Freedor: The world’s first wireless, free swing door closer09 March 2011 Freedor allows users to hold open fire doors at any angleThis month sees the launch of a greatly anticipated new fire safety product; Freedor, the world’s first wireless, electrically powered free-swing door closer. Installed at the top of a fire door and allowing the door to swing freely, Freedor allows users to hold fire doors open at any angle and automatically closes the door when the fire alarm sounds. Freedor is the unique, ergonomic solution for holding fire doors open safely and legally whilst enabling improved access. Freedor listens for a fire alarm that exceeds 65dBA, verifying the alarm over a 14 second period, before releasing the fire door to prevent the spread of fire and smoke around the building. Features include:
So what’s unique about Freedor? There are already a number of fire door closers for swing doors on the market, so what’s different about Freedor? Well, Freedor is the first wireless, fully standards compliant device that combines all the functionality and performance of the best mains wired products with easy, quick and economic installation. “We are really excited about Freedor”, says Fireco Sales Director, Wesley Kent. “It’s quite simply a brilliant product that we believe will quickly become one of the market leaders! The reaction from installers, specifiers and end users too has been enthusiastic, seeing Freedor as an exceptional product that combines innovation, functionality and good looks. Installers in particular have been very impressed with Freedor’s performance and potential for fast, low-cost installation”. “Freedor’s development followed extensive market research that had identified the need for an electrically powered free-swing door closer that could be installed swiftly with minimal disruption to day to day running of premises, We also wanted a sleek, good-looking, ergonomic design that would appeal to architects, facilities managers and specifiers alike.” An innovative solution Unlike the free-swing devices available on the market to date, which rely upon expensive mains voltage being permanently applied, the Freedor draws ultra low current from a 9v battery of primary cells with a useful life of over 18 months. And, naturally, integral to Freedor are the safety routines, with the same cause-effect self-checks as Dorgard, to ensure the unit fails to safe when the battery level is low. In devising a standard closer for operating up to Power Size 4, whose upper limit is an 80kg fire door, Freedor designers responded to fire safety criteria in the Building Regulations 2000, Approved Document B. Performance data shows a majority of fire doors in compartmented zones being measured for fire resistance at a door weight of typically less than 45kg, well within the Power Size 4 operating margin.  A unique and patented rocker assembly is provided which is switched between a Free Swing or Closer state
Wireless vs. Hard-wiredThe advantages of a wireless, electrically powered free-swing door closer are enormous in terms of lower costs through reduced installation times, with no compromise in functionality and performance. Most hard-wired competitive products require a surveyor/installer to conduct a site survey to determine the type of unit required; push or pull. As Freedor can be installed in one of four positions – clockwise or anti-clockwise opening doors, and on the pull side or push side of the door – the product can be set for the required door performance configuration when it is installed, meaning that no site survey is required. One person can easily install Freedor. Fireco’s own research and field testing shows that it’s possible to install 10 Freedors within 3-4 hours, so installer cost margins are attractive with significant savings in both time and labour being achieved when measured against the installation of an average ‘wired-in’ system. A major benefit for the end user is the minimal disruption to occupants and site continuity, whatever the location. The installation process is straightforward too. Easy to follow templates and straightforward installation instructions ensure that one person can easily install Freedor quickly, ensuring the correct positioning and alignment is attained. Freedor and accessThe use of electrically powered free-swing door closers are recommended in applications which are designed to meet the levels of accessibility called for in the Equality Act 2010 and to satisfy the requirements of Approved Document M: 2004 of the Building Regulations.This development has also given added impetus to the development of a wireless device that fulfils the ethos of inclusive design, by recognising the conditions under which a fire door is opened and closed by wheelchair users, the disabled, and people with limited strength or dexterity. How Freedor worksThe Freedor unit is installed at the top of the fire door and operates as a normal door closer until ‘set’ via a push button, to allow free-swing. Then the ‘listening’ technology built inside the unit will listen out for a continuous fire alarm of 65 decibels or higher, verifying the alarm over a 14 second period. Upon the annunciation of an alarm, Freedor will release the door preventing the spread of fire and smoke around the building. 
