Essential Fire Door Features Examined During Testing
Posted on: 18 December 2020
Simply put, fire doors save lives. However, fire doors are manufactured differently; therefore, they are not the same. Regardless of the differences in design, all fire protection doors must be tested to ascertain their ability to withstand varying fire intensities for as long as possible. Only the best fire doors in the industry can be used in buildings to sectionalize and delay the spread of fire. Fire protection testing examines specific but vital safety features. This article highlights the attributes and their importance in protecting the occupants in a burning building.
Door Glass
Today, most doors are composed of different materials, such as wood and glass glazing. While the glass must be fire-resistant, the door it is installed on can only be considered safe after passing a furnace test. Ideally, a fire-resistant glass door must withstand sustained exposure to fire for at least 60 minutes before it begins to soften. It is essential to remember that although fire doors are classified differently, the glass rating is constant. Therefore, if the glass remains unaffected after this time, it is certified with an endurance rating.
Intumescent Seal
Unbeknown to most people, smoke kills and injures more people than direct flames. It is because toxic smoke can quickly damage the nervous system even if the exposure time is limited. Therefore, modern fire doors must be equipped with an intumescent seal around door frames. In the event of a fire, the intumescent seal expands, seals a room, and consequently prevents the passage of smoke and flames to the other side. During testing, the intumescent seal is supposed to expand once temperatures reach 200°C. Additionally, the seal must expand adequately to ensure that the gap between a door and a frame is sealed completely. A fire door seal that allows smoke through during testing is considered unsafe. It explains why fire experts recommend that consumers purchase a fire door and its frame as a set because they are usually made using the same industry standard.
Fire Door Closer
Today, door closers are a critical accessory of fire doors and must be tested for fire protection properties. Typically, quality fire door closers have sensors, which allow them to shut automatically upon detecting a fire. The sensors make fire door closers code compliant because they can close without any human interaction. During testing, technicians rate fire door closers based on their sensor's responsiveness. A sensor that does not detect fires within a reasonable time delays the activation of a door closer, putting occupants at risk. Fire door closers are particularly critical in spaces with a high risk of fire, such as kitchens.
For more information, contact a fire protection testing service.
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