uPVC DOOR | USER MANUAL

Please read this user manual carefully as it contains important information and practical advice on how to install, carefor and maintain your flood protection product(s).

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Product Reference External Width Overhall Height DWMD (designated water management level) Material

Outward-Opening Single Door

940mm 2100mm 840mm uPVC

Inward-Opening Single Door

940mm 2100mm 600mm uPVC

Outward-Opening Double Door

1500mm 2070mm 600mm uPVC

INSTALLATION & OPERATION

Comprehensive instructions for our profession-al installers were issued when the product was in-itially installed and signed off. The installation will have taken account of what material the product is affixed to and be appropriately configured. Doors may require top panels or side panels to fill a struc-tural opening. Whilst these additions are not the subject of the User Guide they are designed and installed to provide the same level of standards of performance.

The doors require precise and expert installation by Aquobex-approved installers.

Once installed then the deployment of flood protection is stratightforward. Close the door and fully lift the handle to engage all the locks, and then turn the key. This is the same operation as you will use for general operation of the door. To open the door then turn the key back to the unlocked po-sition and push the handle down fully in order to release the door.

TESTING

The Floodguard uPVC Door products that you have purchased have undergone stringent and comprehensive testing to ensure that they pro-vide effective, safe and reliable protection against flooding for the doorway, that it is protecting.

USE OF THE PRODUCT

This product is a reusable, manual, normal-ly-closed product designed for temporary mitiga-tion of flood risk and should be seen as part of a suite of measures to reduce the risk of flood water entering a property and has been tested according to PAS1188-1:2014 according to the designation of Building Aperture protection.

It is designed for flooding from a variety of sources including river and surface water flooding. For groundwater flooding the floodwater may well outflank the barrier and seep through the floor, so other measures may be required.

For coastal flooding it may be exposed to dam-aging waves or the corrosive effects of salt water. In other areas it may be exposed to pollutants and hydrocarbons. In all cases the doors should be in-spected and thoroughly cleaned after use.

This product has been tested against the stand-ard set of tests as defined in PAS 1188-1:2014which represent typical conditions that might be experi-enced during a flood in the UK. This includes test-ing the product for leakage under static water levels [600mm] above aperture threshold level, waves up to 0.1 m high, and parallel currents up to 1.0 m/s.

The allowable leakage rate is a maximum of 0.5 litres per metre width per hour. The testing under-taken under this PAS excludes all other compo-nents of the flood protection system.

Conformance of the product to PAS 1188-1:2014 does not mean it is suitable for all build-ings or locations. The products should in all cases be fixed to structural elements of the building and consideration should be made of the structural in-tegrity of all parts of the building which will be ex-posed to a differential hydrostatic/hydrodynamic

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loading such as masonry or glazing. If the user has any uncertainty about the suitability of a product they should seek professional guidance.

Some Floodguard uPVC Doors may include an ‘over-topping device’ which will allow water to enter the building and equalize hydrostatic pressure on the external walls of the building once the flood lev-el reaches a level where the surveyor/designer has determined that there is a risk to the building. This is, in essence, a ‘fail-safe’ for the building structure.

All buildings where these products are used should have suitable means of access/egress for the normal occupants of the building whether res-idents in a residential building or staff, customers and contractors in a commercial building. Safe ac-cess/egress should be a consideration before in-stallation or deployment of these and other flood products and may inform the sequence in which the products are deployed. Safe access/egress routes should be available at all stages of a flood includ-ing when a building is surrounded by floodwater.

Some Floodguard uPVC doors may in-clude an opening in the top half of the door to allow evacuation by emergency services through the doorway in the event of flooding.

Any flood protection has the potential to fail and to fail suddenly. If installed and deployed correctly into the outer face of a wall failure is highly unlikely.

The product itself will not prevent floodwater ingress via other routes and therefore you should obtain a flood protection risk assessment to be carried out whereby a suitably qualified (e.g. Char-tered) building surveyor, architect, structural en-gineer, civil engineer or those deemed competent prior to installation of the product to ensure the

relevant routes for water entry have been identified and that the structural integrity of the building is not compromised by the flood protection product.

The product is not designed for saving lives and for your own safety a response plan out-lining actions such as handling of valuables and documents, means of escape and evac-uation route should be prepared in advance.

Registration to flood warning services is rec-ommended. Details of the official providers of flood warnings are provided in this manual.

MAINTENANCE

Doors require compression between the door and frame - locking mechanisms may tighten han-dle pressure. Decreased (or increased) compres-sion within the warranty period should be reported for adjustment.

Components have been specified to minimise any requirement for maintenance, but the door should be inspected periodically to ensure it is in tip top condition.

To prevent leakage, there is no drainage of the door through the uPVC profile. If the door is left open to rain, water collected at the bottom of the frame will need to be wiped away with a sponge. Inspect seals every three months and position a thin piece of paper between the external sash and frame seal to check it is taut once the door is fully locked. Clean the door using a non-abrasive clean-ing solution. Lubrication used on some compo-nents is waterproof so should not be affected.

CleaningFor general maintenance purposes such as the re-

moval of dirt, dust and debris, use a soft brush es-

pecially in the bottom of the frame where debris

may accumulate. Soapy water can be used to clean

the uPVC, however after a flood event the product

should be decontaminated using a good disinfectant.

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StorageFloodguard uPVC doors have no storage require-

ments as they are fully installed with no peripheral items required to provide the flood protection.

Rubber SealsThe rubber seals should be checked from time to

time in order to ensure that the seal is still present and has not been damaged, hardened or lost their memory over the time that they are inactive. Replacement seals can be provided by the manufacturer but require in-stallation only by manufacturer-approved service en-gineers.

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Floodguard uPVC Doors are designed for a min-imum working life of 20 years. The anticipated life of the gaskets is from 2-5 years if used according to the User Manual however a maintenance visit should be arranged on an annual basis to ensure performance. Products can be returned to the manufacturer at the end of their useful life for re-use or recycling with a cover cost levied for their disposal.

WORKING LIFE

The doors should only be removed by a compe-tent person. On removal, the doors will not deliver any flood resistance benefits. Should you be re-placing with another Aquobex supplied door then we shall offer an environmentally friendly disposal route. Aquobex encourage and offer the recycling of all components and materials.

REMOVAL

Flood Warnings and other information available fromEnvironment Agency - https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings

Scottish Environment Protection Agency - https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/flooding/floodline/Natural Resources Wales - https://naturalresources.wales/flooding/check-flood-warnings/?lang=en

The sealing/locking mechanism needs some adjustment - Phone Aquobex to obtain the services of an accredited local locksmith or in-stallation partner. DO NOT make these adjustments yourself or use a non-accredited service company.

The lock cylinder becomes jammed - Phone Aquobex to obtain the services of an accredited local locksmith or installation partner.

Gaskets become displaced or excessively worn - You should always avoid stepping on the door gaskets or dragging items across them to avoid damage. If the gasket cannot be replaced easily or is excessively damaged, then call Aquobex for a planned maintenance visit.

The door has expanded due to excessive heat and has become jammed in the frame - Allow the door to cool either naturally or by applying cool water. Do not seek to adjust or force the door.

TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE

Unit 4, Genesis Building, Library Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0SG, United Kingdom

+44 (0) 1923 518582 | www.aquobex.com | enquiries@aquobex.com