30 Minute Fire Doors revisited!
We’ve often discussed the sensible precautions you should take to avoid a fire starting in the first place – after all, prevention in this case is far far better than cure. That said, accidents do happen … and if a fire does break out then it is vitally important that every effort is made to restrict its spread (and that of the accompanying smoke, which is in fact the major killer) giving people time to escape to a place of safety.
Internal fire doors play a vital role – allowing people to escape quickly and easily while simultaneously preventing the spread of the fire for as long as possible.
As you can imagine, this is something of a delicate balance. On the one hand, the doors must be solidly constructed to hold back the fire and smoke, while on the other hand they must be very easy to open in the event of an evacuation … and then close again. They must also be designed so as not to restrict access of the emergency services.
So it’s important that you speak to experts who can advise you not only on the practicalities – and there are several – but also on the appropriate legal and regulatory requirements – and there are several of these too.
What varieties of fire door products exist?
There is a wide range of options available, and the type of door that you install will of course depend upon the environment where it will be situated. Clearly in all cases you need to give people the maximum time to escape and the maximum protection – which door you choose will clearly depend upon where it is located, how many people might need to use it in an emergency, and the type of environment (e.g. a school, hospital, other public building, office block, factory, power station etc.)
These different environments, with their different risks and hazards, will determine which fire door variant must be installed. We use “ratings” to specify how long protection will be provided, as follows:
Fire door rating Fire door
30 minutes FD 30
60 minutes FD 60
90 minutes FD 90
120 minutes FD 120
240 minutes FD 240
The FD30 Fire Door
A common option is a 30 minute fire door. As the name implies this type of door – which as you can see in the table above we refer to as an FD30 fire door – gives 30 minutes of fire resistance, which in many situations will be sufficient time for a complete and safe evacuation.
Let’s now look at some details of one of our FD30 30 minute fire doors:
- 44mm Certified core to BS 476 Pt22:1987 or BS EN 1634-1:2014
- Intumescent strips in the frame or the door (not both) (see below)
- Certified glazing (insulating / non insulating)
Notes:
- Available as a pre hung assembly
- Must be installed by a competent person
- If a 2 storey building has a door leading from an integral garage into the house then it must be a fire resistant door
- New build or renovated properties with 3 storey’s or more, including loft conversions, must have fire doors to every habitable room off the stairwell
Intumescent strips are commonly fitted around the inner edge of the door frame, but can be installed in the top and sides of the door leaf if requested. Double doors will require one or more strips in the meeting edge of one leaf.
Note that if you are replacing or upgrading an existing door, it is very important to determine if the existing frame has intumescent strips fitted and that they are in first class condition. If they have been painted over or are damaged in any way then they must be replaced. If the frame does not have intumescent strips then your supplier can fit them to the door leaf perimeter for you.
Where to get your 30 minute fire doors from
We have been manufacturing and installing fire doors for many years for numerous satisfied customers – and we can give you expert advice and guide you through all of the regulations and complications that you need to be aware of.
If you would like further information on our company please visit our home page or go directly to our contact page when we will respond as quickly as possible.
As always we’ll be delighted to help and advise you.
