Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service recently commissioned Norwich-based Cooks Industrial Doors to install two sets of state-of-the-art sliding folding doors at Long Melford Fire Station in rural Suffolk. The original fully glazed, wooden-framed doors had seen better days and were prone to jamming during operation, particularly during inclement weather; an issue often arising when vehicles needed to exit rapidly under blue light conditions.
As a major regional reseller and installer for Jewers’ Phoenix range of doors, Cooks commissioned the specialist door manufacturer to design and supply replacement doors that would not only be robust and reliable but constructed in a style that would mimic the original timber doors and maintain the ambience of the conservation area.
Jewers constructed the new doors using durable galvanized steel frames which were finished with a black powder coating. The doors were glazed to full height using 24mm thick low-E, argon filled double glazed units to allow good visibility and natural lighting whilst maximising thermal efficiency. This not only ensured they matched the appearance of the earlier doors but would have a long life and require minimal maintenance.
The door at the front of the building was a 2+2-leaf Swift bi-folding door, 3.5 metres high and 4 metres wide, with two leaves bi-folding to each side clear of the opening to give maximum vehicle access. A pair of FAAC hydraulic drive units safely open the door leaves in under 7 seconds to provide a fast and reliable exit once the retained firefighters arrive. A high-level photocell triggers automatic closure immediately after the appliance departs. Full safety features are fitted as standard to ensure full compliance with European safety requirements. In the event of power failure, each door half can be instantly and effortlessly opened by hand in two seconds.
To the rear of the building, a matching 4-leaf Osprey manually operated door was installed to allow vehicles to re-enter the appliance bay without reversing through the front entrance. Both front and rear doors incorporated a matching style wicket door to one side to allow staff to access the building in the event of a shout, before opening the main door.
Jewers Director Mark Jewers commented, “This project was an excellent example of teamwork between the supplier and reseller and will go a long way to ensure that Long Melford Fire Station will be able to provide effective emergency services to the local community for many years to come.”
