Metador metador defender fireshield 60 steel fire rated steel doorsets

Metador Defender FireShield Internal Steel Doorset

The Metador Defender FireShield is a custom-built, internal fire-rated steel doorset designed to provide uncompromising safety and security. While specifically engineered for internal applications, it far exceeds the capabilities of standard timber fire doors, offering superior strength, longevity, and a clean, modern aesthetic.

Standard models provide a reliable 60-minute fire rating, but the system's modular design allows for specifications up to 120 minutes (2 hours) of fire protection. This makes it an ideal solution for critical fire barriers in residential complexes, commercial offices, and industrial facilities where preventing fire spread is a top priority.

Tested & Certified Performance

Peace of mind is built-in. The FireShield has been successfully tested to BS EN 1634-1:2008, ensuring it meets rigorous European standards for fire resistance. Beyond fire safety, the door can be specified to deliver:

• Acoustic Protection: Options available for sound reduction, perfect for creating quiet zones in busy environments.
• Enhanced Security: Capable of being upgraded to higher security ratings for sensitive areas like server rooms or secure archives.
• DDA Compliance: Available with low-profile thresholds and compliant clear opening widths to ensure accessibility for all users.

Construction & Durability

Built to last, the FireShield features a robust construction that resists the wear and tear of high-traffic use:

• Door Leaf: Manufactured from 1.5mm galvanised steel (with options for 2.0mm or stainless steel) and features a weld-free construction to prevent premature failure. The leaf includes an anti-jemmy flange on the leading edge for added security.
• Frame: Heavy-duty 2.0mm galvanised steel frame with a 90mm single rebate profile. The frame incorporates bolted corners for structural rigidity and threaded adjustors (16+ fixings) for precise, easy installation.
• Core: A high-density mineral wool core with internal strengtheners ensures both fire integrity and impact resistance.

Aesthetics & Customisation

Safety doesn't mean sacrificing style. The Defender FireShield is made to measure and offers extensive customisation options to suit any interior design:

• Finish: Choose from over 200 standard RAL colours, plus special finishes including textured, metallic, and realistic woodgrain effects for a premium look.
• Vision Panels: Custom-sized glazed panels (square, rectangular, or vertical strips) can be integrated for visibility. Options include clear or frosted glass, essential for corridor doors and stairwell monitoring.
• Configuration: Available as single or double leaf doorsets (up to 2200mm wide x 2960mm high) with optional side and over panels to fill larger structural openings.

Ideal Applications

The FireShield is the perfect upgrade from timber doors in a variety of settings:

• Residential: Essential for separating integral garages from living spaces or protecting stairwells in multi-storey properties (3+ floors).
• Commercial: Secure corridors, escape routes, and office partition walls.
• Industrial: Internal plant rooms and warehouse segregation.

The Metador Defender FireShield is specifically engineered for internal use in UK buildings where reliable fire compartmentation is a legal and safety requirement. As a steel doorset, it offers a superior, durable, and secure alternative to traditional timber fire doors, making it the preferred choice for high-traffic and high-risk environments.

Commercial & Office Environments

Modern office buildings and commercial spaces rely on the FireShield for essential corridor and escape route protection:

• Escape Corridors: Protecting primary evacuation routes from fire spread, ensuring staff have a safe passage out of the building.
• Server Rooms & Archives: Providing 60 to 120 minutes of fire resistance to protect critical business assets and data infrastructure from internal fires.
• Partition Walls: Ideal for separating high-risk areas (such as communal kitchens or print rooms) from open-plan office spaces.

Residential & Multi-Occupancy

In the residential sector, the FireShield offers enhanced security and longevity compared to standard timber fire doors:

• Integral Garages: The perfect solution for the connecting door between a garage and the main house, preventing fire (and fumes) from vehicle storage areas entering living spaces.
• High-Rise Flats: Essential for protecting stairwells and communal lobbies in blocks of flats (3 storeys or more), ensuring escape routes remain smoke-free.
• Basement Conversions: Often required by Building Control to separate basement levels from the ground floor, providing a secure and fire-rated barrier.

Industrial & Warehousing

For industrial settings, the steel construction of the FireShield ensures it can withstand the rigours of a working environment:

• Factory Partitioning: separating production lines or hazardous material storage areas from administrative offices.
• Plant Rooms: Protecting boiler rooms, electrical switch rooms, and maintenance areas where the risk of fire ignition is higher.
• Warehouse Offices: Providing a secure, fire-rated entry point for internal site offices located within large distribution centres.

Public Sector (Health & Education)

Durability and hygiene make the FireShield a top specification for public buildings:

• Schools & Universities: Used for protecting science labs, technology workshops, and kitchen areas where fire risk is elevated. The steel surface is also resistant to student traffic and vandalism.
• Hospitals: Critical for compartmentalizing wards and protecting storage areas for medical gases or records. The easy-clean powder-coated finish supports infection control protocols.

Why Choose Steel for Internal Fire Doors?

