Fire Doors: Varieties, Accessories, Degree Of Fire Resistance

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Fire doors: design, variety, installation

According to the gloomy statistics of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the reason for 80% of deaths during fires is the inability to evacuate from a burning building. The department for certification of building materials and state standards provides for a number of GOSTs to enhance security measures. Some of them concern evacuation passages, which are equipped with fire doors.

Content

• 1 Fire doors and their structure

  1.1 Requirements for the construction of fire doors

• 2 Criteria for dividing PD into classes

• 3 Varieties of fire doors

  • 3.1 Steel structures
  • 3.2 Wooden fire doors
  • 3.3 Armored AP
  • 3.4 Aluminum fire doors
  • 3.5 Glass fire doors

  • 3.6 Types of PD on the structure of the opening mechanism

    3.6.1 Photo gallery: types of fire doors by opening method

  • 3.7 Reviews

• 4 Self-production of fire doors

  4.1 Video: Testing a bipolar PD

• 5 Installation of fire doors

  5.1 Video: rules for installing PD

• 6 Accessories for fire doors

Fire doors and their device

Doors between rooms, corridors and exits to the outside of the building, which ensure the protection of premises from the spread of fire, smoke and hot air streams, are called fire doors (FD). They are installed in crowded places - in workshops of industrial premises, hotels, shopping centers, cinemas, and administrative offices. When designing such buildings, together with an evacuation plan, fire warning systems and automated extinguishing systems, a PD installation scheme is compulsorily developed in accordance with the regulatory documents of the current legislation. These rules also apply in the private development sector.

A fire door solves the following tasks:

• provides the ability to deliver fire extinguishing equipment to the facility;
• isolates the room in which the ignition occurred;
• facilitates the penetration of rescuers to the fire site in order to eliminate it;
• opens a safe route for the evacuation of people.

Requirements for the construction of fire doors

The peculiarity of the PD is a special way of connecting the bearing profiles, taking into account possible deformations during heating, so that the door does not jam as the temperature rises. Its curvature and swelling in the horizontal plane is permissible, but not in the vertical one.

The supporting profiles of the PD are connected differently from ordinary doors, but taking into account the possible deformation of parts when heated

In the production of specialized door designs, manufacturers are guided by certain standards:

• GOST R 53307-2009, which determines the standards of fire resistance;
• GOST R 53303-2009, describing the permeability of the product to smoke and gases;
• GOST 26602.3–99, which establishes the permissible degree of sound insulation;
• GOST 26602.1–99, which regulates the level of heat resistance;
• GOST 30247.0–94, which determines the fire resistance of a structure.

Each of the standards puts forward its own requirements for one of the parameters of the critical mark of fire hazard. The certificate to the PD reflects the test result for all indicators, taking into account the assessment of the resistance of the frame, canvas, handles, hinges and locks. Indicators of fire resistance of polymer coatings are also indicated. GOST R 53307-2009 allows testing of both the finished PD and the materials it consists of.

Fire-resistant paint is used for finishing fireproof metal doors

In the construction industry, SNiP 21-01-97 on "Fire safety of buildings and structures" is considered the main regulatory document of the Russian Federation that determines the degree of fire protection of PD. It regulates the norms of production and installation of doors in the light of the fundamental function - preserving the lives of people in a dangerous situation and conducting their prompt evacuation. The document classifies the characteristics of materials by type of fire safety:

• toxicity;
• the degree of smoke generation;
• flammability level;
• flammability;
• flame propagation speed.

Federal Law FZ 123 establishes requirements for the application of PD. They are a prerequisite for the organization of emergency exits, security barriers for elevator shafts and other evacuation routes.

Various details of the arrangement of fireproof structures are considered in the rules:

• SP1. 13130.2009 (section on fire protection systems);
• SP2. 13130.2009 (clause on the organization of fire resistance of objects);
• SP4. 13130.2009 (standards for the planning of security structures).

The door is subject to mandatory certification after passing tests and trials. The document is issued by the relevant authorities licensed by the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia.

