Some key facts about fire doors
All buildings, both residential and commercial, will contain certain doors that are installed to protect occupants and visitors from the risk of a fire outbreak. The primary reason for a fire door is to help save lives and damage to the properties and it is essential that these doors are constructed in such a manner and to a certain standard that they perform by slowing the progress of any fire outbreak within the building.
These fire doors can vary greatly in design and appearance, so long as they are functional – the most common fire door installed is an FD30 that provides fire protection for 30 minutes – commercial buildings will more commonly have installed a 60-minute fire door, or FD60.
Here are some key facts about fire doors:
Where fire doors are required
This may seem obvious but, it is advisable to fit a fire door anywhere where there is a risk of a fire outbreak! Some environments carry a higher fire risk than others, of course – kitchen areas, lounges that contain fireplaces and rooms that contain any electrical equipment or devices – doors allowing access to these rooms should be fire resistant.
There are legal requirements for all buildings, including domestic properties, and these regulations stipulate that any two-storey building that has a door leading into it from an integral garage, then it MUST be a fire door.
Likewise, any new-build or renovation property with three or more storeys (including loft conversions), MUST have at least fd30 fire doors leading to and from every habitable room off the stairwell.
For added safety, it is advisable to fit doors that provide greater protection – 60-minute fire doors, or fd60 doors, provide additional safety and greater time for building egress in the event of a fire outbreak.
Fire door construction
Different standard fire doors provide different levels of protection – FD30 fire doors are usually 44/45 mm thick as opposed to a standard, non-fire door of 35/40 mm. The fd60 doors most commonly used in commercial buildings are constructed as 54mm thick.
Fire doors have a solid core construction made from different materials such as flaxboard, particleboard and solid timber and their assembly can vary greatly. Many will have timber framing around the chosen core with a laminated veneer finish, whilst others may be composed of a 5-20mm lipping around the core with a veneer on top.
The actual construction materials may differ providing the desired and required fire protection rating is achieved.
How fire doors work
The door itself MUST be fitted with approved intumescent strips – these strips play a vital role in providing the fire safety and achieving the legal fire door rating. These intumescent strips expand when subjected to heat, sealing any gap between the fire door edge and frame – the seals can be fitted within the door frame itself or grooved into the door edge. The materials used for the door frame MUST comply with the required standards, as well as the door ‘furniture’ (handles, hinges etc) carrying its’ own individual test evidence to prove suitability.
Performance
All fire doors MUST be able to provide evidence for the appropriate proof of performance for the ratings they proclaim and display. They must be tested by an approved third-party body to either BS 476 Part 22 or to the European equivalent (BS EN1634-1) to resist fire for a minimum period of thirty minutes.
Enfield Doors
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