For some people, it is unclear what role a fire door plays in the prevention of a fire. Some think that a fire door will contain a fire indefinitely, even contributing towards extinguishing it before it gets out of hand. But in actual fact, fire doors are installed to prevent the spread of a fire. This gives people in the building plenty of time to evacuate, and enough time for fire crews to reach the building.

Quarantining a fire to one room reduces the amount of damage that the fire is capable of doing. Without fire doors, a fire can spread very quickly from room to room, even traversing floors. Multi storey buildings can be completely engulfed in flames within twenty minutes of a fire breaking out.

So how do fire doors differ from regular doors?

Fire doors are specially tested against the elements and are purpose-built to withstand extreme fires for as long as possible.

For a door to be certified as a fire safety door, they must be built to include certain fire safety features. If you own a commercial or non-domestic property, there are strict regulations to follow to ensure if a fire breaks out fire doors are strategically positioned to contain it.

Features:

• The door itself is usually made from a solid timber frame, some are covered in a fire-resistant glass.
• The edges of the door will include an intumescent seal, designed to expand when temperatures reach 200°C, sealing the gaps between the door and the frame.
• Fire doors should be built onto rooms where fires are more likely to originate such as kitchens or rooms with lots of electrical devices.
• Around 42% of house fire deaths occur from smoke inhalation. To combat the spread of smoke, as well as flames, door sets can come included with cold smoke seals built into the intumescent seal.

If you wish to install fire doors or shutters in Manchester properties, contact Sheridan Doors today.