After testing the fire door, the testing department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations issues a certificate with a report on its characteristics

Criteria for dividing PD into classes

Materials used in the construction of buildings are conventionally divided into flammable and non-flammable. In accordance with SNiP, each is assigned a certain class - from G1 (low flammability) to G4 (highly flammable). It also provides a classification of fire-fighting structures - partitions, doors, breaks. For each type, operational fire resistance limits are established and a marking code is assigned:

• I - loss of heat-insulating ability (when the ambient temperature is exceeded by more than 140 ° C);
• E - violation of structural integrity (deformation of the constituent elements, the formation of through holes and fistulas, the door leaf falling out of the frame);
• R - loss of bearing capacity (destruction of floors intended to support other building structures).

In addition to this marking, there are additional designations:

• W is the maximum permissible value of the transfer of infrared radiation, which can cause a fire in an adjacent room (3.5 kW / m ²⁾, is used in glass and combined PD;
• S - characteristic of the door smoke tightness.

The general classification of the fire resistance of a structure is expressed in letters and numbers. The number indicates the number of minutes during which the structure retains its protective properties. For example, REI 30 means that the product will not lose strength and heat-insulating properties within 30 minutes. from the start of the fire. According to GOST 30247. 0–94, door structures for fire-prevention purposes must meet class G3. This eliminates the possibility of voids and cavities in them.

Each PD has thermal breaks, seals and isothermal materials

Varieties of fire doors

The most obvious sign of the difference between PDs is the material from which they are made.

Steel structures

The range of sheet steel includes over 700 different grades. But not every one is used as a fire protection. Also, it is not always possible to visually determine the thickness of the metal. As a result, there is a wide field for falsifications and various kinds of fakes. You can trust the accompanying documents and the reputation of the selling organization. Otherwise, unpleasant situations arise.

There are signs that distinguish a quality product from imitation.

1. The classic product is made of rectangular pipes in a frame and sheathed with steel plates with double folds at the ends.
2. The internal space is filled with a non-combustible material with low thermal conductivity, for example, mineral wool from rocks.
3. Along the perimeter of the door leaf, there is a seal made of a special material, equipped with a gasket that foams when heated.
4. An indicative characteristic for a metal door is weight. The weight of the product is indicated in the technical documents and its size starts from 120 kg.

A fireproof door made of steel must have a mass of at least 120 kg

Wooden fire doors

Today, such protective structures are installed in basements or warehouses. The difference from ordinary doors is the frame reinforced in thickness and the panel, which can also be metal. Wooden PD is equipped with a special gasket, which forms abundant foam release under the influence of high temperature. Another feature is that the wooden structure is made from a solid mass and suspended on more powerful hinges.

Wooden fire doors are made from solid wood

Armored PD

This type of door combines fire protection with burglary protection without loss in aesthetic terms. A high-quality model is capable of becoming a barrier to any unauthorized entry of both people and fire.

Special fittings are used for armored fire doors

Aluminum fire doors

The construction uses profiles and cladding made of heat-resistant aluminum alloys. The cavities are filled with basalt mineral wool or gypsum fiber boards. Thermal breaks are installed inside - insulating gaskets, due to which heat transfer is reduced. The doors are distinguished by their elegant appearance, light weight, ease of installation and use.

The addition of small amounts of nickel and copper to aluminum turns the metal into a strong alloy

Glass fire doors

In this type of PD, fire-resistant glass is used as filling. There are options for doors with or without a metal frame. Do not use reinforced or laminated (triplex) glass in the structure. It should, if necessary, break well and crumble into small pieces that are not harmful to people.

The glass fire door fits well into the interior and serves as a complete fire protection

There are combined models of metal or wood and fireproof glass. According to safety standards, when using more than 25% of glass from the total area in a metal or wooden door, it is necessary to additionally test the structure for the limit value of radiation transfer (index W).

