Fire doors have proven to be invaluable when it comes to protecting buildings, belongings and people. The safety features built into these specially designed doors can be the difference between a singed room and serious injury, or even fatalities.
Anatomy of a fire door
There are many important elements to fire doors and all need to be fully-functioning in order to provide the best protection. Ordinarily, they feature overhead door closers to ensure that they shut automatically, with intumescent and smoke seals around the frame to stop the spread of flames and contain harmful fumes that could otherwise suffocate people.
The intumescent seals are designed to expand to several times their original size when exposed to heat, sealing the gap between the door and frame.
The ironmongery fitted to a fire door is as important as the door itself. Latches, locks, door closers and other items all need to be certified and compatible with the door itself, otherwise they could easily fail in the event of a fire,
For fire doors in public buildings push bars or pads provide a quick exit when fires break out. It's all well and good having the fire door for protection but you also need to be able to easily escape the room that the fire is in, making sure that the door is sealed once again to slow or stop the spread of flames.
Why certain buildings need fire doors
In the majority of commercial buildings and accommodation premises (this includes blocks of flats, sheltered accommodation, houses of multiple occupancy, etc), fire doors are a legal requirement for the safety and protection of those within. When kept shut in a fire they provide proven protection to both people and property.
Whilst having a fire door in place can make all the difference, there is little point if it is not looked after and maintained. Just like most things, a doors performance over time can deteriorate due to general wear and tear.
To keep your door in optimum condition, you should have it checked biannually. If you notice a problem with the door shutting, gaps forming, or any general damage, be sure to get it addressed as soon as the problem arises.
It is also vital that your fire door is properly fitted in the first place to ensure that it functions as it was designed. You need a skilled, experienced joiner who is aware of, and abides by, the installation guidelines of each doorset. Ideally they would have third party certification for installing fire doors.
To conclude, the protection a fire door offers during a crisis is unparalleled. They save lives, even if it is just by giving individuals more time to escape. They are essential in public buildings, to lower risk factors and to keep people safe.
Visit Doorpac's website to view their different doorsets, including fire doors.
Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently on this blog
You can also read additional current and archived articles on our dedicated magazine website
Low Cost and Free Publicity - Your company can easily benefit from some publicity like this in return for a contribution towards our layout costs (£55 to £75 plus VAT), payable in advance via PayPal or credit card or receive the service absolutely free of charge if you advertise (see below).
We post articles up to twice a day and never delete them - we only archive them each year so that they continue to remain visible to search engines.
To have your story published - just send us your news item, logo and image(s) and we will review the material, make any necessary changes to the wording / wordcount and then advise you when it will be published.
If you are a regular advertiser placing series bookings or subscribing to our VIP Packages in our printed and online publications, you will qualify for a specific number of free postings on this blog while you continue to advertise with us.
Also, if you purchase one of our Online and Print Combo packages, Featured Articles or Advertorial packages, posting on this blog is included in the price.
For details and rates for all of our advertising options in print and online, download our media pack contact us or visit our website.
Door Industry Journal is a trading style of Avalon Innovations LLP Company Registration No. 06807833
No comments:
Post a Comment