The main destination of fire-protective doors – protection against spread of fire, high temperature and poisonous products of burning. Therefore it is necessary to approach its choice and mounting with special attention.
What fire-protective doors happen
The fire-protective door made in strict accordance with technical regulations will be reliable barrier on the way of the fire, will give time and opportunity for evacuation of people and valuable property. At acquisition of such door it is necessary to pay attention to some features.
Mainly such doors are made of metal: steel or aluminum alloys. But they can be also from the wooden massif of dense breeds. It would seem, it is paradoxical, the tree burns. However the massive wood structure which is especially processed by fire-prevention structure far begins to burn not at once.
Long time it only chars outside, without allowing flame to be thrown on other site.
At the fires, cases when massive wood structures (for example, supporting beams) char are repeatedly noted, but keep the bearing capacity while metal lose durability and simply begin "to flow down". Metal fire-protective doors represent the box sheathed by sheets and filled inside with sealant – most often mineral wool. It has the good warm and soundproofing properties. Besides such doors from three parties are sheathed by special sealant and also the foaming laying which in case of fire interferes with penetration of smoke and poisonous products of burning. Timber fire-protective doors are made with more powerful framework and paneling, than normal. Besides, their internal cavities can be filled with special sealant which foams at long influence of high temperature. Filling all space of door, it reliably protects it from overheating and the subsequent ignition. There are also fire-protective doors to translucent inserts. As material for such inserts serves fire-resistant glass. Wired glass and also construction triplex cannot be used for this purpose at all. Choosing fire-protective door, give preference to products of the known, checked companies. At the same time consider that really reliable and qualitative fire-protective door cannot be too cheap. It is better not to risk and not to buy doors which production went on unknown technology. Each lot of products of solid, reliable producers surely is exposed to sampling inspection in the test centers where it is imitated having heated to temperatures at the fire. Only by results of such tests of door are recognized as fire-resistant. The main characteristic of fire-protective door is limit of fire resistance which is considered by production. It shows, what is the time the door at the fire will be able to protect from fire, smoke and high temperatures. The minimum limit of fire resistance which is possessed by fire-protective door has to make 15 minutes, maximum – 120 minutes.
On test results on each party of doors the certificate of conformity of fire safety is issued. Therefore upon purchase of door surely pay attention whether it has such certificate, attentively get acquainted with it.
At tests such main qualities of fire-protective door as the integrity of system (E) heat-insulating ability (I) are investigated. On test results of door the so-called indicator of fire resistance (EI) is appropriated. For the doors having translucent inserts about more than 25% of surface area the transfer of the light radiation (W) is in addition investigated. For example, if EI-45 is specified, it means that the fire-protective door without translucent inserts or with glass inserts, but occupying less than 25% of surface area at fire exposure keeps the integrity and heat-insulating qualities within 45 minutes. When choosing door certainly, pay attention not only to its characteristics, but also to exterior as it is interior element. Especially, if it is about entrance to premises or office.
Where it is necessary to establish fire-protective doors
The homeowner has the right to establish fire-protective door anywhere (in some cases he has to coordinate it with fire inspectorate). In process, office and public buildings under the law the fire-protective doors have to be established: - in emergency exits; - in protections of lift mines; - in warehouse; - in passes between industrial premises; - in those rooms where there is high probability of ignition. There are cases when installation of fire-protective door though is not obligatory, but is reasonable. For example, in archival rooms, offices where the mass of valuable documentation is stored. Mounting of fire-protective doors should be charged to qualified specialists.