No matter what type of premises you are talking about, all of them require fire safety right from blocks to flats, workshops to offices to even hospitals and residential homes. One key component if you talk about fire safety would definitely be fire doors. It is very important to choose, install, use, and maintain these fire doors correctly. In this article, let’s take a look at what is a fire door and what are the types of fire doors that are available out there. Knowing about the same could potentially help save dozens of lives by preventing smoke and fire from spreading around the buildings.
What is a fire door
Before we actually go into the details of various types of fire doors, here is a brief account of what is a fire door. Well, fire doors are nothing but doors that are made up of door frames, door leaves, fixtures, and fittings and are special doors with high fire resistance properties. Fire doors form a major part of the fire protection system within a building especially when it comes to the reduction of smoke and fire.
According to the ASDMA Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Association, a fire door is a completely installed door assembly that comprises door leaves, door frames, and other panels along with hardware, seals, and glazing that when closed is intended to resist any sort of fire and smoke being passed out.
Purpose of Fire doors
Fire is such an element that just needs basic three elements such as an ignition source, oxygen, and fuel to keep it burning. Once ignited a fire can easily become uncontrollable in an extremely short amount of time. On average, it just takes about 30 seconds for a fire to accumulate speed and spread almost through an entire building. A fire door over here is meant to prevent or slow down this process from taking place.
If a fire does break out, the main purpose of a fire door is to control the spread of the fire. Once closed, the fire doors seal firmly shut and restrict the amount of oxygen that is flowing towards the fire and stop gases, heat, flames, and smoke from spreading to all the other parts of the structure.
At the same time, a fire door will allow people to pass through. This means that people get a means to evacuate a burning building and provide any emergency services an access to the burning building. Essentially these fire doors help save not just lives but also property.
Types of fire doors
Fire doors generally consist of the same features and should be able to meet all the standards that are necessary for safety. These various types of doors which are listed only differ based on their fire resistance levels.
Fire-resistant doors are mainly assigned with an independent FD rating to help understand the resistance levels and it is up to the person in charge of the area to determine which sort of fire doors are best suited for their building.
Four of the most common FD ratings are:
FD30
These are fire doors that provide at least 30 minutes of fire resistance.
FD60
Fire doors with FD60 provide a total of 60 minutes of fire resistance.
FD90
Those doors that consist of an FD90 rating usually provide a total time of 90 minutes of fire resistance
FD120
Lastly, fire doors that consist of an FD120 rating will provide a total of 120 minutes of fire resistance.
FD30 however is considered to be one of the most commonly used types and is also recommended according to fire safety standards. They can provide a high level of fire resistance protection for up to 30 minutes and will also slow down the fire along the route. Anything that is higher than FD30 is quite uncommon. Except when there are two buildings being separated by a fire door only then FD60 is used.
What are Fire doors made of
Fire doors are usually made by using a combination of various materials or components. Different materials tend to play various roles however it is important to choose a combination that will provide perfect resistance. Here are a few of the materials that are commonly used.
Steel
Steel fire doors are quite a popular choice of material. Steel is in itself a non-combustible material and hence will not feed or spread fire. Steel and other metal doors are also considered to be more cost-effective than wooden doors and also have a higher rating when both of them are compared.
Vermiculate
Vermiculite and other aluminium or metal panels can be added to wooden doors to make them highly resistant to fire while also meeting all the hygiene requirements needed. Having protective panels also makes a fire door more weather resistant especially when they are used for exterior purposes.
Glass
It is now becoming quite common to see glass panels and windows that have high fire resistance. Glass that isn’t fire resistant could potentially explode and even create a bigger problem during a fire. However, now there are several options even in glass that make it fire resistant.
Wire mesh glass
Wire mesh glass is one of the first types of glass fire-resistant material that was made available. Wired glass has a visible steel mesh which has been placed into the glass while it is being manufactured. The wire mesh is designed in such a way that the glass will hold any of the glass pieces that break during the fire. It also has quite a high fire resistance.
Ceramic glass
Ceramic glass is now replacing wire mesh glass due to the common glazing option. It is a type of glass that has been heat-treated and crystalized into a stronger piece of glass with higher thermal stability. Ceramic glass can be either tinted, clear, or mirrored based on the design choices. Its insulation abilities further make it an energy-efficient option.
Borosilicate glass
Borosilicate glass is the latest fireproof glass option and could also be one of the strongest to date. It can easily withstand high temperatures for an extended period of time without exploding. It is more lightweight and sturdier than any of the other options. It is also transparent such that people can easily view the other side of the glass.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Fire Doors
While a fire door is surely one of the ways to provide occupants to escape the building, if its installation is not proper then it might not be as efficient. This is why there are a few common mistakes you need to be aware of while selecting and installing fire doors.
Neglecting building codes and regulations
One of the biggest mistakes that most people make while installing fire doors is that they do not follow the building codes and fire safety regulations. The building code mainly specifies the requirements, materials, construction, and installation methods. These fire safety regulations are set in place to ensure there is safety during a dire emergency.
To avoid such mistakes, you might want to collaborate with architects, contractors, and fire safety specialists to ensure that you get enough information regarding how to install the doors. It is also important to familiarise yourself with all the codes and regulations that state about fire-rated glass doors and what are the requirements.
Inadequate door and hardware selection
Choosing the wrong fire-rated glass door and hardware could be another mistake that you encounter while selecting the fire door. Fire-rated doors come in various types of ratings and these indicate the resistance levels of each type. If you select fire doors that have low ratings, then it could end up being too hazardous for people who are living there. Selecting those doors that have undergone testing and have proper fire door certification is important.
Apart from the selection of doors, the selection of hardware to install the doors should also be done carefully. This will involve everything from handles, and locks, to hinges. When there is a selection of non-compliant hardware it will all become useless in an event where there is fire. Hence making sure every component has undergone testing and certification is very important when choosing the appropriate hardware and fire doors.
Poor installation techniques
Improper installation techniques could lead to major problems when it comes to the glass door assembly. Errors such as inadequate clearance, poor sealing, and improper fastening could leave out open spaces from which entry of fire and smoke will be possible which cancels the function of the door.
Make sure you work with experts in the field who will help you with proper installation techniques. Ensure that all the gaps and spaces have been properly sealed with fire-resistant materials.
Lack of proper maintenance and inspection
It is very important to have routine maintenance and inspection conducted for your fire-rated glass doors once they are installed. Ignoring this step could lead to undetected damage or wear and tear which could affect the performance of the fire door. Check for the glass’s ability to withstand fire and whether there are scratches on it. If there are any such problems then working on it as soon as possible is the key.
Insufficient fire safety training
All the employees and building occupants should be provided with fire safety training. While the fire door is definitely a great preventative measure, if the people do not know how to use it or are not aware of the evacuation protocols then it could be a major issue. The occupants must also be taught on how to use the fire doors and what are the evacuation protocols and the emergency routes they can access. Regular drills and reminders are quite essential to make everyone understand their role in relation to an event of fire.
FAQ:
1. What is the core material for fire doors?
The core materials that are used for fire doors include the following:
- Glass
- Vermiculate
- Steel
2. Can fire doors be PVC?
Postformed fire doors are a type of door that consists of wrapping a PVC membrane around the door and the frame.
3. Can I paint a fire door?
Yes, you can paint a fire door by using regular paint as well, however make sure you do not add a lot of coats so that it does not affect the performance.
4. What are the layers of a fire door?
You will often find that a fire door consists of two steel layers between which there will be materials such as silicate boards, rock wool, or materials that provide insulation or fire resistance.