Fire doors are generally “measured and certified” in terms of FD30, FD60, FD90 and FD120. This indicates the length of time that the door can maintain its integrity when heat is applied. In the UK, the minimum resistance level for your fire door should be 30 minutes, which is FD30. This allows sufficient time for someone to vacate a building in the event of fire and for emergency crews to attend.
When installing fire doors, all component parts are essential in ensuring the door maintains its integrity. Hoffmann Dovetail Keys are an integral part of many fire doors. They have been accredited with FD30 / FD60 fire safety ratings for securing the joints in vision panel cassettes. Hoffmann keys have also been successfully tested in composite fire door blanks and solid wood door frames.
To efficiently produce quality Fire Doors consistently, you also need “safe” machinery. This means maximum safety for the operator of the machine and safe, accurate and reliable machinery to manufacture quality fire doors. You can rely on a Safe Working environment with the Hoffmann MS-35, and MS-35-SF.
“We currently use the Hoffmann MS35-SF – missing as in line above? to produce glazing bead cassettes for our fire doors and glazed screens. Using the Hoffmann jointing system not only improves the process by simplifying it, but it has also increased the quality of the finished joint and the speed at which it is produced. Because the joints are so accurate and secure, there is no filling required on the joints before spraying, and the cassettes can be lacquered before fitting into the door. Production of the vision panels has increased by roughly 20% since having the Hoffmann machinery installed. We were so pleased with the quality of the Hoffmann system; we bought a second Hoffmann MS35SF machine as our business expanded”. ExplainedBranch manager, Mitch Johnson.
The Process:
The workpiece is laid on the table and positioned for cutting. The start button is pressed to begin the machine cycle and the profile is clamped. Both saw units’ cycle from above to make the mitre cuts. The parts remain clamped whilst the tables open to allow the router units to rout one or two dovetail slots for jointing with Hoffmann Keys, sizes W-1/2/3. The machine tables close, clamping is released and the finished workpiece is removed. The next machine cycle begins. The Machine Safety Guard closes automatically after starting the processing cycle and re-opens when complete. A clear vision panel retains the dust and scrap end, for better operator comfort. A fence stop system is also available for longer profiles up to 4000 mm. The Hoffmann MS35SF can be used solely as a Double Mitre Saw, to cut to length profiles such as glazing beads, cornices add comma plinths etc. in wood, aluminium, and plastic at 45° angles.
As well as producing mitre joints, the Hoffmann MS35SF can also be integrated with a cross-cut saw to make the square cut when manufacturing 3-part door architraves.
Further special improvements were made to the Double Mitre Combination machine MS 35-SF. The Hoffmann design team developed technology which reduces the vibrations created on the saw blades. This resulted in an increase in the precision and accuracy of both mitre cuts so that no further work was required prior to joining. This uncompromising accuracy is particularly important when the finished surface joint is visible. This high-quality cut as well as high quality routing is achieved by almost vibration-free running of the machine, the main casting of which is extremely robust and weighs about 700 kg. A chip breaker provides a chip-free cut. Another feature is the extremely low noise level which is immediately noticeable. The range has now evolved to include the MS40-SF. With a larger saw blade (400mm), the cutting width increases to 105mm, and a new waste ejector automatically removes off cuts at the front of the unit. Automatic router positioning is also available via NC axis and touch screen adjustment.