Combined fire doors are made of metal with a glass insert

Types of PD on the structure of the opening mechanism

Fire doors also differ in the way they open. There are five options:

1. Pendulum doors are doors with flaps that open in both directions. The automatic mechanism always returns the web to its original position. The hinges have a special design, create an axis of rotation of the sash and are installed in the floor and ceiling of the opening. They are single or bivalve. They are convenient in crowded places - subways, office centers, factory checkpoints, stadium arenas and similar structures. High throughput combined with a security function. The fire resistance requirements are met at EI30.60.

2. Swing. They use the classic opening mechanism - turning the canvas to the side around one of the vertical axes. There are single-field and double-field.

   

   Classic version of PD - swing doors

3. Sliding (sliding). They are used in places where there is not enough space for installing swing doors. Their “compartment” -type design saves usable floor space. Distinctive elements of sliding PDs are special fittings, movable suspension guides, manual or mechanical drive. They are made from various materials - metal, glass, wood. They use a counterbalance system that is automatically triggered in an emergency. A type of sliding door is sliding. The sash is moved along guides using ball bearings. The sash is controlled by mechanical and electromechanical devices. The scope of delivery includes self-contained battery systems capable of moving a heavy door. This type of PD is used in hangars, warehouses and factories, since for normal functioning the width of the corridor is larger than the open doors.

   

   Sliding PDs are often installed in warehouses or garages, as well as in places where a swing door cannot be installed

4. Roller shutter (roll). The peculiarity of this type of PD design is mobility and compactness. When open, the door is a sheet rolled on a shaft under the ceiling. The sash is lowered manually or by means of an electric drive. It is installed in shops and restaurants, in garages. If necessary, the twisted canvas is lowered almost instantly, blocking the opening for fire. Sliding bearings mounted on the upper shaft make lifting and lowering the sash simple and easy. Flap seals are mounted around the frame perimeter, which exclude the penetration of gases or smoke. In the lower part of the threshold and the upper level of the roll, special profiles with anti-smoke labyrinths are installed. As a result, the opening becomes tight.

   

   A roller shutter door consists of the following parts: 1 - leaf, 2 - frame, 3 - shaft on which the sash rises, 4 - opening mechanism

5. With anti-panic system. To facilitate the evacuation of residents of the house or staff of the office, the PD is equipped with a special system: the door is locked from the outside, and a handle in the form of a transverse bar is installed from the inside, which easily unlocks the lock when pressed down. Placement height is 90–110 cm from the floor. The door restrains the spread of fire and smoke, but, if necessary, freely releases people outside. It is often supplied complete with automatic door closers and self-powered electric drive.

Photo gallery: types of fire doors by opening method

Swing doors have excellent flow capacity

The most common type of PD is swing structures

The sliding door, while maintaining the security function, significantly saves indoor space

Hangars with large-sized goods are equipped with sliding fire doors

Roll-up doors are easy to use and resist fire well

Fire doors are often equipped with an Anti-Panic system

Reviews

Self-production of fire doors

PD production is a responsible and difficult business. There is no place for homemade products. You can weld and install a metal door with your own hands, but you cannot call it a fireproof door, since no one has tested it and it is not known how it will behave in a real fire. It is likely that as the temperature rises, instead of holding back fire and smoke, it will deform and jam, posing a threat to human life. A well-organized PD production assumes a high level of metalworking, which can only be achieved on stationary machines with precise adjustments. Each stage is accompanied by quality control. All materials are certified and meet the specified characteristics. Each hole, each weld seam performs functions corresponding to the technological task. The slightest clearances and backlashes are unacceptable.

Video: testing bipolar PD

Installation of fire doors

Making PD is half the battle. The second, but no less important, is its correct installation in the opening. It is dangerous to resort to the services of organizations and teams that are good at installing ordinary doors, but have no experience in installing fireproof doors. This should be done by persons licensed by the Ministry of Emergencies. So that the customer can control the installation progress, we will list the basic procedure and nuances of PD installation.

1. Preparation of the opening. If there is an outdated or burnable door, it is completely dismantled. The freed surface is cleaned and prepared for further actions - the remains of foam and insulation, a layer of plaster on brick and concrete partitions are removed. In case of discrepancy between the installation dimensions of the PD and the size of the opening, it is laid out with bricks or other building blocks. Such situations more often occur in new buildings, although sometimes they also occur in existing buildings after dismantling the old door frame.

