We all know how important fire doors are. For many different types of buildings there is a legal requirement for fire doors to be installed to help secure the fire and health and safety regulations. You can see this most clearly in educational and medical settings, as well as in HMOs and other residential and commercial properties. Understanding the important of fire doors is one thing but knowing about the different types of fire doors and the exact type of fire door that makes sense for a specific building could be even more important to the safety of the people living and working within that building.
There are several types of fire doors that are available on the market. They are made in slightly different styles in some cases, or with different materials and production qualities. Different fire doors are made to meet specific standards of fire resistance, so you could install a fire door that is built to withstand up to 30-minutes of fire and smoke or your setting might require a more robust fire door that can withstand an hour or more. This is why it is so important to speak to specialist fire door suppliers to get a feel for the exact type of fire door that you require, and which will be the most effective.
Glass fire doors – what to look out for
Glass fire doors are one type of fire door that utilises advanced fire technology. Using fire resistant glass that won’t shatter when up against intense fire and heat, glass fire doors remain transparent when exposed to fire and heat and can withstand intense fire and smoke, although heat will still move through the door. The different glass fire door types are Class E (which contains the spread of flames and smoke but not radiant heat), Class EW (provides some heat resistance), and Class EI (providing the highest level of protection against fire, smoke and heat).
Fire glass doors and screens follow these classifications:
- E30 fire doors – offering 30 minutes of protection against the spread of smoke and flames
- E60 fire doors – a stronger rating that withstands up to 60 minutes of fire and smoke before losing its integrity and stability
- E120 fire doors – the highest rated fire-resistant glass door lasting up to 120 minutes
Timber fire doors
A timber fire door is usually provided with an FD rating, with an FD30 or FD60 fire door providing 30 or 60 minutes that the door can withstand fire, smoke and heat before losing its integrity. These timber fire doors undergo extensive testing to ensure that they are as efficient as possible, including the door frame and all other door hardware. All fire doors that have passed the necessary tests are given a BWF-CERTIFICATE, highlighting the specific fire door rating and that it has been tested for safe use.
Once you have come to an understanding about the reasons why a building that you are responsible for requires a fire door, your next port of call is figuring out which type of fire door you need to install. Speaking to specialist fire door suppliers is a fantastic place to start. With the help of experts in the field of fire safety, you can ensure that your choice of fire door will meet all regulatory standards and keep the inhabitants and other people who use the building safe at all times. Safety should always be the priority when looking into fire safety and your choice of fire door goes a long way to backing that up.
