Review of Sardar Girls High School Fire Doors

The project specifications were prepared by UNOPS and include requirements for fire doors, such as being entirely fire resistant and complying with National Fire Protection Code NFPA 80. The fire door submittal package submitted by UNOPS, dated September 11, 2011, included information from Insutas Ltd., the manufacturer of the fire doors. The package included data and catalogue sheets from Pilkington, the glass manufacturer, a Certificate of Approval stating that Insutas has implemented a management system complying with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008, and a Registration Certificate stating that Q-Mark steel composite fire doors meet the requirements of BS EN 1634-1. However, during a site visit to Ghazi Boys High School, where the same type of fire doors were installed, several discrepancies were observed. The doors and frames were constructed of 1.4 to 1.5 mm thick plates, but neither doors nor frames had a label. Glazing did not have a label, and panic hardware was damaged, and closer hardware observed to not work properly at some installations. Hinges appeared to be lift-off type, not the specified ball bearing type, and glazing was welded wire, not clear float, break-proof glass as specified. The installed doorsets at Ghazi Boys High School do not comply with project specifications for Sardar Girls High School. The manufacturer, Insutas, stated that the door was fabricated in compliance with BS EN 1634-1, a recognized European standard, but this is not what was specified. The supplier appears to have adequate manufacturing capability, but it is unclear if they failed to follow direction or if proper direction was not provided to them for the fabrication of the doors. The fire doorsets as manufactured and installed at Ghazi High School are not acceptable for installation at Sardar Girls High School. It has been the experience of Tetra Tech with other projects in Afghanistan that NFPA compliant fire doors are available in-country. The recommendation is to reject the current submittal and require resubmittal using a manufacturer that can supply doors that comply with project requirements. Insutas may be capable of providing such doors, or another supplier to consider is Vulcan Industries, LLC from the UAE, which has installed fire doors at Kabul University that appear to be solidly built and of good quality.