Can High Security Wooden Doors Also Be Fire Resistant?

Many commercial buildings, along with industrial properties, will be fitted with high security doors to protect the property from illegal entry and to secure the people and contents inside the building. As well as the security aspect, all commercial buildings, and many domestic properties, must have fire resistant doors installed as a matter of law – building owners and managers have a duty of care to all occupants, users of, and visitors to, their building for safety and wellbeing. Fire safety is a major concern, so can high security wooden doors also fulfil the mandatory requirements for fire protection? The answer is “yes, they can” – here are some details about fire resistant security doors:    

Fire Door Identification

You can recognise fire-resistant doors through certain features – they will display relevant certification labels along with clear signage identifying them as fire resistant. They will have intumescent seals around and between the door frame and the body of the door itself – these seals are constructed from heat resistant materials that swell when subjected to excess heat thereby sealing any gaps between the door and frame and floor stopping the spread of heat, flame, and smoke travelling into adjoining rooms or areas. Fire doors should also be fitted with door closing mechanisms which identify them from other internal doors. 

Wooden Fire Safety Doors

Wooden fire-resistant doors can be constructed from different materials – the most common materials used to form the core of the door are flax or mag board, particleboard or, the best choice, solid timber. They are often affixed with a lipping around the core with a veneer finish, and an MDF, plywood, or timber frame that is laminated to complete the outer finish. If these doors are to be painted, you MUST use fire retardant paint. 

Fire safety doors can also be constructed from other materials such as steel or even specially treated glass. 

Safety Ratings

All fire doors are constructed and tested to a specific rating – where you install the specific rated doors will depend upon their location within the environment.  The doors are manufactured to FD ratings – an FD30 fire door will be resistant to all harmful aspects of a fire outbreak for a minimum of 30 minutes – this means that this door will contain the fire in one location for this amount of time. An FD60 fire door will perform the same safety tasks for a minimum of 60 minutes, an FD90 fire door for a minimum of 90 minutes and so on. Fire door safety regulations apply to all external and internal security doors within a building – they must comply with the legislation identified in The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

Fire Door Maintenance

That same Regulatory Act specifies that, once installed satisfactorily, these doors MUST be adequately maintained to ensure they are always fit for purpose. They should be checked at least every six months and, in busy environments, much more regularly – any defect or fault discovered must be dealt with immediately either through repair or replacement. Any breach of these regulations is a criminal offence which can lead to prosecutions and/or buildings being closed. 

Looking For Fire Resistant High Security Wooden Doors? Contact Enfield Doors 

Speaking with established and reputable manufacturer of high security wooden doors will help you define your exact needs and requirements – our experienced staff will be able to offer advice and guidance.  If you would like further information on our company, please contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible. We look forward to helping you.