The Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Association (ASDMA) describes a fire door as a full-mounted door assembly consisting of the doorframe, other doors, hardware, door leaves, seals, and any glazing designed to resist the movement of smoke and fire when sealed in compliance with defined performance requirements.
Everyone who uses or occupies a building has the right to assume that if a fire breaks out, we will be secure. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Anything may go wrong with the building’s framework or fire safety equipment, resulting in accident and death or severe injury.
A fire door is critical in securing any building and the people who live inside the building in the event of an emergency. Here are 5 compelling reasons why your buildings need a fire door and how they can save your life.
5 Reasons To Have A Fire Door
Safety Of The Residents
Any fire protection plan will include fire doors, which keep people protected in case of a fire. Fire doors prevent fire, smoke, and harmful emissions from spreading rapidly and reaching enclosed spaces where people may get trapped (like fire escapes or pathways).
Therefore, this fire door is the most critical safety mechanism for ensuring safety when there’s a fire.
Preservation Of Structures
A fire door is also essential for a building’s safety, as they prevent fire (and fumes) from spreading within the building and causing significant and expensive damages.
Hinged and folding fire doors can also stop a fire from spreading to nearby structures, facilities, or habitats.
If this happens, the consequences may be catastrophic, causing more destruction to other structures as well as damaging people, wildlife, and trees. In short, fire doors reduce the risk of damage and provide reassurance.
Multi-Storey Residential Fire Control
Specialised fire doors would also restrict the flow of hot air from any fires, ensuring the opposite side of the door stays completely intact.
Multi-storey structures and buildings with ‘horizontal’ entrances are likely to have these types of doors. This is vital for occupant survival, as it ensures they can easily access fire escapes even if there is a fire on the storey underneath them.
Basic Escapes
Fire doors help make it simple for people to exit a building in the event of a fire. Both doors must be clearly labelled with the appropriate signs so that people know where to run to in the fire situation.
Fire doors can also close immediately, allowing you to flee as quickly as possible.
A Complete Fire Protection Plan
Fire doors are only one part of a larger fire-prevention strategy that should be implemented in every building. These fire escapes are critical in defending both property and people. Choosing the right fire doors will make a big difference in your security scheme.
Fire/smoke detectors (automatic/manual), extinguishers, plans for evacuation, fire hose/extinguishers and the proper fire door signs should all be used with the fire safety strategy.
To ensure the fire escapes are visible at all times, managers can perform fire/first-aid preparation and exercises, as well as routine auditing.
Quick Tips On How To Maintain Your Fire Door
- Keep the fire door locked at all hours to ensure safe use.
- Do not use wedges or bend the closing mechanism to hold open the door. Propping open fire doors would cause combustion materials to move into other areas and lead to the spread and intensity of the fire, in addition to potentially making the fire door obsolete due to external destruction.
- Keep flammables and appliances away from the fire entrance.
- The fire door should not be nailed or screwed with signs or other objects. The fire safety function of a fire door can be invalid if holes or gaps are created in it, forcing its replacement.
Summing Up
Having a fire door would protect the fire or smoke from spreading within the building and confine the fire to a specific space or area.
This gives people more time to flee and the fire department more time to evacuate those trapped and put out the flames. They’ll even save the fire from destroying much of your house and belongings than is required.
That is why one of the most critical fire protection measures on your property is a fire door.
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FAQs
How long will a fire door delay the spread of smoke and flames?
It depends on the ratings it has. Most fire doors will come with a fire resistance of 30 minutes, but you can also find doors that resist for 60 or even 90 minutes. They are more likely to be used to protect different things, rather than be used to get out of a fire.
What is the difference between a fire door and a smoke door?
Fire doors are designed to keep flames away in a different part of the property. On the other hand, smoke doors block smoke and combustible items. Given the high safety standards in their design, such doors can be used in both residential and commercial properties.
Do fire doors need to be sealed?
Yes. Every fire door out there will have a certain type of seal. When exposed to heat, they are designed to expand and can fill all the gaps around them, preventing flames and even smoke from reaching the protected area.