A leading UK supplier to the construction and fire protection sectors has praised Ritherdon’s latest passive fire safety innovation, describing its Mark lll FireSeal as a potential game changer and “possibly the best on the market.”
“No one wants to see another Grenfell incident,” said Shane Porter, Managing Director of Comyn Ching Architectural Components. “Ritherdon’s Mark lll FireSeal product is the only one we know of currently on the market that has undergone such rigorous testing, including penetration testing.
“Ritherdon does a fantastic job as a responsible supplier in the way they produce and market their products.”
Darwen based manufacturer Ritherdon launched its latest range of passive fire safety products earlier this year, with the new products attracting praise from the established supplier of fire protection products and equipment to the house building sector.
With a history spanning 131 years, Ritherdon is recognised for the manufacture of high quality electrical enclosures and engineering solutions. The company’s expanding fire safety portfolio now includes the new to market Mark lll FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panel.
Developed and designed in house, the panel cover is intended to enhance the fire performance of an existing panel or wall opening. It creates a seal that provides protection against smoke and fire originating from either inside or outside the building.
Shane, whose company is based in Bury St. Edmunds, said: “This is a very high quality product, both in terms of its manufacture and design, and it has been produced to a standard that should enable it to stand the test of time.
“The fire sector is constantly evolving, so manufacturers and suppliers need to anticipate what may be required as regulations and standards develop.
“Ritherdon has future proofed its new Mark lll Fire cabinet by subjecting it to rigorous testing against the highest standards and accreditations.
“It is more than likely to still be viable in five years, which is what our customers want.”
Ritherdon Operations Director Brian Derbyshire has been involved in leading the project for several years and oversaw the latest programme of fire safety testing undertaken earlier this year.
Brian said: “Every FireSeal product we manufacture has been smoke sealed and extensively fire tested.
“While some manufacturers only test access panels from one direction, we wanted to establish that our products could provide fire and smoke resistance from either side. As a result, all of our FireSeals have been smoke sealed and tested in both directions.”
This comprehensive approach to design, development and testing is something customers increasingly value, particularly following the Grenfell Tower fire and the subsequent increased focus on fire safety.
Shane Porter added: “Testing and accreditations are essential when it comes to the success and longevity of a product.
“No one wants to see another Grenfell Tower disaster.
“Regulations and requirements have become increasingly stringent.
“Many of the major fire companies we supply are keeping a close watch on changes to legislation.
“There has been a clear demand in the market for a product that has penetration testing carried out in both directions.
“Ritherdon is very careful about making claims regarding what the cabinet can and cannot do.
“They have the testing evidence to substantiate what the new fire cabinet will do, and that is what sets it apart.”
The Ritherdon design team first developed the product more than 15 years ago and has since redesigned and refined the original concept to further improve the safety of the latest FireSeal products. During recent testing, the access panel prevented fire from breaching it after being exposed to temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius in a testing furnace for more than an hour.
FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panels can be installed wherever an opening from outside a property provides access into the building. Their main application, however, is inside buildings where multiple access panels are required between internal walls.
Brian said: “Fireproof board is normally installed at the rear of electrical boxes, but we identified that this alone was not sufficient, particularly because standard units offer very little protection against the movement of smoke.
“Our devices use fireproof glands and intumescent seals to create an airtight barrier, preventing flames and smoke from passing through the access panel covers.
“FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panels can be used on external walls, but their primary application is inside blocks of flats and office buildings, where they are designed to prevent fire and smoke from passing through an internal wall during a fire.”
The FireSeal Fire Rated Access Panel underwent testing at Element PFP in High Wycombe, Bucks. It successfully passed the hour long fire and smoke test and remained intact for a further 12 minutes.
Ritherdon has already won a number of significant orders from commercial construction companies and house builders.
Managing Director Ben Ritherdon said: “We are continually looking for ways to give our customers the highest possible quality across all of our product ranges.
“As far as we are aware, there is currently nothing else on the market that is comparable to the Mark lll FireSeal.
“During development, it was essential for us to achieve the highest levels of testing and accreditation before we were satisfied that the product was ready to launch.
“We are delighted to receive such positive feedback from a respected and long standing customer such as Comyn Ching Architectural Components. We greatly appreciate it.
“FireSeal is the latest addition to a long history of innovative products developed by our in house team.
“From our world first Passively Safe Cabinet to the world’s first PVC external electrical enclosure, our products have been designed to fulfil specific purposes with broad applications, while not removing the need for standard access panels.”
