Why do we require a fire doors?
Fire doors are required to resist the spread of fire, smoke and heat for a period of time, usually 30 or 60 minutes, this gives the occupants of a building time to evacuate the building safely. In holding back the fire and smoke, escape routes are kept clear and the spread of the fire is reduced. Fire resisting partitions that require a door, must have a fire door fitted.
Fire doors need to comply with British Standards BS 476-22 or BS EN 1634-1. These standards ensure the door has been tested with its frame as to resisting collapse for not less than one hour and resisting the passage of flame for not less than 20 minutes.
The majority of fire doors are fitted with a door closure, apart from locked cupboards or service ducts.
Fire doors should be designed with a purpose built frame to ensure integrity of the two items being able to perform to the standards stated above.
All our fire doors are supplied with the following:
- British Standard 476 Part 22 Fire Door, either 30 or 60-minutes
- British Standard Kite Mark
- Self-closing device
- Fire handles
- Combined heat and cold smoke seals
- 3 fire hinges
- Signage
- Fire-resisting glazing where appropriate
- 12-months manufacturer's guarantee
Upgrading Existing Doors
There are occasions that due to budget restrictions, that it may be necessary to retain existing doors, but increase their fire resistance. This can be achieved by covering the face of the door on the risk side of the room with a minimum of 6mm of an approved fire resisting board, e.g. Masterboard or Supalux fitted flush with the framing of the door.
Fire doors in the open position;
Fire doors should not normally be held open escept by a proper device like a "Dorguard" or if it has an automatic door closing device that is linked to the fire alarm system.
Having your fire doors linked to the fire alarm is the preferred means of keeping the doors open. In the event of a fire alarm activation, a signal is sent either by wiring to an interface linked to the power supply or the same effect can be achieve using wireless technology.
Fire doors should never be held open using objects such as fire extinguishers or by wedging something under the door.
Which way should a fire door open?
Ideally in the direction of escape but circumstances may dictate otherwise:
- If few people will use that door to escape it is acceptable for it to open inwards
- If the door opens directly onto an escape route or corridor so as to partly obstruct the corridor, as long as it winot delay escape unduly, the fire door can open inwards.
- Some final exit doors or entrance doors need to open inwards to protect passers-by.
