Be it residential, commercial, or industrial, fire could be a major hazard to every type of property. When it comes to safeguarding a property and its occupants from fire, having efficient fire safety measures, such as fire-resistant doors, could be of great help. Fire-rated doors and accessories are especially engineered to prevent the spread of fire and fumes through different sections of the building, giving the occupants more time to vacate the property or get to safety. If you are looking for fire-resistant doors for your home or commercial space, this article is for you. Read on as we bring to you some important factors that you must consider when installing fire-rated doorsets.
Certifications
When it comes to protection from fire, it is important to check the certifications of the product, to ensure whether it is eligible for the job. Make sure the fire-rated doors and door sets you choose are certified by reputable authorities such as IPIRTI and CBRI and should clear BS 476 Part 22, BM Trada, and Q-Mark certifications for fire safety. In addition, the door leaf, frame, and ironmongery that come with your fire door set should also be certified.
Related: Answering 3 Frequently Asked Questions About Maintenance of Fire Doors
Door Gaps
You might be surprised to know that most deaths caused by fire aren’t due to burns, but due to suffocation and smoke inhalation. It is, therefore, important to ensure that the fire door sets you choose doesn’t have any gaps for the smoke to escape. The gaps between the fire door and the door frame shouldn’t be more than 4 mm; on the lower side, it shouldn’t be less than 2 mm to allow for thermal expansion. Ideally, the gap should be approximately 3 mm.
Fire and Smoke Seals
When installing a fire-rated door, it is important to ensure that the smoke seals are covering gaps between the door and the frame completely. Ideally, there shouldn’t be any gap in the door for smoke to escape, no matter how small. Also, if the smoke seal is missing or damaged, immediately report the missing seal or the damage to a maintenance contractor, as it may compromise the functioning of the door if there is a fire outbreak.
Related: 3 Places Where You Can Install Fire Rated Doors
Hinges
Hinges, although small, play an important role in the functionality of a fire-rated door. If the hinges are not properly installed, have any missing screws, or are rusted or jammed, it may compromise the effectiveness of the fire door. To avoid such a scenario, it is important to ensure the hinges are intact and working properly.
In addition to the above-mentioned factors, it is also important to ensure the fire door has a retractor that automatically closes it once a person has passed through it. If the door doesn’t close on its own, it may not work effectively when the testing hour strikes.
About Mikasa Doors
Mikasa Doors is a leading manufacturer of different types of premium quality fire rated doors. When looking for fully certified fire-rated doors & door sets that offer the highest level of protection to occupants, look no further than our fire-rated wooden door catalogue. We bring to you a wide range of fire-rated doors and accessories that are engineered to serve as a reliable part of your overall fire protection system. If you have any questions about our fire resistant door sets or would like to discuss your requirements, simply call 1800 833 0004. You can also write to us at info@mikasadoors.com, and we will take it from there.