Fire doors are an essential part of any businesses fire protection infrastructure, but how much do you actually know about them?
Here are 13 important facts you might not know:
- Fire Doors are called ‘Fire Doors’ because they form compartments that slow the spread of the flames and smoke.
- Fire Doors are made of timber, steel, gypsum and aluminium and are on average 10mm thicker than average doors.
- The window in a Fire Door is made of ceramic glass, or borosilicate, and has a wire mesh to prevent shattering.
- To slow down the spread of the fire, all Fire Doors are fitted flush with the doorframe and any gaps are sealed.
- Fire Doors are designed to close automatically every time and come with spring-loaded or hydraulic mechanisms.
- Fire Doors are tested to hold back fire for 30 or 60 minutes, however, this is dependent on them being fitted correctly.
- Fire Doors are a legal requirement in ALL non-domestic premises and in residential flats for multi-occupancy housing.
- In residential houses and bungalows, Fire Doors may also be a legal requirement; particularly in new works/external garages.
- Fire Doors need to fitted with regulation hinges and locks however they can be painted with ordinary paint or varnish.
- If you do need to keep a Fire Door open for inclusivity and accessibility, there are Fire Door retainers that you can use.*
- Fire Doors have to be fitted by a ‘Competent Person’ and there is a Code of Practice for Assembly that needs to be met.
- Even if a Fire Door has all of the above, they still need to be certified after a series of approved tests and procedures.
- A certified Fire Door will have a label at the top detailing its manufacturing information and designated fire rating.
*Always take professional advice if you are considering this option.
As you can see, Fire Doors play a crucial role in fire prevention and management but only when fitted by someone who knows how to properly.
At Saracen Fire Protection, all of our Engineers are certified as a ‘Competent Person’. We can replace current Fire Doors or review your requirements, and current provision, with our thorough Fire Risk Assessment. We would then make the appropriate recommendations.
If you are in any doubt about the quality of your existing Fire Doors (you should be inspecting them regularly), or are moving/extending your premises or home, give our friendly team a call today and we can help you work out exactly what you need.
Fire Doors are such an essential part of your fire protection, you don’t want to take any risks.
To book a free consultation today, call our friendly team on 01675 628999 or email us at Sales@Saracenfireprotection.co.uk so we can arrange a convenient time for us to get together and discuss your specific needs.
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Saracen Fire Protection – your local fire protection experts.
With over 30 years of experience and a growing number of highly satisfied customers, in terms of service and savings, Saracen Fire Protection is one of the leading fire protection and security supply, maintenance businesses; locally and nationally. We provide a comprehensive online service portal to ensure our clients have 24/7 access to all of their fire and security information. We are fully accredited and our engineers are highly skilled and qualified.