Are you new to fire doors? Do you think of adding one to your home? In simple terms, fire doors provide life-saving grace in case of a fire emergency. Learn more about fire doors in this article.
What Is a Fire Door?
A fire door is manufactured and fitted strongly in the building during construction to render it the ability to resist the spread of fire from one room to another. It withstands both the smoke and flame intensity and keeps them in check for a while before the reinforcements arrive. It is an essential tool; for passive fire protections that allow the occupants to have time to evacuate or sort out other measures to put off the fire.
How Are Fire Doors Different from Standard Doors?
Fire doors are mainly manufactured or prevent fire threats mostly installed in homes or places prone to fire attacks for a short period. Most fire doors can withstand the strength of the fire for at least thirty minutes. The time taken differs depending on the material used and the rating of the fire door. Fire doors might be fully solid for construction or lined with fireproof material that slows down burning. Moreover, a fire door is made with complicated seals either fitted on the door or the frame. It seals the door during the fire heat impact and prevents the spread of fire. Moreover, the tight seals also prevent smoke from slipping into other rooms. Ordinary doors don’t have any of these features so they are different by a large margin.
Do I Need Fire Doors in My Home?
If you are planning for a large extension, renovation, or converting your current structure to something good, then it is good to reinforce your doors with fire doors. They must be included in your project budget and it will save you a huge number of troubles once you are attacked with fire. However, fire doors are most crucial in the following scenarios
- If you have a door leading to the garage from the main house in a two or three storey building.
- If you have a loft conversion. All the doors must be fire doors according to the building regulations. It states that if you are engaging in such a structure, there must be fire doors to the corridors from the loft to ensure that if there is a fire, everyone can have a safe exit.
- If you are building three or more storey structures.
If you are not sure of what you need for your house requirements when it comes to fire doors, consult your building control of architecture for further guidance. However, if none of the above situations apply to you, you don’t have to worry. You don’t need to do a complete replacement of your doors with fire doors. If you are not likely to be attacked by fire, then standard doors will do fine. However, having fire doors is crucial as you will never know when a fire will strike accidentally. It will keep your properties and your family safe in case of any fire incident within the house. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Can Fire Doors Have Glass Panels?
Yes. There are many fire doors with different assemblies that include glass panels. For instance, the JELD-WEN fire door features several glazing points. They use fire-resistant glass that will withstand high temperatures abruptly and for the required amount of time without worries. When this happens, you will have the maximum light benefit without worrying about your safety.
How To Test Fire Doors
This is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom. All the fire doors manufacturers must provide proof of the doors they make. For instance, the JELD-WEN products are all approved by the BWF certificate scheme. Moreover, the JELD-WEN is specifically supplied in the most standard requirement of a 35 mm fire door frame. All the doors are approved by the BWF certificate scheme with a range of stylish finishes and designs to make them safe and compatible.
How To Fit A Fire Door
For maximum performance, proper fitting of the fire door is crucial. I recommend using an experienced installer or joiner who has undergone the correct training to avoid disappointments. That's because with search and experts the seals will be correct and fitting thus the fire doors will not have a crevice that will allow the spread of fire.
Features Of Fire Doors
The following are some of the key features to look for in fire doors for both domestic and commercial purposes:
- Fire doors are made of several components. The whole door (the general foundation) is usually made of timber. They are then covered with fire-resistant material such as glass. The glass must be capable of withstanding heat exposure for at least an hour.
- The edges of the fire doors or frame usually have an intumescent seal designed to expand when beyond 200 degrees Celsius to seal the gaps between the door and the frame to prevent the spread of fire.
- In private premises, you are advised to install a fire door in areas prone to fire such as the kitchen or room with more electric connection. For new properties, you have been through the regulation that needs some of your doors to be fire doors. Currently, fire doors are needed in Multiple occupation houses to be protected against fire risk.
- When choosing a fire door, it is good to know about the various specifications. For instance, the FD code will show you for how long your fire door can withstand the fire and what precautions you need to take for that. The common codes used are FD 30 and FD 60.
The Bottom Line
Fire doors are mainly manufactured or prevent fire threats mostly installed in homes or places prone to fire attacks for a short period. Most fire doors can withstand the strength of the fire for at least thirty minutes. The time taken differs depending on the material used and the rating of the fire door. If you are not sure of what you need for your house requirements when it comes to fire doors, consult your building control of architecture for further guidance.
