Safety and Acoustics Specified for New Primary School in Herts
Enfield Speciality Doors has supplied a range of fire doors for an £11.4 million new school build – a four-form entry primary in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. With 420 pupil places and an onsite nursery, High Leigh Primary School replaces an existing school in the area and has much-needed additional capacity for the new High Leigh Garden Village.
The classroom doors were specified with several safeguarding features ideal for education settings. Finger-guards/safety hinges reduce the risk of trapped fingers, while special locking systems mean children can’t lock themselves in, but doors are still lockable for staff.
A range of double and single leaf doors were required, some in Softwood or Sapele and primed for painting on site, some laminated in white with Oak lippings. The timber used was from Enfield Speciality Doors’ FSC®-certified range, ensuring that the wood comes from sustainable sources meeting strict forest management standards.
The mix of doors included dual-certified PAS24 FD30 and FD60 internal entrance doorsets for security. Most of the fire doors were specified with 30dB acoustic performance, with a few 35dB for extra sound insulation.
Lowered acoustic panels were used in the classrooms to expose the original ceiling height, while pre-fab SIPs were used in-between concrete floors for better thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as fire resistance – and a quicker build.
Enfield Speciality Doors worked with carpentry contractor Mays Way Ltd, who were subcontracted by McLaren Construction, appointed by Hertfordshire County Council.
“We have had the pleasure of working with McLaren Construction and Enfield Speciality Doors on several projects and are delighted with the strong partnerships we have built, and the quality of the doors provided,” comments Sharon Reid, Director of Mays Way Ltd.
The fast-track build began in 2024 and was completed in time for the school to open in the summer term in May 2025.
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Images: High Leigh Primary School
| Issued on behalf of: Enfield Speciality Doors, www.enfielddoors.co.uk Tel: 020 3199 6800. Press enquiries to: Jane Evans, MRA Data, 18 Market Street, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7AE Tel: 01453 521621 Email: jane@mra-data.co.uk |
Editor’s notes
Enfield Speciality Doors’ expertise and experience is unmatched in the market. The company has a strong customer service ethos, which is another reason why Enfield Speciality Doors has been specified in thousands of projects across the UK, from healthcare and education to office fit-outs and student accommodation.
Available in FSC-certified timber, the doors come in a variety of veneer and paint finishes, as well as glazing options. Door ranges include:
- Quiet-Mark accredited acoustic doors with noise reduction up to 48db (single door) 54dB (two doors back-to-back), suitable for music studios, theatres, schools, universities, offices, homes, and more.
The combinations of materials used in acoustic doors means it can be difficult to achieve good fire performance. Enfield Speciality Doors is one of the few manufacturers in the country that can supply doors with high levels of noise reduction and fire resistance. Enfield Speciality Doors supplies door manufacturers across the UK with acoustic fire rated doors.
- Fire Doors that offer fire resistance from 30 minutes to 120 minutes, tested in accordance with British Standard 476 Part 22, assured by independent, third-party certification from the International Fire Consultants (IFC) Group. Enfield Speciality Doors’ expertise in Fire Doors is well-recognised. After Grenfell, the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) asked some key fire doors suppliers to help them. Enfield Speciality Doors provided technical advice, design and fire protection expertise.
Three sample doorsets were also provided to go through tests the MHCLG undertook in 2018, looking at fire resistance of doors opening both into and away from the fire. The doors passed the test with a large margin: ‘opening in’ exceeded the time by 19% and ‘opening out’ by an exceptional 70% (51 minutes).
- Security doors that are PAS 24 certified and available with a multi-point locking system.
- X-ray doors that are lead-lined and come pre-hung to ensure fast fitting.
Find out more about the product range at: www.enfielddoors.co.uk
