Important Notice

Doors that already installed with fire tags issued fall into a different Category (‘Category C’) and are not being recalled/ replaced, including because they are not considered to pose material health or safety risks and may comply with relevant New Zealand Building Code performance requirements provided the core board remains effectively encapsulated and appropriate management arrangements are in place.  Refer to the further information below relating to these aspects and in relation to this category of doors more generally.

Note that PDS is now, since 11 August 2025, utilising in relevant manufacturing a core from a different supplier in replacement for the core the subject of the contamination event.

Below is further information in relation to this issue, which should be read in conjunction with the information in the recall notice:

Which fire-rated doors/components may be impacted?

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

FRB core is a product that PDS and other manufacturers in both Australia and New Zealand previously used (but no longer use) in the manufacturing of certain Pyropanel fire-rated doors. 

For PDS, the fire-rated doors it manufactured using FRB core and that formed part of PDS’ range at the time the issue came to its attention are listed further below (referred to in the remainder of this notice as “Potentially Impacted PDS Fire Door Categories”).

It is important to stress that FRB core and the Potentially Impacted PDS Fire Door Categories do not contain asbestos ‘by design’; the supplier of the FBR core has always represented the product as asbestos free and the cause of the issue remains under investigation.

Regarding the time period of impact, PDS has been working with consultants to test volumes of historical supplies in order to try and ascertain when the asbestos issue began impacting FRB core fire doors supplied by PDS.

There is mounting evidence from testing processes that the asbestos contamination issue may be confined to FRB core (and doors manufactured with that core) supplied from 2023 onwards.  In particular, from a high volume of systematic testing coordinated via a consultancy in New Zealand under protocols developed with input from WorkSafe New Zealand, approx. 99% of a high volume of doors that were dispatched by PDS prior to April 2023 and subject to up to 2 rounds of Polarised Light Microscopy testing returned negative (no asbestos detected) results.   Those doors come from a range of different time periods including within 2021 and 2022.

It has also been identified that there were changes made by the relevant overseas supplier to the manufacturing arrangements for the FRB core during 2023, which may be linked to commencement of this issue.

PDS is liaising with WorkSafe and MBIE in relation to these testing and investigation results ahead of expected updates to the relevant time periods referenced in documents such as its recall notice.

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

Refer the recall notice linked above.

Based on testing to date, we understand that not all FRB core products supplied to PDS (even since 2023) have contained asbestos.  

However, while the scope of the issue remains under investigation, all doors in the Potentially Impacted PDS Fire Door Categories dispatched in relevant time periods should be treated as if they contain asbestos until established otherwise. 

What is the impact of the asbestos issue?

As per WorkSafe’s published guidance: Fire safety doors response | WorkSafe, where fire doors have been installed with fire tags issued (reflecting all relevant works on the door have concluded), the doors should pose low to negligible risks while they remain ‘in situ’ with the FRB core fully encapsulated.   However, there are obviously health and safety risks that may arise if the core is exposed, such as through drilling or other works.  Accordingly, it is important that WorkSafe’s guidance be followed to ensure such works do not occur unless permitted under the relevant health and safety regulatory regime (and in such cases following all relevant protocols and requirements as per the applicable WorkSafe guidance and directives). 

How did PDS become aware of this issue?

The issue came to the attention of PDS when some FRB core 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?

PDS have been liaising extensively with both Worksafe New Zealand and MBIE in relation to these matters; refer further information provided below relating to this.

Why are Category C doors not being recalled/replaced?

Where fire doors have been installed with fire tags issued (reflecting all relevant works on the door have concluded), the doors should pose no (or low) to negligible risks while they remain ‘in situ’ with the FRB core fully encapsulated. 

Additionally, MBIE has published guidance accommodating this outcome in relevant circumstances, as explained more fully below.

In this context, PDS understands there is no immediate health and safety imperative to have the relevant doors replaced, and is thus working with relevant parties regarding the necessary steps to facilitate this outcome – as it continues to appropriately focus its resources on replacing Category A and B doors given they are the sole focus of the published recall (and the required works for that scope of recall are expected to continue for coming years).

What non-replacement steps will therefore be taken regarding Category C doors?

Please refer the published guidance on the MBIE and WorkSafe websites (which we also provide additional commentary on further below).  Amongst other things, the published guidance notes that relevant PCBU/s having control over the relevant premises where such doors are installed must adopt a blanket asbestos presence presumption for asbestos risk management purposes, and update their asbestos registers and asbestos management plans (AMPs) accordingly (or create these for premises that previously had no asbestos present). 

Note that PDS will be making available template AMPs to relevant parties for whom access to such a template may be helpful.   In liaison with MBIE, PDS will also be making an End of Use Plan (the EoUP) available, which sets out PDS’ commitments to coordinate and pay for safe removal and disposal of relevant asbestos impacted doors when they reach a natural end of use position, on terms set out in the document.  The role of the EoUP is also touched on in this MBIE guidance: https://www.building.govt.nz/building-code-compliance/warnings-and-bans-on-building-products/asbestos-impacted-fire-doors

What is MBIE and WorkSafe’s position in relation to Category C doors?

MBIE has provided us with the following wording outlining its position, which includes confirmation that these doors will not be made subject to a compulsory product recall: