You will never find a commercial building that does not adhere to fire safety codes because they do not want to suffer hefty penalties. In some cases, failing to follow them can cause the entire building to be inaccessible until the management decides to comply with the fire safety codes. One of the many ways they can observe the code is by installing fire-rated doors.
You can find fire doors with different types of hardware installed on them, and each one provides a specific purpose. Remember that buying a product with missing fire door hardware can cause complications. You have to learn the different pieces of hardware so that your contractors can install them right away.
- Fire Door Closers
A fire door is never complete without door closers as they can shut it behind you when passing through. You might think that it is unnecessary hardware for fire doors, but that is where you are wrong because it can prevent smoke from going out of the room. At one point, a person may forget to close the door properly, which is a potential threat if a fire happens within that room.
Fortunately, installing door closers will keep it closed at all times after opening it. Besides preventing smoke from escaping the room, it also works as an additional security feature since it closes the door, preventing unauthorised personnel from entering. There are different door closers depending on what type of fire door you have, so it should not be a problem getting the suitable one.
You may have seen fire door closers installed on top of the door frame, but there are also ones called the jamb door closer that contractors install on the door.
- Smoke Seals
Installing door closers are not enough to keep the smoke from escaping a room as the door still has tiny gaps or openings. Another piece of fire door hardware you might need are smoke seals, which can cover those gaps and openings. They work by closing the gaps around the door frame and disengage when opening the door, ensuring that it will not be too difficult to open the door.
Smoke seals are also great when installed on main entry doors as it is where everyone passes through every day. Most commercial buildings use them to prevent drought or insects from getting inside the building. You can improve its effectiveness by combining it with bottom drop seals.
- Exit/Panic Device
You might have seen panic devices installed on doors leading to stairwells because they provide the most convenient way of opening the door. The door opens by pushing on the bar usually placed on the centre, and it will always swing outwards from where you push it. It is the most effective device whenever tenants need to quickly exit the stairwells and out of the building right away.
- Fire Door Latches and Locks
You have to choose fire door locks and latches that are tested with the Fire Door Core specimen according to AS1905 and AS1530.4. They are different from your standard door locks because they are specifically built for one to four-hour fire doors. You have many options to select from, such as mortice locks, cylindrical locks, and deadlocks, to name a few.
Do not forget the different hardware mentioned above if you want to install fire doors the right way.
