All You Wanted to Know About Fire Doors and Doorsets

Last year, a major fire accident occurred at the Serum Institute of India (SII) plant in Pune, one of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers. While you may think that this is a one-off incident, the fact is that every year, several incidents like this occur across the length and breadth of the country, but few get extensive media coverage. One of the ways to prevent fire accidents is to install fire doors and doorsets as they play a critical role in retarding fire. They help contain the fire and smoke by preventing it from spreading to other parts of a building. Read on to find out how fire rated doorsets help protect lives and property.

Benefits of Installing Fire Doors 

Fire-resistant doors are a must for offices, commercial buildings, hospitals, schools, and factories as they house many lives and property. When installed as per guidelines, fire doors offer the following benefits. 

• When a fire breaks out, the first best thing to do is to prevent it from spreading to other parts of a building. Fire-resistant doors form a barrier between two adjacent spaces of a building and help reduce the spread of fire and smoke. Intumescent strips attached to all sides of the door help reinforce the seal.

• Fires thrive on oxygen supply, which is why, in the event of a fire, it is important to cut/restrict the supply of oxygen. Fire-resistant doors form a seal thereby restricting the supply of oxygen. You can choose from different options offering resistance of 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

• Most buildings are designed in such a way that the escape routes are safe from fire to allow easy evacuation of people, in case of emergency. Installing fire exit doors adds to the safety of such escape routes.

Note – As per guidelines, commercial and residential multi-storey spaces are required to install fire doors and doorsets in habitable rooms that lead to stairwells. 

Where to Install Fire Doors and Doorsets

Fire doors should be installed in areas where there is an elevated risk of a fire breakout. For instance, in the case of residential properties, fire doors and door sets should be installed in areas such as kitchens or where several electrical devices are located. Similarly, in the case of commercial properties, the fire exit doors must be installed on the escape routes and areas that are deemed fire-prone  by an authorized body, as per the nature of the business.

Last Word

Do not compromise on the quality of fire doors and door sets you buy just to save a few bucks. Go with a reputable fire-rated door manufacturer that complies with standard guidelines from global certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001, & FSC Certification. The fire-rated doorsets should come prefinished with all the necessary hardware. Last but not least, make sure the fire doors and doorsets you buy come with a generous warranty.