Fire-rated doors made from steel are critical for any building's fire safety system. These specialized doors act as a barrier to slow the spread of fire, smoke and hot gases. Installing high-quality external fire-rated doors and internal fire doors can save lives in a fire emergency.
Before investing in these vital firefighting solutions, it's important to understand the different types of doors and the rating system used to indicate their performance.
How Do Steel Fire Doors Work?
Steel fire doors are integrated systems designed to maintain their integrity and prevent the passage of fire for a specified period of time. During a building fire, temperatures can exceed 1100°F. The door's steel construction prevents the transfer of heat through the door assembly. Some key features include:
Steel cores are reinforced with minerals that expand when exposed to high temperatures. This expansion seals gaps and cracks that could allow smoke and fire to pass through.
Intumescent seals expand up to eight to 10 times their size when exposed to heat. This further blocks flames and seals the door.
Heat-activated closing mechanisms automatically close the door if temperatures rise. This contains fire and smoke spread.
Sturdy hinges made of steel prevent warping under fire conditions.
Properly installed and maintained steel fire doors can withstand fire exposure for up to 3 hours, preventing flames, smoke and carbon monoxide from migrating and giving occupants extra time to evacuate.
Fire Door Ratings and Testing
Fire doors receive ratings based on testing conducted by organizations like Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Fire protection ratings indicate how long the door can withstand fire exposure before allowing flames or smoke to pass through. Standard fire ratings include:
20-minute fire rating: This rating is good for residential applications.
60-minute rating: This rating is typically required in commercial and industrial buildings.
90-minute rating: This rating meets most building code requirements.
3-hour rating: This rating meets the highest standards for fire containment. This is required for stairwells, high-rises and hazardous areas.
Fire door assemblies are subject to full-scale standard fire tests under controlled lab conditions to receive these certified ratings from testing agencies. This validation of their performance is crucial for compliance.
Benefits of Installing Steel Fire Doors
There are many advantages to these firefighting solutions:
Fire containment: Fire doors dramatically slow the spread of fire from one area to the next. This buys time for building occupants to evacuate and fire trucks to arrive, allowing firefighters to extinguish the blaze more easily.
Smoke control: Fire doors contain deadly smoke, fumes and carbon monoxide. Preventing the migration of smoke is key for safe evacuation.
Withstand fire exposure: Properly rated steel doors can endure fire and smoke exposure for prolonged periods before heat transmission occurs, preventing flashover.
Peace of mind: Fire doors significantly improve occupants' chances of safely exiting in a fire emergency. They also protect inventory and equipment in manufacturing facilities.
Building code compliance: Most building codes require certified fire-rated doors in stairwells and other hazardous areas. Fire doors are a must for any business to operate legally.
Whether it's for new construction or retrofitting an existing property, investing in steel fire doors pays dividends through enhanced safety and peace of mind.
Selecting the Right Fire-Rated Doors
With many types and fire door ratings available, choosing the right ones for your building is essential. Here are key factors to consider:
Level of fire rating needed: Make sure doors meet the rating required by local building codes and insurance requirements. Commercial buildings often need 60- to 90-minute rated doors.
Intended use: Will the doors be used for stairwells, hazardous rooms or general egress? This impacts the rating selection.
Door materials: Steel is the most common, strongest and cost-effective door material. Other options include timber and aluminum.
Compatible frames/hardware: Ensure the door assemblies and hardware are rated to match the door rating. Mixing unmatched components compromises protection.
Consulting with a knowledgeable fire door distributor or installer is invaluable for getting the right fire doors for each building area.
Maintaining Fire Doors
After installation, proper care and maintenance are necessary to preserve the integrity of fire doors.
Conduct annual visual inspections to check for damage, confirm that the smoke seals are in good condition and ensure the automatic closers work.
Test doors regularly to guarantee they self-close and latch correctly. Adjust as needed.
Ensure nothing obstructs doors from fully closing and sealing. Remove any obstructions.
Do not prop open fire doors, which will negate their protective abilities. Treat them as active life safety components.
Replace any damaged doors immediately. Dents, holes or dislodging seals impair effectiveness.
Confirm adequate clearance for swinging doors. Blocked doors cannot function properly.
Review procedures to keep fire doors closed when not used for routine passage. Staff training is key.
Following the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines ensures fire doors can perform properly to contain fires and smoke when needed.
Enhance the Safety of Your Building With SG Architectural Specialties Fire Doors
When protecting your building and its occupants from the dangers of fire, you need proven fire-rated doors you can rely on. SG Architectural Specialties manufactures top-quality steel fire doors that meet the most stringent industry standards. You can count on them to contain flames, smoke and hot gases so your occupants have precious extra time to evacuate in an emergency.
Contact our fire safety experts to properly equip your building with the most dependable steel fire doors on the market.
