Fire doors are essential in commercial buildings to ensure the safety of employees and visitors against fast-spreading fire. Designed to restrict the development of fire and smoke, these doors also protect escape routes during evacuation and provide safe passage to emergency responders. Automatic Door Specialists, a company that offers fire door sales, installation, and repair in Waipahu, HI, answers a few of the frequently asked questions about it.

Experts Answer Fire Door FAQ

1. What Are Fire Doors Made of?

Fire doors are sturdier than standard ones and are usually made of solid timber or lightweight composite materials. They are outfitted with essential hardware, such as hinges, door handles and locks, and surrounding seals to block the gaps for smoke and fire. Some have fire-resistant glass panels and relief air registers.

2. What Do You Need to Check When Installing a Fire Door?

To check if fire doors are up to safety standards, look at the intumescent seals surrounding the door or frame. These seals expand when temperatures rise above 200 degrees Celsius, blocking oxygen from feeding the flames further. Also pay attention to the gaps around the door, which should be less than four millimeters when the door is shut.

3. What Is the Most Common Type of Fire Door?

There are several options and finishes to choose from, and your choice will likely depend on the design of your commercial property. Wood is more common than glass, and timber fire doors are given an FD rating based on the number of minutes they can resist fire. FD30 and FD60 are the most common, as both provide enough time to complete an evacuation.

4. Who Can Install Them?

Fire doors need to fit properly to effectively delay the spread of fire and smoke throughout the building while giving ample evacuation time to occupants. Only qualified builders and accredited professionals should handle their installation to comply with strict safety standards.

5. How Often Should They Be Inspected?

To ensure fire doors are compliant with building codes and regulations, they should be inspected by a professional every six months or annually. You should also designate and train a person or a team in your company to check that fire safety devices are functioning and proper signage is installed and visible.

Protect your commercial property from fires by relying on the experts at Automatic Door Specialists. For more than 25 years, this company has specialized in access control, automatic gate, and commercial door installation and maintenance, along with home automation. Their technicians are certified by the American Association of Automated Door Manufacturers (AAADM) and offer emergency repairs. Call (808) 678-8880 to request an estimate, and visit the website to learn more about their products.