While timber doors are common, the Defender FireShield offers distinct advantages for internal applications:

• Longevity: Steel does not warp, twist, or rot over time, ensuring the fire seal and latching mechanism remain perfectly aligned for the door's lifespan.
• Security: The solid steel construction provides a significantly higher level of physical security than a wood door, ideal for securing sensitive internal areas.
• Durability: Highly resistant to impact damage from trolleys, cleaning equipment, and heavy footfall, reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

Specification: Metador Defender FireShield

The Metador Defender FireShield is a made-to-measure internal steel doorset, delivering certified fire protection of 60 minutes as standard, with options to upgrade to 90 or 120 minutes. It combines industrial-grade strength with architectural versatility.

Dimensions

• Max Width: Up to 2200mm (Double Doorset)
• Max Height: Up to 2960mm
• Configuration: Single or double leaf options available.

Fire Rating

• Standard: 60 Minutes (FD60)
• Optional Upgrades: 90 Minutes (FD90) or 120 Minutes (FD120)
• Certification: Tested to BS EN 1634-1:2008

Door Leaf Construction

• Material: 1.5mm galvanised steel skins as standard.
  • Upgrades available: 2.0mm galvanised steel or 1.5mm stainless steel (Grade 304 or 316) for enhanced durability or hygiene.
• Core: High-density mineral wool core with internal steel strengtheners for superior fire integrity and impact resistance.
• Build: Weld-free panel construction eliminates potential weak points and prevents premature failure (e.g., rust at weld spots).
• Security: Features a robust anti-jemmy flange on the leading edge to prevent forced entry (square-edged option available for FD60 models).

Steel Sub-Frame

• Profile: 90mm single rebate frame manufactured from heavy-duty 2.0mm galvanised steel (Stainless steel option available).
• Custom Profiles:
  • Double rebated frames.
  • Face-fixed frames.
  • ModuleX: Specialist integral cloaking frame designed for modular buildings to conceal panel cut-outs.
• Assembly: Bolted corners for maximum structural rigidity (superior to welded or riveted frames).
• Installation: Equipped with 16+ threaded adjustors (no packers required) for rapid, precise site installation. Optional plain fixing plates available.
• Hinges: 3mm steel hinge brackets ensure long-term stability.
• Insulation: Insulated frames available for improved thermal performance.

Seals & Performance

Tubular silicone rubber seals are bonded into the frame rebate, providing an effective barrier against smoke, acoustic transfer, and drafts, ensuring the door performs in all conditions.

Hardware & Ironmongery

As a fire-rated doorset, the FireShield is always supplied with a compliant specification:

• Closing Device: Fire-rated door closer fitted as standard to ensure self-closing capability.
• Hinges: Minimum of 4 no. stainless steel ball-bearing hinges per leaf, each fitted with security dog bolts to secure the leaf into the frame even if hinges are attacked.
• Furniture: Extensive range of handles, locks, and panic hardware available to suit specific site requirements (e.g., escape sash locks, digital code locks).

Vision Panels & Side Panels

• Vision Panels: Fire-rated glazing available in various configurations (Square, rectangular, or narrow vision strips). Options for clear or frosted glass.
• Side/Over Panels: Matching fixed panels available to fill larger structural openings.
• Louvres: Fire-rated louvre panel cassettes can be incorporated for plant room ventilation.
• Removable Panels: Overpanels can be made removable to allow for occasional full-height access (e.g., for moving machinery).

Installation Guide: Metador Defender FireShield

Installing a steel fire door can seem daunting, but the Metador Defender system is designed to be installer-friendly. Its unique adjustable frame system removes the need for fiddly shims and packers, allowing for a precise, secure fit.

Important Note: This is a fire-rated product. While self-installation is possible, the door must be fitted strictly in accordance with these instructions to maintain its fire certification. If in doubt, consult a qualified fire door installer.

Tools Required

• SDS Drill (Hammer action)
• Impact Driver or Cordless Drill
• Spirit Level (Essential – the longer, the better)
• 14mm Spanner
• Large Hex Key (Supplied with the door)
• 10mm & 12mm Masonry Drill Bits
• Fire-Rated Mastic (Intumescent sealant)

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Prepare the Opening

• Check the structural opening is clear of debris.
• Using your spirit level, check the floor is level. If the floor is uneven, you will need to pack under the frame legs later to ensure the head of the frame remains perfectly horizontal.
• Remove the door leaf from the frame if it makes handling easier (optional, but recommended for single-person installs).

2. Position the Frame

• Locate the threaded frame adjusters (jacking screws) on the side jambs. Wind them so they are flush with the outer frame.
• Place the frame into the aperture.
• Using the 14mm spanner or hex key, wind out the top adjusters first (hinge side and lock side) until they grip the wall. Do not over-tighten yet; just hold the frame in place.

3. Level and Fix the Hinge Side (Critical Step)

• Plumb the Hinge Side: Use your spirit level to ensure the hinge jamb is perfectly vertical in both planes (left-to-right and front-to-back). This is the most critical part of the install.
• Fix the Top: Once plumb, drill through the top fixing hole on the hinge side into the masonry. Insert the fixing bolt and tighten.
• Adjust and Fix Down: Work your way down the hinge side. Use the jacking screws to push the frame away from the wall until the jamb is perfectly plumb at each fixing point. Drill and secure each fixing as you go.

