W HY IS IT IMPORTANT TO INSTALL FIRE DOORS AS A SAFETY PRACTICE ?

Simply put, fire doors save lives. The doors are tested against the elements and designed to withstand roaring fires for as long as possible. They allow buildings to compartmentalise, thereby delaying the spread of fire.

As the times are evolving, we can see a lot of evolution and innovations taking place in the manufacturing, construction and infrastructure industries. Fire doors are one such innovation that is considered a boon. It plays a very important role in ensuring the occupants’ well-being and safety in a particular premise or building.

Installing fire doors as a part of safety practice is extremely important as they help prevent dangerous accidents that can occur due to fire which can cause irreversible damages. Hotels, schools, residential and commercial buildings require high-quality fire doors to ensure people’s safety. Fire doors have a fire-resistant rating and are used as a part of a building’s passive fire protection system, an essential requirement for public buildings, offices, and factories. They prevent the fire or smoke from spreading across the build¬ing and keep the fire contained to a particular compartment or room.

In India, fire doors are certified for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and 120 minutes’ fire rating, with different heights and thickness depending on its stability, in¬tegrity and insulation. They are fire-tested in approved and renowned laboratories. Fire doors are available in various types and with different fire ratings, made of different materials and finishes, which gives the buyers options to choose from. Materials of international standards are efficient, cost-effective and are used to make them.

Furthermore, in case of any fire emergency, the fire doors do not get heated, ensuring that the occupants get a longer time to escape and move to a safer area while also giving the firemen more time to rescue those trapped and put out the fire.

Fire doors need to comply with certain standards like they should be self-closing. For example, some companies have interior fire doors that typically remain open between departments during normal business hours, but they will automatically close in the event of an emergency. Moreover, using anything other than fire-rated, fail-safe hardware can lead to injury or even loss of life in an emergency that requires quick evacuation.

Over time, the fire resistance and rating of a fire door may deteriorate. These doors must be inspected yearly to ensure that the door is well maintained and still assures adequate protection. Therefore, to make sure they are in a good state, the recommended maintenance and repair schedules should be followed. The need for replacement depends on the wear and tear that it experiences.

Overall, fire doors play an extremely important part in the safety facilities that need to be implemented in a building. As people are getting more aware and conscious of their safety, there is a rise in the demand for fire doors among all the sectors, including residential spaces. Thus, installing fire doors will ensure the safety of the people who step into the premises of any area and also, the property would be less prone to destruction as the fire doors will prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.