How long should a fire door withstand a fire?

We get a lot of requests for our internal fire doors and commercial fire doors. Given the impact they can have on safety and protection, it’s hardly surprising. Fire resistant doors can be the difference between saving a life and keeping an entire building from burning down in a matter of minutes.

In order to burn and grow, fire requires three core elements – heat, oxygen and fuel. With enough sufficient oxygen around it, once burning it will continue to ignite and spread as temperatures rise. In the event that this happens, a fire resistant door plays a vital role. Their protection partly kicks in through their position – they are often placed where people will then be able to evacuate quickly and safely while the spread of smoke and fire is delayed. They also have fire-resistant surroundings, so not just the door but also the surrounding frame, locks and hinges, and so on.

In addition to this, the design of the doors mean they can withstand high temperatures and will swell at the seals to prevent smoke from infiltrating through the door and frame. This is particularly crucial given how fatal the spread of smoke can be. These doors are also all set up with fire door closers to ensure they’re always shut throughout the day and night. You can find out more here about what makes a door fire resistant.

The time that a fire door can withstand flames and smoke varies depending on each make and manufacturer. Depending on the specification, you will be able to get protection for the following:

– FD 30 (30 minutes)
– FD 60 (60 minutes)
– FD 90 (90 minutes)
– FD 120 (2 hours)
– FD 240 (4 hours) (steel)

Any glass that is used can withstand cracking and breaking in high temperatures for at least 60 minutes. All of our doors are manufactured to European and UK standards for fire resistant doors, meaning this protection is tested and guaranteed. When lives could be on the line, ensuring fire rated doors are built to the highest quality and specification is crucial. These doors are available in a variety of standard and non-standard sizes, meaning protection can be added to all types of buildings.

Enfield Doors

Our team of experts is always on hand to guide you and give you sound and pragmatic advice based on years of experience and successful installations.

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.