Even though the only difference to an untrained eye is a little blue badge telling you to ensure the fire door is kept shut, there are actually quite a few differences in the construction and maintenance of the door.
A little history lesson across the years…
The construction of the first door is still debated among historians; however, most believe that it was created in ancient Egypt. The creator unfortunately unknown. However, the construction of the first fire door only came about after major fires broke out.
After the Great Fire of London in 1666, 85% of the population was left homeless, as the primary building material used in construction was wood. In addition to the hot and strong winds, this is why the fire was able to spread for four days. This led to the passing of the Rebuilding of the City Act in 1667. This stated that new buildings had to be constructed of brick and stone to combat the spread of a fire if needed.
Fast forward 237 years and in 1904, the first door to specifically stop the spread of a fire was created by Charles P. Dahlstrom. One of the heat-resistant materials used in the construction room was asbestos. This was only halted in the 1990s when the dangers of using asbestos were known.
So, what’s the difference between the two doors?
Unlike a regular door, a fire door is constructed with fire-resistant materials, such as intumescent strips. The strips are fitted to the door and expand when exposed to extreme heat. When expanded, the strips fill the holes and gaps in the door so that flames and smoke are blocked from passing through. The blocking and containment is crucial when a fire breaks out. When the intumescent strips expand on the fire door, neither the fire nor the smoke can pass through. Therefore it is kept in a certain area. Because the fire is kept in a certain area, it is deprived of oxygen. This provides the people in other areas of the building with more time to evacuate.
Regular doors are constructed with a variety of different materials, from glass to metal. The materials chosen are usually chosen based on their appearance and aesthetic. However, the materials used in fire doors are chosen for their fire-resistance properties. Therefore, the primary materials used in the construction of fire doors are glass, hard wood and steel.
Fire doors are vital in the compartmentation of a building, which is why it is a legal obligation to have them regularly inspected. These doors must be kept up to regulatory standards. This is to protect lives and reduce property damage. If you think you need a fire door inspection then don’t hesitate to get in touch.