Fire doors serve two purposes: to protect lives and slow down the spread of fire, and also to support escaping occupants as well as fire-fighting efforts. ETO doors-fire rated doors are an integral part of passive fire protection systems and are required for most premises, including offices, factories, and residential buildings. (Specific building regulations must be reviewed).
Fire doors serve two main purposes:
To allow for egress from a place and to close once it is released
Make sure you have escape routes to avoid the fire’s effects (smoke and gases, flames).
Limit the oxygen supply and slow down the growth of a fire.
Fire doors are designed to resist the spread of fire for a specified time, usually a minimum of 30 seconds. This gives people time to escape the building via an escape route in case other routes are affected by fire.
The engineered components of fire doors include the frame, leaf, and all fixtures and fittings. They can be made of solid material or with a special core (often flax board, or a wood-composite material). Intumescent seals will be installed in the leaf or frame to seal the door against heat and stop smoke from escaping the edges. To prevent smoke from entering the fire, smoke seals will be installed on doors.
Fire-rated doors should be installed in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions. This is important for the door’s ability to withstand fire. According to the British Woodworking Federation, “third-party certification is the only way for Fire Doors to be manufactured consistently to save lives and property.” It can lead to death.
Fire door maintenance
Fire doors are vital in protecting lives and should be inspected regularly. The frequency of fire doors being used will depend on many factors such as the door’s age, condition and frequency of use. A fire door that protects a staircase will be used more often than one that is fitted to a boiler area. Because fire doors are an engineered fire safety device, it is important to have them installed correctly by a qualified installer. They should also be maintained and inspected by qualified persons.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, (FSO) and similar legislation in Scotland or Northern Ireland, imposes a duty on building owners, operators, and occupiers to ensure that their buildings and tenants are safe. This includes making sure that fire doors, including front doors to flats, are safe and fit for purpose. This legislation imposes legal responsibility on those who have ultimate responsibility for the premises and allows them to be prosecuted if they fail to fulfill their duties.
Check your fire doors in 5 steps
These simple five steps will tell you if your fire door is up to standards.
You should check it for certification. Modern doors must have a label either on the top or on the side. A coloured plug can also be used to indicate that it is a certified firedoor. Older doors may not have such labels or markings. They may have a different design or construction to modern doors. For example, they might not have intumescent smoke seals or intumescent seals, but be equipped with a 25mm stopper. If a vision panel or any other glazing is placed in the leaf, or as part the surround, it must be fire resistant and properly fitted. Fire doors come with wired glass, but clear panels can be fitted using it.
Take measurements of the gaps. The gap around a fire exit should not exceed 4mm. To test this, you can use a PS1 Coin which measures around 3mm. If the gaps are too large or uneven, you can adjust the frame or the leaf to correct the situation. Otherwise, replacement may be necessary. It is important to check the leaf and frame for any signs of warping or bowed. Door that are bowed, cupped or bowed are difficult to fix and often require replacement.
You must inspect the seals. The smoke and intumescent seals around modern fire doors are crucial to ensure that it performs in fire. If there aren’t any seals or they are damaged, the door may be compromised.
Is it closed? – Now, open the door and let it close by itself. It will not shut completely by itself in the event that it is caught on fire. The door should be held open by an electro-magnetic hold open device, which is commonly used to test the doors for opening and closing when the alarm sounds. Door closing efficiency may be affected by the fit of hinges, door and latch, as well as the self-closing device.
You should inspect the hinges. If they aren’t firmly fastened, missing or broken screws are missing, dirt or leaking could indicate that the door is not in good condition and will need maintenance. You can save valuable time by having your hinges maintained properly.
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