contractors can be reassured it will satisfy building control officers without the need for further investigation – where mastic has been used they have to invasively check it has been applied to the correct depth, causing extra repair work.
EcoGuard is extremely quick and easy to fit taking less than 2 minutes to fit per side of the frame. It also provides a greener solution by reducing the waste and mess associated with mastic. “It takes two to four tubes of mastic to seal around a frame depending on fire rating and gap size, 12 tubes might do three doorsets so if you have 800 to seal, that’s 3,200 tubes, which creates a huge amount of waste that has to be stored and taken to landfill. In contrast EcoGuard is supplied in recyclable boxes carrying 160 strips and there is virtually no waste as the offcut of a strip is used as the start of a seal on the next doorset,” added Stephen Hutsby.
