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May 27, 2016

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Fire doors for beginners

By Jordan Kavanagh and originally published on IFSEC Global

To put it simply, fire doors save lives.These specialist doors are tested against the elements and purpose-built to withstand roaring fires for as long as possible.

Fire doors have a few vital safety features and really can be the difference between life and death.

If you own a commercial or non-domestic property, there are strict regulations and guidelines to follow, ensuring the doors can withstand certain heats. Fire doors can also have massive advantages for private properties.

Here are some of the key features to look out for in terms of both domestic and commercial use.

Fire doors are made up of various components. The door itself is usually made from a solid timber frame, but they can sometimes be covered again in fire-resistant glass.

Around the edges of the door will be the intumescent seal, which is designed to expand when temperatures reach beyond 200°C to seal the gaps between the door and frame.

For a private premises, it is advised to install fire doors where the risk is most imminent, for example the kitchen, or rooms which house lots of electrical devices. If your property is a new build, it should have been subject to regulations ensuring certain doors are fire doors – check this with the developer.

For commercial or non-domestic properties, liability lies with whoever is deemed the ‘responsible person’ for that property or the employer. For example, the owner of the property, or the person in control of the property for trade reasons would be responsible.

Thorough risk assessments must be carried out and it is advisable to get professional help with all fire-safety-related regulations. There is more to fire safety than just fire doors; escape routes, lighting, warning systems and equipment checks are also required.

When you’re choosing a door it’s important to know what the different specifications mean. The FD code shows how many minutes of fire a door can withstand, for example an FD20 has been tested to withstand 20 minutes. The most common of the codes is FD30.

Around 42% of deaths during house fires are not from direct contact with the flames, but the consumption of smoke. With this in mind, keep an eye out for a doorset with cold smoke seals. These should be within the intumescent seal.

The author produced this article on behalf of Oakwood Doors, which supplies a wide range of internal fire doors

Find out more about your legal responsibilities in relation to fire doors at FIREX International 2016, which takes place at London’s ExCeL between 21-23 June. Check out the full education programme for FIREX here

The event – the UK fire sector’s largest trade show – also features numerous exhibitors specialising in fire doors and other forms of passive fire protection, including testing body BM TRADA and the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, who are again running the ASFP Passive Protection Zone.

Register here to attend FIREX.

This article originally appeared on IFSEC Global

Fire Safety in 2023 eBook

SHP's sister site, IFSEC Insider has released its annual Fire Safety Report for 2023, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry.

Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.

Plus, explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.

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