Shared spaces lie at the heart of every community, fostering interactions, and creating a sense of belonging.  However, ensuring the safety of these spaces is paramount to maintaining a harmonious environment.  Gerda communal area doors provide the perfect solution to this challenge, offering robust design for longevity with innovative elements to assist users.  In this guide, we delve into the world of Gerda communal area doors, and shed light on their features, benefits, installation and maintenance procedures.

Before we get started however, it’s important to note that Gerda communal area doors can only be bought as part of a ‘doorset’ consisting of the door itself, and the specific doorframe with which it is intended to work. Gerda do not sell communal area doors as stand-alone items.

Introduction to Gerda Communal Area Doors

Gerda, the leading specialist manufacturer of high specification, multi-performance fire doorsets and emergency access systems for the built environment has pioneered a range of communal area doors that blend fire safety performance, durability, acoustics and design seamlessly.  These doors are meticulously crafted to protect shared spaces while also enhancing the overall visual appeal of the environment.

Key Features and Benefits

Gerda communal area doors boast an array of features that set them apart:

1. Fire safety: The core purpose of Gerda doors is to provide an unparalleled level of fire safety performance.  Crafted through innovative design and robustly tested in extensive primary fire tests, these doors consistently perform – preventing fire smoke and heat penetration, and helping to keep people safe.
2. Durability: With a focus on longevity, Gerda doors are engineered to withstand the test of time.  The design of the doorset is crucial to its longevity. Crafted from high-grade materials, these doors are designed to protect residents from fire, smoke leakage and heat through maintaining compartmentalisation, and ensuring a safe means of escape as necessary.
3. Aesthetics: Gerda understands that aesthetics play a pivotal role in communal spaces, so our communal area doors harmoniously combine security with visually appealing designs, offering a wide range of styles, colours, and finishes to choose from.
4. Sound Insulation: Noise pollution can disrupt the tranquillity of shared spaces. Gerda doors incorporate sound-insulating properties, stopping the transfer of noise between areas, and fostering a peaceful atmosphere – as proven by results achieved in testing against BS EN ISO 10140-2.

Installation and Maintenance

Installation Process

Installing Gerda communal area doors properly is a multi-step process that requires expertise and precision. Our installation services are delivered by qualified professionals, and the process involves the following steps:

1. Site survey: A thorough survey of the communal area, including any existing doorset and frame configuration is conducted, including the fire resistance required.

2. Customisation:  Gerda offers a variety of door designs and finishes, taking into account inclusive mobility guidelines, for example a colour differentiation in frame and door leaf colour to assist with visual impairment.

3. Professional Installation: Our third-party certified installers then take charge of the installation process, ensuring that the door fits seamlessly and functions as it should.

Maintenance Guidelines

Whilst Gerda’s communal area doorsets are known to have performed well for ten years plus, proper maintenance further enhances their longevity and performance.  The recent Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 call for routine checks on fire doors.

A planned maintenance regime means that the Responsible Person or Principal Accountable Person is able to ensure their fire doors remain in good condition.  Gerda offer a maintenance scheme to assist with this.  Each Gerda communal area door contains a unique doorset code, which when scanned through the G-Smart App, can record the planned maintenance or if a repair is needed.

Gerda Communal Area Doors in Different Sectors

Gerda doors find applications in various sectors, safeguarding shared spaces in unique and demanding environments.

Social Housing

In social housing buildings, Gerda doors offer residents a secure communal space. These doors offer residents peace of mind and enhance the safety of the buildings in which they are used.

Education

Educational institutions use Gerda doors to regulate movement within the premises and protect students and staff from security threats. The doors’ design options allow them to seamlessly blend with the aesthetics of schools and universities.

Student Accommodation

Gerda doors provide student accommodations with an added layer of security. Their sound insulation properties contribute to a conducive study and living environment.

Commercial

In commercial spaces, Gerda doors serve as a deterrent against break-ins and other criminal behaviour. Their sleek designs complement the professional ambiance of offices and commercial buildings.

How Gerda Communal Area Doors Are Tested

The fundamental design and construction of these doorsets is consistently tested in full-scale primary fire tests and smoke tests at independent UKAS test houses, and so they have an extensive library of test data backing their performance. We also test every combination of door and frame as a combined unit, so no matter what combination you choose for your building, you get the peace of mind of knowing that its performance has been tested, and that it passed those tests.

It’s also worth mentioning that Gerda own all of our primary testing data, which means we have a quicker response time and controlled solutions for housing stock when conducting a doorset replacement programme, whilst also giving clients extra confidence and proof that we have tried and tested any given solution. This is important because door entranceways and factors like building age, floor levels and resident requirements can all vary and bring their own challenges – challenges that our doorsets need to (and do) take into account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Gerda Communal Area Doors be custom-designed to fit unconventional spaces?

Yes, Gerda offers customisation options to ensure the doors fit perfectly and complement the style of any space in which they are installed.

Are these doors fire-resistant?

Absolutely, Gerda doors are designed and built to be fire-resistant, they are also tested for fire resistance, and have earned certifications for the protection they provide against fire.

What is the typical lifespan of Gerda doors?

With proper maintenance, Gerda doors can last for decades, making them a long-term investment in fire safety.

Conclusion

Gerda communal area doors are more than just excellent fire safety performance, they are gateways to safer, more welcoming shared spaces. With a strong emphasis on fire safety, durability, and aesthetics, these doors elevate the communal element of residents’ living experience. Whether in social housing, education, student accommodation, or commercial settings, Gerda doors stand as hallmarks of a commitment to elite building and resident safety. For inquiries and consultations, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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