A Guide to the Proper Usage of Industrial FIre Doors
Fire doors are a type of industrial door that is often used in various commercial establishments, installed as part of a comprehensive fire safety plan. Their purpose is to stop the spread of fire and smoke in the event that a fire does break out, thus offering any personnel inside more opportunity to safely evacuate the building.
However, in order to ensure that these doors can serve their purpose as intended, there are some important considerations to keep in mind regarding their use. See below for our top reminders on how to properly use fire doors.
Always Keep Fire Doors Closed
Fire doors should be kept closed at all times, so it’s imperative that they are never propped open for any reason or duration.
At their core, fire doors are designed to slow the spread of a fire and smoke, however they’re unable to do this if they aren’t kept shut. By propping fire doors open, you’re completely defeating the point of having them installed in the first place, as this will allow fire and smoke to spread.
Don’t Store Items In Way of the Door
Whilst fire doors should remain shut at all times when not being walked through, that doesn’t mean that anything should be propped up against them. Whilst it’s often advised to not store items in front of any doors, as this can pose a trip hazard, this is especially important in relation to fire doors.
Not only can any objects act as an obstacle that slows down people’s ability to evacuate, but they could further create hazardous conditions if these items are combustible. In this case, they may fuel a fire, rather than hinder it, making conditions worse for both those exiting the building and any emergency response teams entering it.
Don’t Screw Any Signs to the Door
Whilst fire doors come with a sign attached to them (often reading ‘Fire door keep shut’), you shouldn’t add any additional signage to these doors yourself - at least not screw signs.
If you nail or screw a sign, or any other item, to a fire door, then you will be creating potential holes or cracks in its surface. Whilst these may appear minor or you don’t think they are large enough to pose an issue, even the smallest hole has the ability to void its fire protection rating.
If you do want to display a sign on your fire door, then this should instead be attached using an adhesive and should be kept small.
Reliable Industrial Doors
If you’re looking for an industrial door company that you can rely on, then look to us here at Thoroughbred Industrial Doors.
We offer a range of industrial door installations, including fire and smoke resistant doors. To learn more about what we can offer you, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our helpful team today.
