A Beginner’s Guide to Fire Doors

What is a fire door? And what are fire doors used for? If you’re interested in fire-resistant doors, look no further. In our guide, we’ll cover the different types of fire doors, provide information on what fire doors are made of, as well as how they can benefit your people, property and business in the event of a fire. Please note that we are not fire experts. This article is an overview, and you must seek the advice of a professional to ensure you’re compliant and providing the correct protection for your workplace.

The Purpose of a Fire Door

Despite what many think, fire doors are not fireproof. “Well, what is the purpose of a fire door then?”, we hear you ask. Actually, this type of door is designed to slow down fires and prevent them from spreading so quickly.

There are different grades of fire doors, all of which protect your property for varying amounts of time. These include:

• FD120 – Providing 120 minutes of protection from fire
• FD90 – Providing 90 minutes of protection from fire
• FD60 – Providing 60 minutes of protection from fire
• FD30 – Providing 30 minutes of protection from fire

Materials Used to Make Fire-Resistant Doors

The materials used are pivotal to how fire doors work. There are four primary materials that you will often find your fire door to be made of. This includes a combination of:

• Aluminium
• Gypsum
• Timber
• Steel

If your fire door has a window, it’s likely made using either borosilicate or ceramic glass. Although the timber in the fire door is flammable, the gypsum, steel or aluminium are not. This means the door should last for as long as it is fire rated if a fire should ever start.

Many fire doors sit flush inside a door frame. They often have a losing mechanism at the top of the door to hold it firmly in place when sealed. This helps to prevent smoke or air from escaping and causing even more of a problem. Instead, anyone trapped inside is given more time to formulate a plan to safely escape the building. It’s worth investing in a quality fire-rated door when it comes down to potentially saving lives.

When are Fire Doors Required?

In the UK, legislation states that both domestic and commercial buildings must have fire-rated doors. Any domestic building with more than two levels must have fire doors in the stairwells on all levels. Most buildings require a certain level of protection (this will vary depending on each individual property) where fire doors must be installed – though the quality and rating required may vary. For a much more detailed explanation of this, we recommend browsing through the UK Government website or contacting your local council for help confirming your obligations in order to keep your property and your people safe.

Order Your Fire Door Online Today

At Workplace Interior Shop, we stock a wide variety of high quality fire doors for those looking to protect their property – both residential and commercial. With that said, we are not fire experts. You must seek the assistance of professionals to ensure the materials and installation method you use are compliant.

If you require any further information or guidance on the best product for your space, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. One of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members will be more than happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have. 

Ensure you have the correct measures in place to protect your building and employees. Install high quality, fire-rated doors in your building today.