We never think of fire-rated doors unless we have to and until – if ever, the bad moment comes. Since it’s always better to take action before a disaster happens, let’s talk about fire doors. We may not think about them but we certainly have seen them around – even if we don’t know it.
Some buildings are obliged by the International Building Code regulations to have fire doors, frames, and hardware along with other fire-resistant building materials rated for active and passive fire protection. For example, apart from fire-rated doors, buildings can be protected with fire sprinklers and smoke control systems. Adjacent buildings are protected from fire and smoke with fire barriers, fire-rated exterior walls, and fire-resistant roofs – to mention the basics.
What is a fire-rated door?
The job of fire-rated doors is to slow down the expansion of fire and, if possible, to confine it. The goal is to help people evacuate a building without harm, save assets and the building, and limit the spread of fire.
Fire-rated doors are fire-resistant doors. In other words, they are doors made to resist fire up to a certain point. They are usually made of gypsum or metal and may include various materials, from fiberglass to wood, which work together to slow down the journey of fire and smoke. It’s recommended that the hardware – and all components, of the door are all tested and rated for their resistance so that the entire door will work cohesively – usually, in conjunction with fire protection systems. When the fire door installation is properly done, the door self-closes to confine the smoke and fire within a particular space and keep it from spreading – at least, for the time is designed to do so.
Are all fire-rated doors the same?
From the above, you may already conclude that not all fire doors are the same. They differ in terms of construction and more importantly in terms of rating. The door’s ratings define the approximate time a door will resist fire. The fire door ratings may range from 20 minutes to 90 minutes but the resistance of the door won’t last for as long as the designated ratings. For example, a door with a 60-minute fire rating will not withstand for 60 minutes but usually less. That’s because a fire is a fire and there are usually many combustible materials around that will only make the fire stronger.
In case you are wondering, glass doors can be fire-rated too – both the glass and the frame. In fact, you can get doors with fire-protective glass or fire-resistive glass. The former protects – as much as its rating allows, and keeps the fire and the smoke from spreading. The latter takes it a step further and blocks conductive heat and radiant heat.
Can a fire door make a difference?
It can. Although the ratings refer to the tests done in controlled environments and their materials will – at one point – burn too, they can still slow down a fire, stop its spread, and keep smoke from traveling. And they can do that for a specified period of time, giving tenants the chance to walk out of the building. Since the smoke is confined too, health problems and deaths attributed to smoke inhalation are reduced too. At a second level, fire-rated doors may save a property, giving time to the firefighters to take action and put the fire out.
Should you get a fire-rated door – or not?
Fire-rated doors are mandatory in some buildings, as we already mentioned. These are commercial buildings, hospitals, big firms, schools, cinemas, apartment buildings, and elsewhere. They are not mandatory in small-scale structures, like private homes and small offices but they will certainly make a difference should there be a fire.
If you are planning to get a door replacement or planning the installation of new doors at new construction and wondering what to do, it’s best to start with your local authorities. Or, consult with a local door installation company. Fire-rated doors are surely an excellent choice at any structure, where there are small children and elderly since they will have the time to walk out or be carried out without getting hurt. In a home, for example, it will be good to have a fire door between the garage and the house structure, at rooms on each level, and in stairwells. Not only will they help but also provide peace of mind. Who doesn’t want that when it comes to fire?
