All you should know about fire-rated doors

Fire damage is one of the biggest causes of collateral damage in Australia. It causes large scale damage to both people and property. It is essential to make sure one’s house is ready to counter fire if any such disaster occurs. The best way to start is by swapping out a conventional door with a fireproof door.

Fire rated doors are doors that can withstand extreme heat and fire. They can stay intact in conditions where traditional doors burn out. But many don’t know what such a door is and what are its benefits.

To help all the potential customers out there, here is a deep dive into everything one needs to know about fire-resistant doors:

What is it?

Fire-rated doors are doors similar to a conventional door but have features baked in to make them resistant to fire and extreme heat. It is available in all the same colours and designs like that of usual doors. Therefore, there is no need to change the design to match that of the door. It is a service provided by specialists who can fireproof an existing door or install a new one with fire-resistant features.

How Does It Work?

Fire-resistant doors use various mechanisms to prevent the spread of fire. They also have features that enable people to escape out of the room in case of a fire. It mainly has three components:

• The Door: Made out of solid wood, preferably out of fire-resistant species, they provide enough protection on their own. But some doors have an additional layer of fire-rated glass which gives it even more rigidity.
• The Edges: They contain a layer of Intumescent sealant. It is a chemical compound which when exposed to high temperatures, starts to expand. It fills the gaps and thus prevents the spread of fire. It is essential because gaps are the way through which fires spread the fastest.
• Door closer: They might seem basic, but it is a vital part of such doors. Most fires spread so rapidly because the doors are mostly left open. Door closers solve this problem without looking obnoxious. They need to be installed in large building complexes like offices or educational institutions as they are places with several doors and open spaces.

Are there any extra steps for installation?

This is a common question among first-time users. It is also one that stops people from buying a fire rated door. The truth is that it requires little to no extra steps to get it ready. If one is building a house or an office complex, all that is needed is to use frames designed to hold the intumescent sealant. The doors mount the same way as a conventional door. A couple of screws is all that is required to mount the door closers. It is easy to install and requires no extra training for the workers.

Is it expensive?

No, it is a common myth that fire-resistant doors cost more than any other kind of door. It is untrue. All variants of this kind of door are in a similar price range to any other kind. It is an investment that is worth making as it can save lives in the long run.

As one can deduce, fire-resistant doors are an ideal choice for both home and office use. The idea of this article was to give the readers a better idea about the uses and costs. It is needed because more people need to know about this. It can save lives in times of grave danger. That is why it is important to spread the message and let people know about it.