Among the many inventions in modern architecture, Fire-rated doors are probably one of the most crucial pieces of innovation. They play a vital role in assuring the well-being and safety of the tenants of a given property.
Installing fire doors as part of your safety practice is critical because it helps to prevent dangerous mishaps caused by fire from causing widespread damage to property and life. To protect people’s safety, high-quality fire doors are required in hotels, schools, residential, and commercial buildings.
Despite its importance, people have plenty of misconceptions about these doors. Several fire door manufacturers in India, including our representatives at Apple Ply, have heard of several myths and misconceptions from customers.
To debunk these misconceptions, we’ve compiled a list of the most common and detrimental myths about fire-rated doors. By the end of this article, you will be equipped to separate fact from fiction and be empowered to take the right decision when installing a fire-rated door at your home, hotel or other undertakings.
Top 4 Fire rated door myths
Fire doors have a fire-resistance rating and are employed as part of a building’s passive fire prevention system, which is mandatory in public buildings, offices, and industries. They block the fire or smoke from spreading throughout the building and confine it to a certain compartment or room. Some of the most common myths associated with them are as follows.
A large enough door can act as a fire door – Myth #1
All components in a fire door must meet the standards specified on the fire door certificate. In India, there are different fire door types that are certified for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes of fire resistance, with various heights and thicknesses. They are also classified depending on their stability, integrity, and insulation. Additionally, fire rated doors are fire-tested by reputable laboratories like IPriti, CBRI, Spectro, etc. These criteria are not met by, for example, adding larger doors or doorstops to ordinary doors or painting with fire retardant paint.
Anyone can install a fire door – Myth #2
Fire doors must be carefully installed to ensure that they function properly during a fire hazard. This demands the necessary qualifications and experience of a professional or else the safety and fire retarding capabilities of the fire rated door can be compromised. You can only be sure that you will not face any legal implications and that your construction will be legal and safe if you use the services of a qualified specialist.
The locks on fire doors don’t matter as long as it’s made from metal – Myth#3
Since excessive removal of material from the door leaf (The main panel of the door excluding additional furniture and hardware, like hinges and handles) can affect performance in a fire, you can only install a fire-tested and appropriate lock as indicated on the fire door certificate. In a fire, metal gets quite hot, thus use intumescent shielding if necessary.
Fire doors look obsolete and boring – Myth #4
A lot of buyers tend to compromise safety standards assuming that it will look less stylish. While this may have been true in the past, it is no longer the case. Many door styles and designs are also available as fire doors, allowing you to maintain a stylish interior look that blends in with the rest of your home’s decor.
In conclusion, every building must conform to hazard-protection rules to ensure a safe environment, and fire doors are a vital component of those efforts. If you still have further questions and queries about fire doors and their manufacturing, contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible with all the answers and clarity you need!
And finally, if you are in search of fire doors for your project, reach out to AK group’s Apple Ply for certified fire doors that have passed test criteria and manufacturing compliance to keep your interior safe from fire hazards. Build safer, stylish homes and offices with Apple ply!
