This article lists the basic regulations of a fire door, as well as the composition of a fire door.

The most basic use of a fire door is to prevent the spread of fire in a building.The other use of a fire door is to help secure the exit of people in a fire. When it comes to fire doors, there are certain rules and regulations that have to be met if it’s used, especially in a commercial property. An in-depth look into the elements of a fire door can make it clear for us how it delays the spread of fire in a building.

Most fire doors have a solid timber frame. Sometimes it can be glazed with a fire-resistant glass. Around the fire door is a fire seal that expands when temperatures reach a certain peak. The fire seals close the gaps between the door leaf and the door frame so that smoke and fire cannot escape from the door.

Some fire doors don’t come with a seal, but new fire door requirements need a seal. This is because the seal is responsible for preventing deadly smoke from seeping through the cracks. Smoke inhalation, after all, is responsible for 42% of deaths in fires.

Fire doors come with a self-closing apparatus, and it’s crucial that the door should not be propped open.

Fire door ratings are given after fire doors are tested by a fire testing centre. The testing is done by exposing the fire door to intense heat conditions to see how long it takes for it to disintegrate.

The label indicates the time it takes before the fire door disintegrates. A rating of FD30 means that a fire door can last for 30 minutes in a fire. Subsequently an FD60 lasts for an hour, and an FD120 lasts for two hours.

Fire doors are required to be installed in commercial buildings, but they can also be installed in private properties. In particular, these should be installed in rooms that are more prone to fires like a kitchen, or a room with lots of electrical appliances.

Commercial buildings must follow fire door regulations. There must always be a ‘responsible person’ which is usually the employer in the building. He or she is responsible there is a proper escape route out of the buildings, with the fire doors placed in the proper rooms. Aside from this, the responsible person must have a fire detection warning in place, with the correct fire prevention equipment, fire proper safety signs, and escape lighting.