Common Uses of Rolling Steel Fire Doors

Rolling steel fire doors provide reliability, durability and safety during a fire emergency. With exceptional standards of quality, these doors can withstand the most demanding conditions in heavy industrial settings.

Rolling steel fire doors provide reliability, durability and safety during a fire emergency. With exceptional standards of quality, these doors can withstand the most demanding conditions in heavy industrial settings. Additionally, their compact design allows them to be stored when not in use, but easily deployable when needed.

What Are Rolling Steel Fire Doors?

Close-up of a grey rolling steel fire door.

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Rolling steel fire doors are physical fire barriers that protect wall openings from the spread of fire, and can be a powerful addition to a building’s passive fire protection system. In addition to protecting against flames, rolling steel fire doors also suppress heat, smoke and other toxins, and they increase the effectiveness of active fire system components like sprinklers and fire alarms.

Rolling fire-rated doors must have the ability to self-close in case of a fire. Every steel rolling fire door has fusible links that are designed to melt during high temperatures and cause the door to drop. Many fire doors are now also linked to the central alarm system so that they close automatically whenever the fire alarm sounds.

The fire rating of the door must match or supersede the rating of the wall it is installed in. If a firewall is rated for three hours, then the fire doors must be rated for three hours or more to comply with the proper codes and regulations.

Fire-rated rolling doors must also come with a code-complaint label that proves it has gone through the necessary testing and certifications. In addition, fire-rated doors must be inspected and tested annually to ensure all components are functioning properly.

Rolling steel doors are typically used in industrial and commercial settings as a protective covering for large wall openings where a traditional door would not work. They are made of interlocking steel slats that allow the door to roll up and be stowed away above the wall opening when not needed.

Benefits

White rolling steel door in an industrial building.

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Rolling steel fire doors have become an extremely popular choice, especially in industrial settings, for several reasons. They are easy to maintain, customizable and offer extra security and durability due to their design. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of rolling steel fire doors.

Easy Maintenance

Thanks to its compact design, most of the rolling steel door’s components stay enclosed and are protected from tampering and environmental threats like dirt, debris and harsh weather. The protective design also prolongs the efficacy and performance of the doors.

If a part does become compromised or break, the interlocking slats of the rolling doors allow for quick and easy repairs. Rather than replacing the entire rolling steel door, the affected slat can be removed, repaired and replaced, minimizing the time the steel door is out of service. The ability to replace a portion rather than the entire door is also cost-effective and resource-conscious.

Customizable

Rolling steel doors are easily customizable for a variety of applications. They come in a range of colors and can include features like vision panels, insulations, motor operations and fire ratings to meet the codes and requirements of your location.

For additional fire protection for your building and its occupants, rolling steel fire doors can be installed with automatic closing functions and backup battery systems in case of power failure.

Durable

The interlocking slats of rolling steel doors don’t just save you time and money on repairs — they also increase the strength and structural integrity of the door. Steel is already an incredibly durable material, but the interlocking slats add a level of flexibility that lowers the risk of dents, bowing and buckling under intense weather and wind loads.

Even the paint and finishes on rolling steel doors offer protection to the surface from general wear and tear.

Fire-resistant rolling steel doors reinforce firewall barriers. They prevent smoke, heat, fire and hazardous gasses from spreading until firefighters arrive. They can also be used to protect exit routes while occupants are moving to safety.

When to Use Rolling Steel Fire Doors

Four cream rolling steel doors on the exterior of an industrial building.

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Rolling steel fire doors are typically used to protect large openings or cavities in an industrial or commercial setting. They also provide extra security to the building and can protect assets from theft as well as fire.

Rolling steel fire doors are designed for large wall openings but are not meant to cover openings that are a required means of egress. Instead, they are meant to protect designated exit routes from the spread of flames, smoke, heat and toxins.

Rolling steel doors are a popular choice for openings either too large for a regular door or where a traditional door may be a hindrance. Because the doors roll up into a coil above the opening, they are a common space-saving alternative to other types of fire doors like swinging fire doors.

Rolling steel fire doors can also be used in home applications, but that is not as common.

When to Use Alternatives

Smoke curtains covering two elevators.

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While rolling steel fire doors are a popular choice, they are not always the best option for every design. Alternatives like smoke and fire curtains offer the same safety benefits with added flexibility for unique spaces.

Rolling doors are compact, but they are not invisible. They coil into a hood that hangs on the wall, and sometimes this hood does not fit into the desired design of the building.

Fire and smoke curtains offer a minimal footprint while fitting seamlessly into the aesthetics of any design. In fact, they are virtually invisible when not in use because they are installed and stored within the wall or ceiling. No unsightly hood is needed.

Smoke curtains are also a better fit for unique spaces like atriums, elevators and stairwells. Smoke curtains can encompass open spaces on all sides to create temporary walls during an emergency, and they can also be installed horizontally to separate floors.

When retrofitting older buildings to bring them up to code, rolling steel fire doors can be impractical or even impossible to install. Smoke curtains are a popular option in these situations to preserve the original design with minimal disruption.

Rolling steel fire doors provide incredible strength and security beyond meeting fire safety standards, but alternatives like smoke and fire curtains offer flexibility for unique solutions.

Whether you are looking for rolling steel fire doors or smoke and fire curtains, SG Specialties has the solution for you. Depending on the specific application, we can suggest options with varying degrees of protection whether you are seeking physical security or security from smoke and fire. Reach out today for more information.