Working fire doors are a requirement of fire safety but what differentiates them from regular doors?
Kirk Smith, national account manager at Allegion UK, considers the technical requirements for fire rating.
Research indicates there may be around 42 billion doors found throughout the world’s built environment.
Fire door hardware is indispensable to fully operational doorsets, where during a fire incident, an open door is rendered useless.
Despite their similar appearance, regular doors serve as interior and exterior access points only and are usually thinner at 35mm, while fire doors aim to protect buildings and their occupants in the event of a fire and are either 44mm or 54mm thick depending on its fire rating. As a key element in a building's passive fire protection system, fire doors and their hardware components are often the first line of defence against fire, and as such, require detailed engineering and testing.
Doorsets are assembled in a variety of configurations and sizes, but more often than not, they are used without a second thought.
Yet, there are stark differences between regular door and fire door classifications, and where fire safety is concerned, it’s critical for users and responsible persons alike to be able to differentiate between the two.
Despite their similar appearance, regular doors serve as interior and exterior access points only and are usually thinner at 35mm, while fire doors aim to protect buildings and their occupants in the event of a fire and are either 44mm or 54mm thick depending on its fire rating.
As a key element in a building’s passive fire protection system, fire doors and their hardware components are often the first line of defence against fire, and as such, require detailed engineering and testing.
From components and construction to features and function, there are several clear distinctions between regular doors and fire doors.
Whereas regular doors are often placed throughout a building on accessibility or aesthetic merit, fire doors are strategically positioned to compartmentalise areas of the structure - such as hallways and stairwells - and are designed to help direct occupants through safe escape routes whilst also providing them with valuable time to make their way out of the building.
When opened, fire doors provide a means of escape.
And when closed, they form a barrier to stop the spread of fire and smoke.
To be able to do this, the main panel of the door (also known as the door leaf) is constructed from fire resistant materials that help to prevent the door from warping or collapsing when exposed to high temperatures.
To certify fire performance, the complete fire doorset is put through periods of standardised destructive testing in accredited laboratories and workshops. The standard fire performance test method complies to BS EN 1634-1, and in conjunction with product standard BS EN 16034, it provides the supply chain with manufacturing guidelines, and as a result, gives responsible persons and end users peace of mind that their doorset will function in a fire scenario.
Fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties and houses of multiple occupancy and with updated fire safety regulations now in effect, third-party testing and product traceability is as crucial as ever. Upon testing, certified fire doors are given a fire-resistance rating which details the length of time the door and its hardware components can withstand fire and smoke, with the most common FD ratings being FD30 and FD60, which declare the doorset can withstand fire for 30 or 60 minutes respectively, and FD30S and FD60S if the doors have been tested with smoke control. A regular door with no fire-resistance characteristics would not be able to withstand these tests and as such, would fail in a real-life event.
What's more, fire resistance tests are conducted on representative samples, and as such, components should not be substituted post-specification and installation. Fire door hardware for example, in addition to rigorous fire safety testing, must go through stages of performance testing to ensure they function properly and are able to sustain a level of durability that makes them fit for purpose. Mechanical door closers must be tested to the appropriate British Standard EN 1154, which classifies hardware over its category of use, number of test cycles, power size, fire behaviour, safety and corrosion resistance. Equally, emergency exit devices and panic exit devices are tested to BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 respectively and electromagnetic hold-open devices to BS EN 1155. A fire door's hinges must also be tested to BS EN 1935.
For traceability purposes, end-users can review the UKCA and CE marks on a fire door and its hardware to find its fire rating, certificate numbers and the manufacturer's details. Furthermore, for those looking to find additional information on a doorsets' components, the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) can be referred to for clear, accurate and up-to-date product information - helping people to review and select trusted hardware that conforms to UKCA and CE certifications.
In doing so, the seals close the gaps between the frame and the door itself, eliminating any possibility of fire - and if required, smoke - from passing through.
Testing and standards
To certify fire performance, the complete fire doorset is put through periods of standardised destructive testing in accredited laboratories and workshops.
The standard fire performance test method complies to BS EN 1634-1, and in conjunction with product standard BS EN 16034, it provides the supply chain with manufacturing guidelines, and as a result, gives responsible persons and end users peace of mind that their doorset will function in a fire scenario.
Fire doors are a legal requirement in all non-domestic properties and houses of multiple occupancy and with updated fire safety regulations now in effect, third-party testing and product traceability is as crucial as ever.
Upon testing, certified fire doors are given a fire-resistance rating which details the length of time the door and its hardware components can withstand fire and smoke, with the most common FD ratings being FD30 and FD60, which declare the doorset can withstand fire for 30 or 60 minutes respectively, and FD30S and FD60S if the doors have been tested with smoke control.
A regular door with no fire-resistance characteristics would not be able to withstand these tests and as such, would fail in a real-life event.
What’s more, fire resistance tests are conducted on representative samples, and as such, components should not be substituted post-specification and installation.
Fire door hardware for example, in addition to rigorous fire safety testing, must go through stages of performance testing to ensure they function properly and are able to sustain a level of durability that makes them fit for purpose.
Mechanical door closers must be tested to the appropriate British Standard EN 1154, which classifies hardware over its category of use, number of test cycles, power size, fire behaviour, safety and corrosion resistance.
Equally, emergency exit devices and panic exit devices are tested to BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 respectively and electromagnetic hold-open devices to BS EN 1155.
A fire door’s hinges must also be tested to BS EN 1935.
Furthermore, for those looking to find additional information on a doorsets’ components, the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) can be referred to for clear, accurate and up-to-date product information - helping people to review and select trusted hardware that conforms to UKCA and CE certifications.
Sources
To certify fire performance, the complete fire doorset is put through periods of standardised destructive testing in accredited laboratories and workshops.