4. Hang the Door (If removed)

• Re-hang the door leaf on the hinges.
• Check the gap between the door and the frame header. It should be consistent (approx. 3-4mm). If the gap is tight on one side, you may need to shim under the corresponding frame leg.

5. Fix the Lock/Latch Side

• Close the door and check the gap between the door leaf and the lock-side jamb. It should be consistent all the way down.
• Adjust the jacking screws on the lock side to align the frame with the door leaf.
• Once aligned, drill and secure the fixings on the lock side, checking the door operation constantly to ensure it latches smoothly without binding.

6. Final Adjustments & Sealing

• Check Operation: Open and close the door multiple times. It should swing freely and latch firmly.
• Fire Seal: You must seal the gap between the frame and the wall with fire-rated intumescent mastic (e.g., Rockwool FirePro). Standard silicone is not sufficient for a fire door. Seal both the internal and external perimeters.
• Threshold: If a threshold is fitted, ensure it is bedded on sealant to prevent water ingress and fixed securely to the floor.

Metador Warranty & Guarantee

Our commitment to quality is backed by comprehensive warranty terms designed to give you peace of mind. The Metador guarantee covers the following key components, subject to adherence to our specified maintenance regimes:

• Frame & Doorset: 15-Year Guarantee (Subject to correct installation and maintenance).
• Marine Grade PPC Finish: 10-Year Guarantee (Subject to documented cleaning and maintenance).
• Standard PPC Finish: 1-Year Guarantee (Subject to cleaning and maintenance).
• Ironmongery: 1-Year Guarantee (Subject to correct usage and maintenance).

Guarantee Coverage

Metador Ltd will repair or, at our discretion, replace any goods sold by Samson Doors that are proven to be defective within the stated warranty periods from the date of purchase. Coverage details include:

• Component Replacement: Where a product has a specific internal defective component, we will replace only that component.
• Definition of Defect: "Defective" goods are those which, under correct usage, fail to function properly due to faults in materials, workmanship, or design.
• Delivery Defects: We will replace any goods found to be defective upon delivery, provided the issue is reported within 3 working days of receipt. Photographic evidence showing the defective goods on their original delivery pallet is required.

Guarantee Exclusions

The Metador guarantee does not cover defects or damage arising from the following situations:

• Neglect & Abuse: Damage caused by misuse, lack of maintenance, or unsuitable care.
• Chemical Damage: Use of harmful cleaning solvents or abrasive agents on the door surface.
• Improper Installation: Issues resulting from incorrect fitting or installation practices.
• Surface Damage: Scratches, washing damage, or failure of paint protection films.
• Unauthorised Parts: Use of components or accessories not advised or supplied by Metador.
• External Factors: Damage from external impacts, severe weather, or environmental conditions not specified for the product.
• Third-Party Repairs: Alterations or repairs carried out by unauthorised persons.
• Fair Wear & Tear: Normal degradation expected over the product's lifecycle.

Condition of Warranty

Crucial Requirement: For any guarantee or warranty to remain valid, a documented cleaning and maintenance regime must be maintained. You must record the frequency of maintenance, along with the specific methods and products used. This documentation must be submitted with any claim for it to be considered.

Claims Procedure

1. Notification: You must contact Samson Doors or Metador in writing within 3 working days of discovering a defect, detailing the nature of the issue.
2. Inspection: On request, the defective product must be returned to Metador Ltd (at the customer's cost) for inspection.

For full details on care requirements, please refer to the Operation & Maintenance Manual available for download here.

How to Measure for Your Steel Doorset

Ordering a custom steel doorset requires precise measurements of your structural opening. Please note that all orders are placed based on the OVERALL dimensions (including the door leaf, frame, and threshold). We do not automatically deduct tolerances; the size you order is the exact size we manufacture.

Step 1: Measure the Structural Opening

Measure the raw brick-to-brick aperture (the "structural opening") where the door will be installed. To ensure accuracy:

• Width: Measure the width at three points: the Top, Middle, and Bottom. Record the smallest measurement.
• Height: Measure the height at two points: the Left and Right sides. Record the smallest measurement.
• Squareness: Check diagonal measurements (top-left to bottom-right vs. top-right to bottom-left) to confirm the opening is square.

Step 2: Calculate Your Order Size

Once you have your structural opening dimensions, you must deduct your own installation tolerance to determine the Ordering Size.

• Recommended Tolerance: We generally advise allowing a 5mm clearance on all sides (Top, Left, and Right). This allows for adjustments during installation.
• Judgment Call: The exact tolerance depends on the quality and "trueness" of your aperture. If the opening is particularly uneven, you may need to allow more space.

Example Calculation:

Important Notes

• Metric Only: Always use millimetres (mm) for all measurements. This prevents conversion errors during the manufacturing process.
• Include the Frame: Remember, the ordering size is the total size of the unit (Door + Frame + Threshold). Do not measure just the door leaf.
• Verification: We will always create a technical drawing based on your provided dimensions. This drawing will be sent to you for final approval before manufacturing commences, giving you a second chance to check everything.