Letterbox 4 You is delighted to present the Defensor FR180 fire rated letterbox. Independently tested to the strict safety requirements of BS EN 1363-1:2012, it successfully resisted and contained fire for 3 hours. This is the highest performance of any of the fire rated letterboxes currently available in the UK.
Why Is There a Need for Fire Rated Letterboxes?
UK Fire & Rescue Services attend around 39,000 building fires a year in the UK. Many are accidental, however, arson was the cause of 35% of all fire incidents attended between 2019 and 2024. Skips, bins and letterboxes are common risks for deliberately started fires, as they often contain flammable materials.
Whether started by accident or with intent, fires have a devastating effect, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. The consequences are particularly destructive in multi-occupancy flats, offices and apartments. Therefore, by developing a robust and proven means of reducing fire spread, we aim to enhance the safety and security of buildings.
Prevention: Part of a Fire Safety Plan
As part of a robust fire safety plan, potential hazards need to be identified and controlled. Knowing that letterboxes are a potential hazard, Letterbox4You worked on a way to mitigate the issue. As such, fire rated letterboxes are a prevention method, to be combined with smoke detectors, fire alarms and other fire safety equipment to protect people, property and contents from intentional harm.
Fires in corridors, foyers and near main exits can block fire escape routes. These are the areas where post boxes are most commonly located. Therefore, letterboxes with the integrity to resist fire spread enable more people to reach safety. In addition, it lowers the risk to crews attending a fire incident.
How Can a Letterbox Resist Fire?
Defensor FR180 has taken over a year of development and testing before Letterbox4You brought it to market. It is manufactured from powder coated galvanised carbon steel and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures. In addition, the material used in all seals expands under heat pressure. This blocks gaps and prevents smoke or flames from escaping.
Even when the letterboxes are full of mail, newspapers and other flammable materials, tests evidenced that Defensor FR180 effectively contained the flames. The intense testing process saw the powder coating buckle and flake and the metal turn white with heat. However, the post boxes held their form and prevented fire and smoke from spreading for 3 hours. This is at least an hour longer than any other product currently on the market.
To further enhance the integrity of their design, it also includes an anti-theft baffle plate. This enables letters, magazines and small packages to be delivered through the 230mm x 25mm letter flap. However, it effectively restricts access to the box by anyone attempting to reach in with hands or fishing tools. This meets BS 13724 for safe and secure mail management.
Key Features of Defensor FR180
Letterbox4You's fire rated letterboxes are designed for use in communal areas of multiple occupancy residential and commercial buildings. They comply with the Secured by Design Homes 2024 Guidelines and are supplied with two keys. They can be installed as a wall mounted, recess mounted or free standing post box solution and are powder coated in a range of RAL colours.
It typically takes 2 weeks for the team to prepare and dispatch communal letterboxes. To find out more and place your order, visit the Defensor FR180 page on the website or call the team on 01296 839401.
