Mann McGowan has specialised in the development of intumescent fire-protection products since 1977.
Its product technologies are used around doors, glazing systems and architectural ironmongery to help maintain the integrity of appropriately tested fire-resisting assemblies.
Intumescent products should never be selected solely by size or appearance. The correct product must correspond with the required fire performance and the supporting evidence for the particular door, frame, glazing or ironmongery arrangement.
Intumescent Door Seals
An intumescent door seal is normally fitted into a groove within the door leaf or frame.
Under normal conditions the strip remains relatively compact. When exposed to elevated temperatures during a fire, the intumescent material expands and helps seal the gaps around the door assembly.
The required strip dimensions and configuration depend on the specific doorset evidence.
Fire & Smoke Seals
Fire resistance and smoke control are separate performance requirements.
A fire-only intumescent seal is primarily intended to react under fire conditions.
A fire-and-smoke seal incorporates an additional smoke-control element designed to restrict the passage of cold smoke around the closed door.
Where smoke control is required, the complete door assembly and seal configuration should correspond with the relevant test or certification evidence.
Acoustic Door Seals
Some door assemblies also require control of airborne sound.
Mann McGowan manufactures specialist sealing products intended for fire, smoke and acoustic applications.
Acoustic performance depends on the complete doorset, including the perimeter seals, threshold detail, door construction and installation quality.
A high-performing seal cannot compensate for substantial gaps or other weaknesses elsewhere in the assembly.
Intumescent Glazing Seals
Fire-resisting glazed screens and glazed fire doors require specialist sealing arrangements around the glass.
Intumescent glazing seals form part of these tested systems and can contribute to maintaining the glass and framing arrangement during fire exposure.
The exact glazing product, glass type, bead material, dimensions and installation method must match appropriate test evidence.
Ironmongery Protection
Installing locks, hinges, concealed closers and other architectural hardware can require sections of material to be removed from a fire-rated door or frame.
Where specified by the supporting evidence, intumescent protection around ironmongery can help protect these areas under fire conditions.
Hinge pads, lock protection and other intumescent kits should therefore be treated as part of the tested doorset arrangement rather than optional accessories.
Fire Doors Are Complete Systems
No individual seal, hinge, lock or closer makes a door fire rated on its own.
Fire resistance depends on the interaction of the door leaf, frame, seals, glazing, hinges, lock or latch, closer, ironmongery and installation.
For this reason, the specification for the complete doorset should always be consulted before changing seal sizes or substituting components.
Choosing the Correct Seal Size
Intumescent door seals are available in different widths and thicknesses.
The correct size is determined by the tested or certified doorset rather than simply by the required fire duration.
Two doors with the same nominal fire rating may require different seal arrangements because their construction and test evidence differ.
Always follow the doorset manufacturer's instructions.
Replacement Fire Door Seals
When replacing an existing damaged seal, do not assume that a visually similar strip is automatically an acceptable substitute.
Where possible, identify the original door specification, seal dimensions and required smoke-control arrangement.
If the original specification is unavailable, further technical assessment may be required before changing the seal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an intumescent seal do?
An intumescent seal expands when exposed to elevated temperatures during a fire, helping close gaps within an appropriately tested fire-resisting assembly.
What is the difference between a fire seal and smoke seal?
An intumescent fire seal reacts primarily under high temperature.
A smoke seal includes an additional component designed to restrict cold-smoke leakage around the closed door.
What size intumescent strip do I need?
Use the size specified by the fire-door manufacturer or the relevant test and certification evidence.
Do not select the strip purely from the nominal FD30 or FD60 rating.
Can I change from a fire-only seal to a fire-and-smoke seal?
Potentially, but any change should remain compatible with the evidence and operational requirements of the doorset.
What are intumescent hinge pads?
These are intumescent components fitted behind or around hinges where required by the tested fire-door specification.
Do locks need intumescent protection?
Some fire-door configurations require intumescent protection around locks and other ironmongery.
Follow the doorset and hardware evidence for the exact installation.
Does Mann McGowan make glazing seals?
Yes. Mann McGowan's specialist portfolio includes intumescent products for fire-resisting glazing applications.
Can Roundtower help specify Mann McGowan products?
Yes. Roundtower Hardware can assist with product selection where the required application, fire performance and doorset information are available.
Need Help with Fire-Door Seals?
Correct fire-door sealing depends on much more than simply choosing an intumescent strip.
Roundtower Hardware can help architects, contractors, door manufacturers and installers identify Mann McGowan fire, smoke and acoustic sealing products in Ireland against the requirements of the particular doorset or fire-protection system.
Contact our team with the door specification, fire rating and existing seal details and we can help identify an appropriate solution.
