In this blog we will be looking at the importance of fire doors, as well as the importance of meeting fire regulations when ‘fire proofing’ your doors.
What is a Fire Door?
A fire door is a door with a fire resistance rating, used to reduce the spread of fire and smoke between separate compartments of a building. The frame used around a fire door must also be fire rated. Fire doors should be fitted with fire door signs, or pictograms, on both sides of the door, these usually read ‘fire door keep shut’ or ‘fire door keep locked.’
Hardware for Fire Doors
Fire doors must be equipped with fire rated hardware only. The hardware must be CE marked with a relevant fire certificate.
Door Closers
Almost all fire doors should be equipped with a fire rated door closer, which are designed to always keep doors closed.
Hinges and Hinge Pads
Fire rated hinges and intumescent hinge pads should also be used on fire doors, 3 no. hinges are required for each door leaf.
Intumescent Seals
Intumescent strips and cold smoke seals should be fitted to both the top and sides of all door leaves, these are designed to stop the spread of smoke and fire between parts of a building.
Hold Open Devices
Door hold open devices, such as the Union DoorSense work by holding a fire door open, which improves access around the building. If a fire alarm sounds, DoorSense automatically releases and enables the door closer do its work. Please note, these are not recommended for schools and other places where there is likely to be lots of loud noises, as these loud noises can also trigger the DoorSense to release.
There are also electromagnetic hold open devices, designed to be wired into a fire system and released when a fire alarm sounds. These require a magnet on the wall, such as theGEZE 120012 electromagnetic hold open magnet, and a plate fitted to the door, like the GEZE 115954 Counter plate C & 115956 Counter plate E.
Pocket Doors
Pocket doors can also be fire rated, we sell one fire rated pocket system on our sister website; the FD30 – iMpero fire door pocket kit. which comes complete with track, runners, brackets, stops, intumescent fire seals, pre-cut and formed plasterboard sections and cassette. Fire rated pocket door systems must only be fit with fire rated doors, any other door should not be used.
Why must Fire Doors be Kept Shut?
It is important that all fire doors are kept closed as they are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through a building. If fire doors are kept open, fire and smoke will spread through a building a lot more quickly and leave people less time to evacuate safely, it also means that the building is more at risk of being destroyed by a fire.
If you require any further information on fire rated products or any of our other products, don’t hesitate to give us a call or e-mail us and we will get back to you.