The technology has advanced and many new ways have been introduced that offer better and stronger security to the buildings. One of these innovations is fire-rated doors. These are the specialized doors that make sure that the occupants of a building are completely secure from the dangers of a fire. Contrary to the traditional iron or wooden doors, a fire-rated door is more secure and safer in the event of a fire. The doors have a fire-resistance rating and can be made out of a combination of materials such as glass sections, gypsum, steel, timber, vermiculite and aluminum. These doors are certified by licensed fire door specialists and comes with smoke resistant seals. They are automatically operated with sensors. So in case of any fire accident, the fire alarm starts ringing. They can also be operated using remote controllers.
Requirement of Fire-rated Doors
Fire-rated doors are required in buildings to protect occupants, block the spread of flames and smoke, and minimize the overall property damage. As these doors close and open automatically when a fire is detected in the building, these doors are a key component of a building’s protection system. These doors help block or delay the spread of heat, smoke and flames through hallways, stairwells and other sections of the building. They also offer heat resistance and allow quick egress from the building in case of an emergency. The building codes enforced in different countries mandate the fire-resistance rating of the fire door assembly. The hourly ratings include 1-1/2-hours, 1-hour, 3/4-hour, and 1/3-hour, with the maximum rating required of any swinging type fire door being three hours. The specification followed in India is as per IS 3614 part-1 & part-2.
When selecting fire-rated doors for your project, consider the following:
- Fire-resistance-rated frames must have fire-resistance-rated glazing.
- Door opening sizes as per your structural integrity requirements
- Jamb depth of door frame relates to wall thickness
- Temperature rise ratings for the maximum rise above ambient temperature on the non-fire side of the door
The Doors must be well maintained and still ensure adequate protection, these doors must be inspected yearly. Most fire doors are designed to be kept closed at all times. Some doors are designed to stay open under normal circumstances and close automatically in the event of a fire. Whichever method is used, the door’s movement should never be impaired by a doorstop or other obstacle. The intumescent and smoke-seal bounding of fire doors should be routinely checked, as should the action of the door closer and latch.
Advantages of Fire-rated Doors
- The doors are constructed from better and stronger materials. Several fire-resistant materials are extensively used in the materials of these doors
- During a fire incident, since the fire doors are self-latching they will contain the effect of fire on the other side giving people enough time to find an escape. Depending on the rate of the fire door it can hold the smoke and fire for 2 to 3 hours
- They can withstand hazardous conditions, they can protect the remaining area of the property from being damaged
- In case of a fire breakout at a laboratory or a building where chemicals are known to be part of the production, these doors will provide everyone protection from hazardous and harmful gas to spread
- They are more acoustically insulating than the traditional doors, which is why they can prevent noise transfer from one room to another
- These doors are available in glazed, paneled, and just about every design that you could think of without worrying about their overall performance
- They are equipped with smoke reduction features that prevent the spread of deadly smoke.
- It provides an aesthetic appeal and modern models are now available in a wide range of styles and finishes.
Conclusion
There are several advantages of the fire-rated door that offers long-term safety for the buildings. You need to ensure it is properly installed. A fire-rated door is only effective if it is professionally installed. Each fire door comes with a different set of specifications as far as material, size, shape and parts of the door are concerned. Take experienced professionals to help who can install a fire-rated door as per the specifications approved by the fire department of the specific country.