In the ever-evolving landscape of construction and urban living, the concept of a building safety regime has become paramount. Ensuring the safety of residents and stakeholders involves a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the basics. In this article, we‘ll explain how Gerda Security Products do this, and in the process contribute to an effective building safety regime.

What is a Building Safety Regime?

A building safety regime is not merely a set of rules and regulations; it’s a holistic approach to safeguarding lives and property. At its core, a building safety regime encompasses the protocols, systems, and products put in place to mitigate risks and ensure the well-being of those within a structure. From structural integrity to emergency response, every facet has a job to do in the event of an emergency, and a  contribution to make to the safety and well-being of your building and the people in it.

The Challenges in Building Safety we Can Help you Respond to

The Dangers of Fire & Smoke

Fire safety should be a paramount concern for any building owner and any effective building safety regime they put in place. To address these needs Gerda offers fire doorsets for a wide range of deployments – including residential entrances, communal areas, service areas, even exterior use. These doorsets are meticulously designed to contain and prevent the spread of fire, and rigorously tested to ensure that they do so.

General Building Security & Access Control

Gerda’s access control products play a pivotal role in your building safety regime by regulating access to and from your building as a whole, or specific areas within it, and can go a long way towards enhancing overall building security.At the same time, wherever appropriate our doorsets are designed and manufactured according to standards set by Secured By Design, providing an extra layer of security against the threat of unauthorised access or crime.

Heat & Noise Insulation

Beyond security, Gerda’s commitment to comfort and well-being is evident in our products’ ability to provide heat and noise insulation. The result is not just safety but an environment that promotes a higher level of comfort and quality of life for building occupants, while also potentially lowering utility bills for both building owners and tenants.

Durability

We know that the products we provide are likely to see a high level of use (and be subject to a lot of general wear-and-tear as a result), and that they may need to withstand prolonged exposure to the elements as part of daily life, let alone the effects of an emergency at your building. For that reason,  Gerda’s products are engineered for longevity, and this in-built durability ensures that their safety features remain intact over time, offering a reliable, long-term solution for building safety.

Gerda’s Products – Our Contribution to Building Safety

Now, let’s take a closer look at some key Gerda products and how they contribute to building safety.

Fire Doorsets for Flat Entrances

Gerda’s fire doorsets for flat entrances are tailored to provide maximum fire resistance. Their unique features – which can include robust construction, recyclability, and a range of fire resistance ratings – ensure that these doorsets act as a formidable barrier against any threat to a resident’s front door.

Fire Doorsets for Communal Areas

In shared spaces, the risk of fire spreading quickly is higher. Gerda addresses this by offering fire doorsets designed specifically for communal areas. These doorsets not only meet safety standards and provide compartmentalisation to communal areas in the event of a fire, but they are also manufactured with the durability needed to stand up to the realities of everyday use in communal settings.

Fire Doorsets for Service Areas

Service areas are critical for building functionality, but they’re also areas that can be overlooked when it comes to a complete building safety regime, as many building owners don’t think about the needs of their service areas beyond security and restricting access. Gerda’s fire doorsets for service areas are crafted to provide the access control you need alongside the fire resistance and durability that you’re looking for.

Fire Doorsets for Exterior Use

The exterior of a building is its first line of defence – and for that reason Gerda’s UKCA fire doorsets for exterior use are engineered to resist external elements, while also providing the same level of fire safety as their interior counterparts.

Gerda Premises Information Boxes (PIB®s)

In emergencies, quick access to information is crucial. Gerda Premises Information Boxes (PIB®s) serve as secure storage and access points for essential information that the Fire & Rescue services will need in an emergency. With that being the case, they are also an essential part of any effective building safety regime.

Gerda Emergency Response Pack (ERP)

In an emergency, preparedness is key. Gerda’s Emergency Response Pack can help keep you prepared at any moment by helping you collate all of the vital information needed to respond to emergencies. We can even help you put an effective building safety regime in place by helping you to develop emergency response plans too.

Gerda Access Control Protection

Regulating access is a fundamental aspect of building safety.  For new builds requiring SBD status, the Access Control Box (ACB) offers designated access for firefighters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Exactly is a ‘Doorset’?

A doorset is a complete designed entity, meaning that the door leaf, doorframe, any glazing, hardware and intumescents are all interdependent. The fire doorset’s performance is reliant on the doorset design as a whole.

What is Gerda’s Product Testing Policy?

Each of the products that we’ve spoken about above is tested at UKAS-accredited test houses against a range of different standards and regulations relating to different areas of your building safety regime. These standards & regulations include the onerous EN1634-1 fire test standard as referenced in Approved Document B; Approved Document L for thermal transmittance and the demanding attack resistance standard STS205 BR2 for PIB enhanced security.

In addition, Gerda own all of our own primary test evidence. What does this mean in real terms? It means we have commissioned extensive fire tests and smoke tests at UKAS test houses to ensure that our products not only meet but exceed industry standards.