- Ballymote, Tuam, County Galway, H54 E142
- Phone: +353 93 26458
- E-mail: john@halcondoors.com
Fire proof doors help slow down the fire and lifes
Fire eventually wins.
What these doors are designed to do is resist fire for a set period of time. That delay is what protects escape routes and stops flames spreading through a building too quickly.
Still, the term is widely used, especially when people are searching for strong fire protection.
These doors are built using layers of fire-resistant materials inside a steel outer structure. The internal core is designed to slow heat transfer while the steel skins help maintain the structural integrity of the door under extreme temperatures.
Heat causes normal materials to fail quickly.
Steel fire proof doors hold together much longer.
Around the edges of the door you’ll usually find intumescent seals. They sit quietly in the frame until heat activates them. Once temperatures rise, they expand and seal the gap between the door and frame.
That blocks smoke.
These doors are normally tested under controlled conditions and given a fire rating. The most common ratings are 30 minutes and 60 minutes, although higher ratings exist in certain buildings.
During that time the door is expected to remain intact and limit the spread of flames.
You’ll find fire proof doors used in all kinds of places.
Apartment building corridors.
Office stairwells.
Electrical rooms.
Plant rooms.
Commercial kitchens.
Warehouse internal divisions.
Anywhere that needs to be separated into fire compartments.
Sometimes the doors look just like normal steel doors. Other times they include additional features depending on the building design.
Vision panels with fire-rated glass.
Heavy duty self-closing mechanisms.
Panic bars on escape routes.
Smoke seals and reinforced frames.
The door must close properly.
Fire doors that are wedged open or badly aligned lose most of their effectiveness. When they close tightly into the frame, they create a barrier that slows the fire and protects the rest of the building.
That extra time can mean safer evacuation routes and reduced damage to the property.
Which is why these doors are such a common requirement in modern building design.