When Freedor is ready to release the door, it will sound a ‘high-low’ warning tone, repeated ten times before release. After Freedor has released the fire door and the fire alarm has ceased, it will reset after 10 seconds. Once the internal reset has occurred, the Push Button can again be used to set Freedor into free-swing state, providing, of course, the fire alert conditions are no longer in effect. Fail safe self-check functions. Freedor allows users to pass easily through an open fire door 24 hours a day, although it is recommended that fire doors are closed at night. Fail-to-safe protection is ensured by self-diagnostic alerts and automatic self-check routines every 32 seconds, with any internal fault detected after two warning bleeps resulting in a timeout initiation of door closure. During the Self Test, Freedor will release the door. Freedor has a minimum battery life of 12-18 months and the unit is programmed for self-checks to detect operating voltage levels at predefined monitoring intervals throughout its lifetime. The battery pack consists of 6 procels vacuum packed to ensure longer life, and failsafe features also include tamper-proof battery protection. Freedor adapts to many applications and environmental demands, particularly in busy, high footfall locations. After installation it can operate in one of two states; either acting as a typical door closer or as free-swing/door closer. The status of Freedor can be changed at the touch of a button. During Free-swing operation, the door will act as if no closer is fitted. If the user leaves a door open , it will close when the fire alarm sounds or it is manually operated via the push button.  Freedor can be installed in one of four positions – clockwise or anti-clockwise opening doors, and on the pull side or push side of the door
Freedor has an adjustable closing and latching speed. The closing speed refers to the speed at which Freedor will close the door, up to the last 15 degrees. At this point, Freedor will start to ‘latch’ and close as dictated by the latching speed. Both of these speeds can be adjusted within the recommended parameters. For example, the average total closing time from 90 degrees to latching should take between 4 and 6 seconds, including the last 15 degrees of closing before the door latches. Freedor is standards compliant, tested to meet both current legal requirements and the demands of the marketplace. Freedor has been tested to and found to comply with BS EN 1154, BS EN 1155 and can be installed to comply with BS 7273-4 category C. The issue of an EU Certificate of Conformity under the Construction Products Directive is anticipated. Freedor has also been tested for fail-safe performance over the entire lifetime of the product, including anti-tamper functions, audio sensitivity, battery consumption and duration, and durability of closure components for real-world use, with loads endurance tested to 500,000 closing cycles under BS EN 1154 and BS EN 1155. EN 1154 is the European standard for “controlled door closing devices” and, as such, tests mechanical door closer performance. Adopted by EU member states, it became a mandatory requirement for CE marking in 2004. It prescribes the test methodology and subsequent classification of randomly selected production line products. The test data, together with supporting technical evaluation, results in a classification code. This coding allows comparison across a range of closers according to their compliance with the standard.  "Installers in particular have been very impressed with Freedor’s performance and potential for fast, low-cost installation” - Wesley Kent, Fireco sales director
Door closers for fire doors are covered by a Construction Products Directive mandate. Compliance with EN 1154, supported by suitable evidence, therefore allows the application of the CE mark. All conforming door closers consequently will be marked with their EN 1154 coding and details of the notified certification body. Door controls with electrical components, such as electromagnetic hold open devices, must satisfy the requirements of both EN 1154 and the supplementary standard, EN 1155 for electrically controlled door operators. And a little about Fireco…Fireco is the leading manufacturer in the UK of intelligent products and systems that listen for the sound of the fire alarm, and their fire products are installed in a wide and diverse range of locations such as schools, care homes, hotels, restaurants and offices. Freedor is the latest addition to a successful range of standard compliant products that have won popularity with architects, facilities managers and installers as truly practical and innovative solutions for improved access in premises. Dorgard X enables fire doors to be legally and safely kept open. It’s installed onto the bottom of the fire door, so when the fire alarm sounds Dorgard X receives a signal to release the door, preventing the spread of fire and smoke. Dorgard X is activated by System X, which can be hardwired into the fire alarm panel or be acoustically activated. Deafgard is a battery powered, wireless unit with a pad attachment that simply goes under a sleeping person’s pillow. When a continuous fire alarm of 75dBA or higher sounds, the pillow pad vibrates, high intensity LED lights flash and an LCD screen displays ‘fire’ to awake a deaf or hard of hearing person from sleep.. DMS Deaf Message Service DMS (Deaf Message Service) is a NEW fire safety product that informs deaf or hard of hearing customers when the fire alarm sounds in a public place like a supermarket, shopping or leisure centre. The DMS unit is easily installed in under half an hour. A user’s mobile is connected to DMS by sending one text message (SMS) with the relevant location code when they enter the building, and when the fire alarm sounds an SMS is sent to their mobile phone to let them know the fire alarm is sounding. For product information Fireco Ltd.
0845 241 7474 sales@firecoltd.com www.firecoltd.com    |
