Advantages

As previously stated, the main purpose of fire-rated doors is to help facilitate safe and quick evacuation and to minimize any possible damages to the property. Usually, fireproof doors are placed with the aim to protect the exit points of a building. This includes horizontal exits, stair enclosures, and exit corridors.

However, they are often used to divide buildings into compartments into a certain number of fire-safe areas. For larger constructions, fire-rated doors can be used for the compartmentalization into special evacuation areas where the residents or employees from different parts of the building can run to in a state of emergency along with any important assets that need to be saved.

There are many different types of doors available on the market, but fire rated doors remain as a staple option that all homeowners and office owners should consider having.

Because of the efficiency they provide, it’s important to include fire-rated doors in every fire protection plan. They are not only crucial for protecting and saving the lives of the people living or working in the building, but they can also save material belongings such as office equipment or other important objects.

What is more, fireproof doors can be crucial to maintaining the structural integrity of the building. For this reason, the door of choice should have the fireproof ratings possible so as to meet your specific needs. Whether you’re going for a fire door for domestic or commercial use, there are some key features that you need to take into consideration before choosing the door you’d like to buy.

Features of Fire-Rated Doors

• Material and function

Usually, fire-rated doors are made from a solid timber frame, which is completely fine because the wood used to make such doors is actually treated with various materials in order to be able to withstand extreme temperatures. Apart from that, some emergency doors are covered in fire-resistant glass.

In addition, the edges of the door are covered with an intumescent seal, which is specially designed to expand and seal the gaps between the door and the frame when temperatures rise beyond 200° C. This is particularly effective in preventing any harmful smoke or fumes from entering the fire-safe compartment of the building. Additionally, seals keep oxygen from entering the impacted area, thus preventing the hearth from spreading.

• Placement

When talking about fire-rated door placement, it’s important to determine whether you’re going to need the door for private premises or an office building. If you want a fireproof door at home, it’s best advised that you install it where there’s a higher risk of fire. For example, rooms with electrical devices or the kitchen.

If you’re willing to install a fire rated door in a non-domestic property, you should keep in mind that the responsibility of installing such doors lies on the owner of the property or the employer. Also, contemporary buildings need to meet special regulations that require certain doors to be fire-rated and each has its own particular place.

• Maintenance

Since such doors have a life-saving purpose, they need to be kept in perfect condition in order to function properly.

You may find yourself having a tougher time maintaining your fireproof door as opposed to your bedroom doors.

Of course, every component of a fireproof door is tested by a screening company. All components, including the hinges, doorknobs, and latch have to be run through fire resistance special assessments. Additionally, the different door partitions, also known as hearth partitions, are tested for combustion and hearth.

As a result, the fireproof door has to correspond to the certification requirements so as to be approved by the local, regional or national emergency regulations. This makes fire-rated doors highly valuable and precisely-made entryways. However, it’s vital to understand the need to conduct regular risk assessments and seek professional help when needed.

• Specifications

Most importantly, you should know the differences between the various specifications. For example, the FD code represents the number of minutes a fire door can withstand fire. Besides, statistics show that approximately 42% of house fire deaths are caused by the consumption of smoke. With this in mind, when looking for a fire door, its specifications list should include cold smoke seals which are usually within the intumescent seals. Worried about installing a fire-rated door? Let us help with your installation or view our fire-rated doors!