All of us who use or occupy any building need to know that we will be safely protected should a fire break out, but unfortunately this is not always the case. The building itself my fail to stand up to the fire or perhaps one of the fire safety devices fail because they have not been properly maintained or installed and we all know this will lead tragedy.
Fire doors are part of a buildings passive fire protection system and one that is an essential requirement of law for public buildings, offices and factories. However, it is not just limited to this, because in certain domestic situations it is also required, for example:
All rooms in any of the above situations are separated from other rooms in order to:
The walls, ceilings, entrances and exits are therefore designed to resist the fire for a specified period of time.
The simple purpose of a fire door in every day use is just like any other door, however in the event of a fire, the fire door must then perform unlike any other door and protect lives of people and offer protection to the remainder of the building and to other buildings.
Q: How are fire doors different to standard doors?
A: Fire doors are manufactured to withstand the spread of fire for a given period of time and this is normally for a minimum of 30 minutes, this will allow time for occupants of a building to escape. Fire doors may be of solid construction or made with a special core that is slow to burn. They are also made with special intumescent seals which are fitted into either the door or frame, these seal the door on impact with heat and stops the spread of fire and smoke.
Q: How do I know if I need a fire door?
A: Fire doors are mainly used in commercial buildings, such as hotels and offices, but are also mandatory in some domestic homes as previously detailed. Therefore it is important that you check your building regulations to see what applies to you specifically. The majority of fire doors are fitted internally, but in certain situations they may be required for external use.
Q: Can I choose any style of door as a fire door?
A: Many doors are available as fire doors, so there is a huge choice of designs including many finishes and glazing options. Fire doors are commonly sold as a ‘complete set’, including the frame and essential ironmongery, this is so the door holds in place, in the event of fire. Installation of the ‘complete set’ is often a safer solution as the every component would have been tested to ensure all elements are compatible and meet the desired regulations.
Q: Is there anything different about installing a fire door?
A: Yes. A fire door is a life saving product and must be installed correctly. The installation is critical to the door’s performance in the event of a fire. This is why it is recommended that all fire door fitting is carried out by a specialist in this field.
Q: How are fire doors tested?
A: There is a legal requirement for fire door manufacturers to prove that their doors perform as claimed. The ‘complete set’ will be of suitable construction and will be subject to a furnace & a real fire test, to determine the period of resistance, e.g. 30 minutes, 60 minutes etc. This test then provides the evidence for this particular ‘complete set’.
At Fire Doors Rite our fire door installation service enables each of our clients to have a full and comprehensive installation certificate of 10 identifiable points, along with full test and data sheets of all materials used – giving you peace of mind that the installation has ben carried out to the best possible standard.
Also, by using Fire Doors Rite for your initial fire door installation you will not only get peace of mind, but you will save money in the long term. This is because any future fire door inspections will already have had most points carried out and covered during the install.
We ensure the legal requirement for manufacturers of fire doors are covered by BM Trada Q Mark scheme and this demonstrates our ability to ensure the products we choose to use for your building resist the passage and spread of fire. Once again ensuring that we have the safety of your occupants and your business at the forefront of our minds during fire door installation.
We offer a full free quotation services, so please contact us now for more information on how we can help you with the installation of fire doors for your building.
