SBD members information September 2021
Please download the May letter to members.
Please download the August letter to members.
Please contact the team for more information.
We have prepared some answers to some questions:
Q. Is this an add-on to an existing scheme?
A. Yes, this is an optional characteristic added to the Warringtonfire CERTISECURE scheme, available by request.
Q. Will this require me to join a new certification scheme?
A. No, it will need to be requested as an update to your existing scope of certification to include the additional smoke control performance characteristic.
Q. I currently rely on cascaded test evidence and assessments for my existing fire and security certification, what do I need to do?
A. For current certified clients smoke control performance evidence will need to be similarly cascaded. Discuss this with your system supplier/owner of test evidence first, then the scope update can be discussed with your client/scheme manager.
Q. I currently generate my own test evidence, what test evidence will be required by Warringtonfire to certify smoke control performance?
A. Sampled test evidence considered in accordance with BS 476-31 appropriate to the particular doorsets in question.
Q. I currently have test evidence and assessments for my existing smoke control performance declaration, what do I need to do?
A. Submit supporting test evidence to your client/scheme manager for consideration against certified scope (this test evidence will need to have been independently sampled as per the requirements of the certification scheme).
Q. Will you need other test evidence on the smoke seals e.g. within a fire and security test?
A. Yes. Smoke seals will need to have been proven as part of the doorset for all certified performances including fire, security, operational strength, durability etc.
Q. Will my existing evidence be acceptable?
A. Existing test evidence will need to be reviewed for suitability against current scope of certification. Non-sampled test evidence or evidence from a lab without relevant approvals will not be considered.
Q. How often is a smoke audit test needed?
A. If your three year frequency fire audit test sample selected is the dual scope design it will be subject to both a fire and smoke test. Subsequent audit testing for smoke will be in line with the fire test frequency if selected for audit by the Certification Body.
Q. Can I use my existing weather testing to BS 6375 part 1 / EN 1026 air leakage testing report?
A. No. The test pressures in EN1026 are different to those applied in an ambient smoke test.
Q. How will smoke leakage be determined for my doorsets?
A. For national assessment we will communicate the performance in accordance with BS 476 -31 standard, performance will be determined with the threshold un-taped. Test evidence generated to EN1634-3 will be acceptable when considered against the requirements of BS 476-31.
Q. What will it cost me for certification or testing?
A. We will charge based on how many scopes you have plus the cost of any additional testing and sampling to add smoke control to your scope at the prevailing rate. Smoke control audit testing will not be included in the annual fees and will be charged at the prevailing rate when required.
Q. What do I do next?
A. Please follow the steps outlined in the letter.
Q. How do I proceed?
A. Upon formal confirmation that you want to add smoke control relative to your chosen doorsets within your scope of certification you will need to agree to the scope change quotation supplied by your client manager.
Q. I currently self-declare my smoke control performance, do I have to include smoke performance in my certification?
A. To continue to meet the certification requirements of Secured by Design smoke control performance will need to be included in your dual certification scopes.
Q. Will I need an audit before complying?
A. New applications and new scopes will require an audit to take place. Existing scopes can be updated without an additional audit, but this is subject to review for each specific scope of certification.
Q. Will there be a new label/mark for smoke?
A. Yes, smoke performance will need to be indicated on the doorset
Q. Do the smoke seals have to be third party certified?
A. No the smoke seals do not have to be certified separately in their own right.
Q. What are the timescales?
A. Smoke control performance will need to be added to your scope of certification before 1 June 2022 to continue to meet the requirements of Secured by Design. The actual timescale of the process to include smoke control performance will depend on the suitability of the existing test data, if any additional testing is required and the extent of the product scope requiring fire, security and smoke performance.
Q. What are the frequency of audit visits?
A. Audit visit frequencies will remain the same, no additional audit visits will be required to add smoke performance to your scope of certification.
Please contact the team for more information.