The Safety Letterbox Company (SLB) has successfully achieved two-hour integrity on all three of their fire-rated mailboxes- a product innovation and UK manufacturing first.
Following years of development, the company’s three fire-rated products have successfully withstood recorded temperatures of 1069 degrees centigrade for over two hours. This certification offers a new, robust mailbox product that exceeds UK fire rating standards, offering extra protection. The mailboxes can be fitted within escape corridors and when recessed into walls the boxes allow the wall to maintain its fire rating, giving architects and designers greater flexibility on projects whilst ensuring that fire safety standards are met.
The Safety Letterbox CEO Alison Orrells says: ‘’We take our responsibility as a quality British manufacturer extremely seriously.The further development and testing of this range demonstrates once again that we are continually pushing the boundaries in mail and parcel delivery and are at the forefront of innovation in our field.’’ Towards the end of 2019, and working with testing centre Exova Warrington Fire, all three fire-rated products were submitted for further physical testing. Warrington Fire simulated an environment ensuring that the walls that would house the boxes during the process were built to interpret a real-life situation.
SLB’s Technical Operations Manager Keith Jones says: “Having worked with SLB since 2003 during the first fire rated-testing, it was an absolute pleasure to be able to attend this testing facility and witness our three products FR1, FR2 and FR3 undergoing an intensive, thorough testing firsthand.The Safety Letterbox Company had a goal to achieve two-hour integrity, which was fully realised as the testing was terminated at two hours and fifteen minutes. The mailboxes hit a maximum recorded temperature of 1069 degrees centigrade.This is an outstanding achievement and I am incredibly proud to be part of such an innovative, forward-thinking team.”
The 120 Fire Rated Mailbox product range, available in 22 RAL colours and 3 metallic colours, includes: Fire Rated 1 Mailbox (FR1): An in front/out front vertical product suitable for wall mounting, wall recessing or freestanding. Its minimal depth is ideal for recessing into walls that feature a
restricted depth, maximising space in the installation location.
Fire Rated 2 Mailbox (FR2): An in front/out front horizontal product suitable for wall mounting, wall recessing or freestanding. Minimal height is idea for maximising the quantity of mailboxes that can be used in a restricted area.
Fire Rated 3 Mailbox (FR3): An in front/out back product that is suitable for through the wall processing of mail. Designed in a bespoke panel that can be created to meet the requirements of individual projects
The Safety Letterbox Company has been designing and manufacturing secure mail and parcel delivery boxes since 1986. They manufacture and supply over 150 models worldwide that provide a solution for both commercial and domestic clients looking for either individual or multi-occupancy mailboxes. They were the first manufacturer to produce 60-minute integrity fire-rated mailboxes back in January 2003 which have been the choice for many developments throughout the UK and Ireland. The team is constantly striving for product advancement and in 2017, following years of research the team began the development of a new, superior two-hour fire-rated product. The full report, including images and statistics, is available to SLB’s customers and Fire Officers upon request, providing peace of mind and reassurance that these products are thoroughly tested and approved by an industry-leading testing body.