   

   PD installation begins with the preparation of the doorway

2. Freeing up the space surrounding the installation area. This is done to simplify further work, convenient adjustment and check the movement of the door leaf. The door leaf should open freely over its entire width - from 90 to 180 °.

3. Marking up. At this stage, the vertical and horizontal alignment axis is beaten off and the initial fasteners are mounted.

   

   Marking is done using a construction hydraulic level

4. Installation of the box in the doorway. All fasteners are closed with special fire-resistant plugs.

   

   Fire door installation begins with the installation of the box

5. Hanging the door leaf on the hinges. After adjusting and fixing the sash, it should fit snugly against the frame around the entire perimeter. Pay attention to the size of the gap between the moving and stationary parts of the PD. When assembled correctly, it is the same everywhere.
6. Filling the cavities between the frame and the wall. For this, fire-resistant materials are used - polyurethane foam, sealants or a solution of a cement-sand mixture.

7. Finishing finish. Platbands are installed and related accessories - handles, door closers, electronic devices, sensors - are installed.

   

   After filling the cavities between the frame and the wall with mineral wool, proceed to the installation of platbands

Video: rules for installing PD

Fire door accessories

Increased requirements are imposed on fittings due to the need to maintain functional properties at elevated temperatures. The accessories include:

1. Locks. They are made of heat-resistant materials that are not subject to reflow under the influence of high temperatures. A necessary condition is the preservation of the functions of the mechanism in an extreme situation. The test report is included in the accompanying documents to the PD. Installation of the lock is carried out by the manufacturer. Unauthorized installation may void the manufacturer's warranty. When choosing a product, they are guided not only by the price level, but also by the quality. It is reasonable to listen to the opinion of the installation company that will install the PD. It is she who gives a guarantee for operation.

   

   Externally, a fire lock may be no different from an ordinary one, but must have a quality certificate

2. Loops and guides. Closers provide smooth and silent closing of the curtain. Most often they are installed at the top of the door. But in some models, for example, in pendulum models, the mechanism is located on the axis of rotation and mounted at the upper and lower points of fastening of the canvas. In the regulatory legislation of the Russian Federation, there is no concept of fire certification separately for guides, but together with a fire door, this device can be certified. Closers can be selected from those recommended by the door manufacturer.

   

   Closer device allows you to adjust the closing speed of the PD curtain

3. Surveillance eyes. Most users switch to systems that record everything that happens outside the door. But in private houses and apartments, they still use traditional eyes. Fire doors are not without this tool. Devices with an increased level of heat resistance are produced especially for them. The requirements for the eyes are heat resistance, safety for the user and reliability. They differ in viewing angle: the more space the optics covers, the better the eye is considered. The optimal viewing angle is 180 °.

   

   The larger the viewing angle, the better the peephole is considered

4. Armor plates and keys. These additional parts are installed to increase the security of doors from burglary, clogging, moisture ingress. The metal membrane allows you to protect the lock from a master key, allowing only proprietary keys to the secret mechanism. In some cases, a handle hole is included with the keys.

   

   The keyhole not only protects the lock from burglary, but also decorates the leaf of the fire door

5. Doorknobs. In addition to refractoriness, they must have strength. Products are produced in the form of rods, push-on, overhead, on the bar. They are all metal. When choosing a model, one proceeds not only from considerations of harmonious design, but also from the quality of the movement. To do this, check the reliability of the spring - deepen the locking tab inward and watch how it is pushed back to its original position. If the release of the latch is slow or incomplete, then the spring is faulty. They also study technical documentation to find out the marking of the steel, its strength and resistance to high temperatures.

   

   PD door handles must be strong and reliable

At the design stage of industrial facilities, fire-prevention measures are developed taking into account the current legislation. In private construction, the customer does not always pay due attention to this aspect. Therefore, it is reasonable to consult with a specialist, heed the recommendations for choosing a class and type of PD.