Fire safety is the most critical aspect of any building that we build these days. Making sure that people can leave the building safely in case of a fire is an essential part of our life now. To make your property safe from fire hazards and provide a barrier of safety for the residents in case of an accident, every property owner must know everything there is to know about fire escape doors. We are sharing all the basic information that you need to understand how an emergency door works and how you should select one.
Main Features of Fire Doors
While you could simply say that a fire door is a safety feature against fires in buildings, there is a more specific way of understanding it. Primarily, the following features define the existence of fire doors in buildings.
- Containment of fires within a certain area
- Keeping fire and smoke away from escape routes in a building. You might have noticed that all the staircases in buildings also have fire doors installed on them.
- Isolate loss and damage caused by a fire to the incident area and to minimize the cost of rebuilding after the fire is contained.
How Do Fire Escape Doors Work?
The function of a good quality emergency door is twofold, and you must ensure that each part of that function always is fully working.
- The door itself should be capable of resisting the heat and damage caused by fire for a sufficient period. Typically, this is defined through ratings that the doors come with as they define the time that a door can withstand fire before it gives way. Something like a steel fire door would have a high rating but you can also find timber frame doors with good performance.
- Secondly, the gaps around the door should also be taken care of and for that, every steel fire door and timber frame door is surrounded by a layer of intumescent strips which expand when exposed to the heat from the fire. They provide an effective seal that prevents the smoke and fire from escaping a confined space.
Do You Need to Install a Fire Door in Your Property?
Whether you are thinking of installing a regular door or a proper steel fire door on your property, the decision should come through a proper safety evaluation. Whenever you are building any structure, be it a home, a residential building, or some other structure, you need to consult the local municipality for guidance. They can let you know if your property will need an emergency door installation or not. Alternatively, a good civil engineer working on your project should also have the requisite knowledge and help you make the right decision.
Final Words
Installing fire escape doors is a tedious process. While you may know what to select and how to get the right one, it is still crucial that you get it installed by a professional. Look for someone who is trained in fire door installation and will ensure that your doors do their job effectively.
