What Is A Fire Rated Door?

A fire rated door is a door that can hold back fire for a specific amount of time. Common uses for fire rated doors include internal fire doors, external fire exit doors and additional protection for areas that are high risk for fire.

In most buildings, doors are used to meet access, security, and aesthetic needs. However, in environments where fire safety is a priority, they can control the spread of fire, heat, and smoke to save lives and defend property.

A fire-rated door is specially designed, tested and certified to withstand fire for a specific amount of time. Their primary function is to provide a barrier that can prevent the spread of flames, heat, and smoke between different areas of a building. The rating for these doors is expressed in time intervals, typically 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes, indicating how long the door can maintain its integrity when exposed to fire.

In contrast, a blank steel door or a regular security door are not engineered or tested to withstand fire. They may provide basic functionality, like security and insulation, but they lack the specialised construction to contain fire or heat in an emergency.

Fire rated steel doors have several distinct features that set them apart from regular doors:

The core of a fire-rated door is one of its most important features. Unlike regular doors that may use hollow cores, solid wood or decorative materials, fire-rated doors typically use fire-resistant materials. Our fire doors have a steel core as steel has fire resistant properties.

This core is designed to withstand high temperatures without collapsing, charring, or deforming. Whereas the core of a regular door would likely fail quickly under extreme heat, offering little protection against the spread of fire.

Fire-rated doors are often equipped with intumescent seals around the frame or door edges. These seals are made of materials that expand when exposed to high temperatures. In the event of a fire, the seals swell and fill the gaps between the door and the frame, preventing smoke, heat and gases from seeping through.

Regular doors do not have this critical feature, making them ineffective at controlling smoke and heat, which can be just as dangerous as the fire itself.

A fire-rated door’s frame must also be fire resistant. Often, frames are made from steel, which is capable of withstanding extreme heat without losing structural integrity.

A regular door would often be surrounded by a non resistant doorframe, typically made from untreated wood or lightweight materials and will not offer the same level of protection during a fire. In fact, it may contribute to the fire’s spread by igniting or breaking down quickly.

Fire-rated doors are installed with special hinges, latches and closers that can function reliably under extreme heat. These components are often made from fire-resistant metals and are rigorously tested to ensure they do not warp, melt or fail during a fire. For example, automatic door closers ensure that fire doors remain shut and prevent the spread of fire.

Regular doors, even if they are made of sturdy materials, generally use hardware that has not been tested for fire resistance. In an emergency, the hinges, locks, and latches of a regular door could fail, causing the door to warp or collapse under heat.

The most crucial characteristic of a fire-rated door is its fire resistance rating. These ratings specify how long a door can resist the passage of flames, smoke and heat. A door with a 60-minute fire rating for example, is designed to maintain its integrity and functionality for up to one hour when exposed to fire.

The fire rating of a door is typically determined through rigorous testing, which involves exposing the door to fire conditions and measuring how long it can prevent fire or smoke from passing through. These tests simulate real-life fire scenarios and ensure that the door can withstand intense heat and pressure for a specified time.

Steel fire doors are essential in areas where building codes and fire safety regulations demand fire containment measures. They are often required in the following locations:

• Stairwells: To prevent fire from spreading between floors and provide a safe escape route.
• Corridors: To create fire compartments that limit the movement of flames and smoke through a building.
• Service rooms: To protect rooms with high fire risks, such as boiler rooms, electrical rooms or kitchens.
• Exit routes: To safeguard paths of egress for occupants during a fire.

Building codes around the world often specify the use of fire-rated doors in certain parts of commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, depending on the level of fire risk and occupancy type.

Regular doors, which do not meet fire safety standards, are typically used in areas that do not require fire containment by code, such as non-critical rooms in homes or offices. These doors are often chosen for their aesthetic value or cost but provide little to no fire protection.

Proper installation is critical for the effectiveness of fire-rated doors. Fire-rated doors are also typically equipped with automatic closers, ensuring they remain shut during a fire unless opened deliberately. A poorly installed fire door might not seal properly or could fail to close automatically.

Traditional doors do not need the same level of precision during installation as they are not required to provide fire protection.

Maintenance is another area where fire-rated doors differ significantly from regular doors. Fire-rated doors must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they meet code requirements. Hinges, latches, seals and closers must work effectively and the door should be free from damage.

While regular maintenance may be necessary for the general operation of your typical door, there is no need for specialised fire-safety checks.

The key difference between fire-rated doors and regular doors lies in their construction, purpose and functionality during a fire.

Fire-rated doors are engineered and tested to provide a critical barrier against the spread of fire, smoke, and heat, making them a vital part of a building’s overall fire safety plan. While regular doors are suitable for everyday use they do not offer protection and are not suitable for areas where fire containment is essential. Understanding these differences is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance.