82 Automatic Doors, Access Control & Smart Security Also online at www.dijonline.co.uk Door Industry Journal Spring 2026 Closing the Gap ADSA Leads Industry Push for Safe Automation of Fire-Rated Doors Across the built environment, manual fire-rated doors are regularly upgraded with automation. In hospitals, care settings and public buildings, automation can improve accessibility for wheelchair users. In offices, education environments and transport hubs it can help manage footfall and improve the flow of people through busy spaces. In some buildings, automation may even support evacuation strategies by improving egress during an emergency. HOWEVER, CONVERTING a manual fire door into an automated system is not simply a matter of fitting an operator. Installing sensors, routing cables through the door leaf or replacing existing closing devices can alter the construction of the door itself. Without careful consideration, those modifications may affect the door’s fire performance. This issue has led the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) to initiate a collaborative industry approach to develop clearer guidance on how fire-rated doors can be safely automated while maintaining their integrity as fire-resisting systems. ADSA members and leading equipment manufacturers Record UK, Dormakaba and GEZE UK, are part of the steering group which aims to strengthen understanding of how retrofit modifications can be undertaken without jeopardising the integrity of doors. The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, the British Woodworking Federation and a major test house will also involved in the project. Findings from this research will form the basis of new guidance for engineers and building owners/managers. The publications should be available later in the year. Importantly, the aim is not to discourage automation or force unnecessary door replacement. With the right technical insight and careful installation practices, many existing fire doors can be adapted safely - helping building owners improve accessibility and usability while avoiding the cost and disruption of replacing entire door sets. Understanding the retrofit challenge For engineers and specifiers, retrofit automation is often the most practical way to upgrade an existing building. Many fire-rated doors were originally designed for manual operation, yet evolving accessibility expectations mean building owners increasingly want automated solutions. The difficulty lies in understanding how modifications may affect the integrity of a fire-rated door. “Many of the questions we receive now relate to automating existing fire doors,” explains Darren Hyde, Technical and Training Manager at ADSA. “When you retrofit automation - whether that’s installing operators, sensors or routing cables through the door leaf - you’re potentially changing the construction of the door. What we want to do as an industry is understand exactly how those modifications affect fire performance.” While manufacturers can provide clear test evidence for new installations using specific combinations of doors, operators and hardware, the retrofit market is far less straightforward. “In the new-build market, everything is far more controlled,” says Darren. “Manufacturers can specify the exact door, operator and components and provide test evidence showing the system will meet its fire rating if installed correctly. “In retrofit situations, that level of certainty doesn’t always exist. We want to close that gap in understanding.” Collaborative testing and industry expertise Central to ADSA’s initiative is collaboration across the sector. The newly formed steering group brings together expertise from manufacturers, technical specialists and fire testing organisations to address the challenge collectively. Working with Warringtonfire - one of the UK’s leading fire testing organisations - the group plans to undertake controlled testing designed to replicate the types of ©GEZE UK
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