Dorgard Fire Door Retainer

Dorgard Acoustic Fire Door Retainer

The Dorgard fire door holder provides a simple way to hold fire doors open safely without compromising compliance. It fits at the bottom of the door and releases automatically when it hears the fire alarm, allowing the door closer to shut the door and maintain compartmentation.

This unit fixes directly to the bottom of the door and runs on batteries making it ideal for retrofitting in buildings where wiring could be difficult or disruptive.

As a green initiative, Dorgard no longer supplies the floor-mounted foot as standard. Scan the included QR code to request one free of charge from Dorgard. 

Key Product Features:

• Acoustic fire door holder
• Automatically releases the fire door upon hearing the fire alarm
• Foot operated (setting and manual release)
• Supplied complete with an automatic night-time release feature
• Suitable for internal use only
• Easy to retrofit
• Install at the bottom of the door
• Completely wire free
• Power: 2 x Size C alkaline batteries (supplied)
• Install in 5 minutes
• Maximum door width: 1600mm
• Maximum leaf weight: 160kg
• Suitable for standard (category B) installations under BS 7273-4:2015
• Successfully tested to BS EN 1155:1997
• Successfully tested to BS EN 1634-1:2008
• Suitable for 60 minute fire doors
• UKCA marked
• CE marked
• ABS plastic casing
• Black or white finish
• Main casing dimensions: 150mm x 195mm x 45mm
• Overall height: 205mm
• Weight: 700g

Dorgard Acoustic Fire Door Retainer for Everyday Use

Dorgard is an acoustically activated door retainer which listens for a continuous fire alarm. When the alarm sounds, the unit releases the plunger so the door can close under the control of a door closer, allowing the fire door to perform as intended by slowing the spread of fire.

The Dorgard holds a fire door open at any angle, with a rubber plunger keeping it in place through constant contact with the floor. This allows doors to be held open safely during normal use, making access easier while supporting natural ventilation. For areas with limited airflow, window operators can also be used to improve ventilation.

Dorgard Testing and Adjustment

Routine testing helps confirm a door retainer is working as expected. To test your Dorgard, sound the fire alarm for at least 30 seconds. The LED on top of the unit will flash every second to show it is detecting the alarm, followed by a warning tone as it prepares to release the door. 

If the door does not release as expected, the Dorgard sensitivity may need adjusting to suit the environment.

Sensitivity Adjustment

To adjust the Dorgard, insert the included adjustment tool into the front of the unit and make a very small turn. Turn clockwise to increase sensitivity or anti-clockwise to reduce it. Even slight adjustments make a significant difference so be careful not to over-adjust it.

For noisier sites, Dorgard SmartSound offers a more advanced option. It can distinguish between fire alarms and everyday sounds such as vacuum cleaners, helping to reduce false releases.

Dorgard Troubleshooting

If the unit is not performing as expected, a few quick checks will usually resolve it:

• Dorgard not staying open: This often comes down to installation or setup. Check that the plunger is fully depressed, the unit is fitted at the correct height, and the batteries are still working.
• Dorgard fire door retainer beeping: A warning tone usually indicates low battery or a fault, and the unit will not hold open until the issue is resolved.

Battery Change 

Changing the Dorgard battery is quick and should be carried out as soon as the unit starts beeping or stops holding the door open.

Further guidance is available in the installation instructions, which can be downloaded from the Product Documents section.