Each commercial building you visit will have different security measures to protect everyone inside in the event of an accident. A common scenario that some commercial buildings face is when a fire breaks out inside the building. This is where fire safety features come into play to ensure the building extinguishes the fire as quickly as possible.
With the many fire safety features, you should consider installing fire-rated access to add even more protection. In some cases, other commercial buildings tend not to install them because they are useless. You should know that fire access panels are different from the usual access panels found in other areas of your building.
Understanding Fire Rated Access Doors
Fire access doors may be a new term as they are not opened in usual conversations. It is a very heavy and durable door, made of different materials, such as metal or plaster, and its main objective is to prevent the passage of smoke and contain the fire. The reason it is called “fire rated” is that the door is not supposed to combust after a certain amount of time during a fire. It will only last long when contractors and builders install it correctly.
Each fire door installed by builders must follow specific specifications. It also needs specific sealants and door hardware to maintain its fire rating. Whether they are working on a new renovation or building a property, they must obtain access doors with the correct fire rating to comply with strict fire safety codes and regulations. Additionally, the time ratings for each fire access door are different and some standard door ratings range from 20 minutes to an hour and a half. Typically, small government agencies and businesses can determine fire ratings depending on the area in which their building is located.
Why is fire rating important?
Manufacturers design fire access doors to resist the heat of the fire for a specific period of time until it can no longer resist and the fire penetrates its surface. Fire rating is the time it takes for a passive fire protection system to withstand a fire resistance test. The amount of time it can resist fire is more than enough for anyone or the fire prevention system to put out the fire. It can also give everyone inside the building enough time to escape and let the firefighters take care of the job.
Commercial buildings often install access doors to hide gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC ducts and anything that could be flammable. There are fire access doors to protect them from being engulfed by fire too quickly. Different fire ratings will tell you how effectively an assembly or door can resist fire, and depend on factors including the intensity of the fire or how the builders assemble the access door. You can also purchase fire access doors that swing up or down, and this will depend on how maintenance personnel and other workers will use them. You can even purchase fire access doors with automatic or manual release locks, depending on your preferences.
Finally, fire rating is critical because it allows your commercial building to achieve LEED certification. Certification helps it become economical and environmentally friendly. It can even reduce energy bills for some commercial buildings, allowing you to save more money in the process.
The different types of fire resistant access doors
Since you now know the purpose of the fire access door, the next step is to know the different types. You can classify each fire access door according to its fire rating. Different access doors have a fire resistance of 20 minutes, 45 minutes, and some even 3 hours to provide even more fire protection.
You can also use “temperature-raising doors” that attempt to restrict heat transfer from one side of the door to the other. They are best to install when you want to limit injuries and provide more time for everyone to escape during a building fire. However, some contractors avoid installing fire access doors when fire suppression systems and complete interior floor coverage are in place. They can put out fires as quickly as possible, even before everyone inside the building escapes.
Do you have plans to install fireproof access panels in your building? Make sure you get them from reputable suppliers to ensure you only get the best products. You need high-quality building materials, especially fire-resistant access panels, if you want to ensure efficient fire protection.
