August. 24, 2025
A fire door works as a critical component of a building's passive fire protection system. Its primary function is to prevent or slow the spread of fire and smoke between compartments, allowing occupants more time to evacuate and reducing damage to the structure. Here's how a fire door works:
Key Components and How They Work:
1. Fire-Resistant Materials:
- Fire doors are constructed from materials that can withstand high temperatures, such as steel, gypsum, or timber with fire-resistant coatings.
- These materials are designed to resist fire for a specific duration (e.g., 30, 60, or 90 minutes), depending on the door's fire rating.
2. Intumescent Seals:
- Fire doors are equipped with **intumescent seals** around the edges. These seals expand when exposed to heat, filling gaps between the door and the frame to prevent the passage of flames and smoke.
3. Smoke Seals:
- Some fire doors also have **smoke seals**, which block smoke from passing through gaps, even at lower temperatures. Smoke inhalation is a major cause of fire-related fatalities, so this feature is crucial for safety.
4. Self-Closing Mechanism:
- Fire doors are typically fitted with a **self-closing device** (e.g., a door closer or spring hinge). This ensures that the door automatically closes in the event of a fire, maintaining the integrity of the fire compartment.
5. Fire-Rated Hardware:
- All components of a fire door, including hinges, locks, and handles, are made from fire-rated materials. These components are designed to withstand high temperatures and ensure the door functions properly during a fire.
6. Compartmentation:
- Fire doors are part of a building's **compartmentation strategy**, which divides the structure into fire-resistant sections. This helps contain the fire to a specific area, slowing its spread and providing safe escape routes.
How It Works During a Fire:
1. Detection:
- When a fire breaks out, heat and smoke are detected in the area.
2. Containment:
- The fire door, once closed, acts as a barrier. The intumescent seals expand to block gaps, and the fire-resistant materials prevent flames from passing through.
3. Compartmentation:
- The fire is contained within a specific section of the building, slowing its spread to other areas.
4. Evacuation:
- By containing the fire and smoke, the fire door provides occupants with more time to evacuate safely and reduces the risk of smoke inhalation.
5. Protection of Property:
- The fire door helps minimize damage to the building by limiting the fire's spread.
Why Fire Doors Are Important:
- Life Safety: They protect escape routes and reduce the risk of injury or death from fire and smoke.
- Property Protection: They help contain fires, minimizing damage to the building and its contents.
- Compliance: Fire doors are required by building codes and fire safety regulations in most countries.
A fire door works by using fire-resistant materials, intumescent and smoke seals, and self-closing mechanisms to contain fire and smoke within a specific area. This provides time for evacuation, protects property, and complies with fire safety regulations. Proper installation, maintenance, and regular inspections are essential to ensure fire doors function as intended during an emergency.
Contact us Service@lhshdoors.com today to find the perfect fire door solution for your specific needs!
Shenzhen Longhui Sanhe Safety Technology Group Co., Ltd. (Since 1998)