Important Notice

This is an update to our previously published notice regarding asbestos fibres impacting one of the categories of fire-rated door ‘cores’ previously used in the production of certain Pyropanel fire-rated doors in Australia and New Zealand.   

The issue continues to be investigated, but in the meantime we have published this notice (including its prior iteration) for transparency and informing relevant parties as part of steps to help ensure safe working and handling practices in connection with the relevant ‘core’ product and any fire-rated doors that may be impacted. 

Below is further information in relation to this issue:

Which fire-rated doors/components may be impacted?

The issue has impacted a product known as ‘FRB board’ or ‘FRB core’, which is manufactured by a third party outside of Australia.

We have previously sourced that FRB core from the foreign supplier, and then on-supplied it to certain licensees and distributors authorised to use the product in the manufacturing/supply of the following categories of Pyropanel fire-rated doors:

• FRB MAXI SI - 48mm nominal thick, single leaf hinged door - sizes up to 2400x920 or 2100x1120;
• FRB M14 Sliding Fire Door (PSFD120-80 and PSFD240-80) - 80mm nominal thick, up to 4hr fire resistance - all sizes; and
• FRB M13 Sliding Fire Door (PSFD120-65) - 60mm nominal thick, up to 2 hr fire resistance - all sizes,

(referred to in the remainder of this notice as “Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories”).

Doors in these Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories that are manufactured by licensees/distributors may be marketed and sold by them under different names. The manufacturer’s details for each fire-rated door should be listed on the tag attached to the door assembly, allowing that manufacturer to be contacted where it is appropriate to determine if the door falls into one of the Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories and thus may have been constructed using FRB core.

It is important to stress that neither the FRB core, nor any Pyropanel fire-rated doors, contain asbestos ‘by design’. Instead, this is a contamination event in relation to which an explanation and more information is being sought from the relevant third-party supplier.

What is the impact of this issue on fire-rated doors/FRB core products already supplied?

As noted above, this issue is still under investigation. 

Since the issue first came to our attention, a significant volume of testing of samples of FRB core that we and various licensees already held ‘in stock’ has occurred, and it is clear the impact of the issue is not uniform – in the sense that it has impacted some individual FRB cores but not others. 

Initially, our belief from these testing results and other available information that the asbestos issue may primarily have impacted only more recently imported FRB core. However, from subsequent sample testing of relevant doors in market we identified that the asbestos issue appears to have impacted stock for approximately the past 2 years.

One of our licensees in New Zealand, our related entity Pacific Door Systems Limited (PDS), has implemented a voluntary recall in relation to fire-rated doors using the FRB core that it has sold or supplied in the period 1 March 2021 to 11 August 2025 and in relation to which fire tags (labels) have not been issued. That timeframe reflects the duration of the period in which PDS obtained FRB core from us, but the voluntary recall notice notes that the precise timeframe of the asbestos issue is still under investigation.  Refer the next section of this notice for information relating to the learnings from this investigation process to date.

Where the fire tag has been issued (reflecting that all works are completed on the relevant doors and they are installed), the doors are not covered by the recall and instead PDS has noted that relevant asbestos management plans in relation to the doors should be implemented and followed. ASSA ABLOY are currently engaging with relevant parties regarding the potential for a similar recall process to the one being conducted in New Zealand by PDS to be implemented in Australia.

While that process continues, and the scope of the contamination issue remains under investigation, and out of an abundance of caution, it will be prudent to handle any doors in the Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories as if they could contain asbestos. 

We understand that the doors should pose no risks while they remain ‘in situ’ with the FRB core fully encapsulated. However, should invasive or similar works on Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories be planned, then the safety-related considerations raised by the information above will need to be taken into account. We would suggest obtaining the latest guidance from local ‘WorkSafe’ bodies and other experts in this context regarding such works.

What has Pyropanel found from its investigation of the issue to date?

We have identified that there were changes made to the manufacturing arrangements for the FRB core during 2023, and to date all doors in the Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories that were manufactured or dispatched prior to that change have returned ‘no asbestos detected’ results where we (including our related entity PDS) have commissioned testing of such doors. Accordingly, while our investigation and sample testing processes continue, it is possible we may be able to determine that the issue is confined to FRB core (and doors manufactured with that core) supplied in the period since the mentioned manufacturing changes. We will issue updates to this notice in relation to this aspect as it becomes clearer.

How did Pyropanel become aware of this issue?

The issue came to our attention when some FRB core recently imported into Australia (and, subsequently, New Zealand) was tested and found to contain asbestos. 

Samples of FRB core product had previously been the subject of testing and reported and certified as not containing any asbestos, so there was no prior indication of any issue.

Have any relevant authorities been informed?

We and various licensees are in contact with a range of Worksafe and other bodies in relation to these matters.

What are the next steps?

As mentioned above, we are continuing to investigate these issues, including to seek to better understand the scope of FRB core product and supply time periods impacted.  

Relevant updates to this notice will follow as clarifying details become available.   

In addition to publishing this notice (including its prior iteration), we are continuing to be working with licensees/distributors to seek to ensure appropriate information is provided to those customers to whom supply of fire-rated doors in the Potentially Impacted Fire Door Categories has occurred. 

Thank you for your understanding as we work through these matters and please contact support.pyropanel@assaabloy.com for any further information.