How long does a Fire Door last?

Fire Door Primary Functions

The primary function of a Fire Door is to reduce the spread of heat, smoke and fire throughout a building.

Fire Doors work in collaboration with other passive fire-stopping systems, such as Emergency Exits and Fire Stopping in the walls, to compartment buildings.

This ensures safe egress for people in the event of an emergency, fire or otherwise.

Some areas may have higher fire risk levels and thus may require protection for longer periods of time. An example could be server cupboards.

Fire Door Ratings

Resisting Times

The most common fire-resistant times are FD30, FD60, FD120 and FD240.

The ‘FD’ represents the fact that it’s a Fire Door, and the ‘30’ represents the minimum minutes it’s meant to hold fire from entering one environment to another.

This fire rating should be applicable to the whole doorset, and any hardware on the door. Examples of hardware includes hinges, closers, handles, automation, locking, frame and architraves.

Whilst the doors fire rating, is only applicable to the doorset, it’s also worth checking that other hardware is up to standards e.g. the fire stopping in the walls. The passive fire system is only as good as it’s weakest link.

FD30 vs FD30s – Smoke Seals

Some may recognise the ‘s’ at the end of the ratings. This reflects the additional legal requirement of smoke seals.

Fire Doors without smoke protection, are only fitted with Intumescent Seals. These seals expand with heat, therefore sealing the door. If there is no heat, they don’t expand, therefore still allowing smoke to penetrate the door gaps.

Smoke seals reduce the chances of smoke entering from one environment to another, without the presence of heat. These often come in the form of fins or bristles.

Smoke has been identified as a major killer in the event of a fire, as smoke spreads much quicker than fire. Smoke often  incapacitates users, therefore preventing them from leaving the building safely. This is especially important to note, when toxic materials are present.

It is worth noting, however, that these do not need to be fitted if the door is not specified to do so. Belt and braces are rarely beneficial for all, hence attention to detail in the FRA is imperative.

Benefits to other seal types

Whilst smoke seals are a legal requirement, they can be specified to have additional functionality.

Examples of additional seal functionality:

• Acoustic seals – Reduces noise from one environment to another, to varying degrees.
• Smells – Reducing airflow, also reduces the chances of smells exchanging from one environment to another.
• Reduced airflow – Reducing energy bills and containing potential airborne contaminants.

More details on Fire Door smoke seals can be found in our article Fire Door seals - 7 common problems

Multi-operational standards

In some situations, Fire Doors will need not only comply to fire safety standards, but also to other operational requirements.

Not all standards have legal implications, however it may be worth considering the following, when looking at the door(s) in mention:

• Automation of the door – Any automation is legally regulated, as there is risk of harm from powered devices. Considerations include sensors and protected areas, where the door retracts to.
  
  Heavy metal doors are often powered by hydraulic motors, therefore creating safety hazards.
• Security door standards – Whilst not a legal requirement, the risk assessment of the building may dictate a minimum level of security for that door, which may form as part of the health and safety of the building as a whole.
• Access control & Locking – Various hardware could be applied to the door, therefore the correct specification of that access control or locking should comply with the British Standards associated.
• Equality (DDA) – Where appropriate, to provide accessibility to anyone, additional hardware may be required to make it fit for purpose. These doors could be implemented anywhere in the building, however, are most seen in bathrooms.