When purchasing fire doors, it’s crucial to take into account numerous factors, especially safety concerns, building codes, and whether they are required for your property. At Leader Doors, we understand that selecting internal fire doors for your home can be quite daunting, involving extensive knowledge, careful thought, and a great deal of responsibility.
To assist you in finding the answers to your pressing questions, we’ve put together a detailed guide covering everything you need to know about internal fire doors.
**Table of Contents:**
- What Are Fire Doors?
- How Do Fire Doors Differ from Standard Doors?
- Understanding Fire Door Ratings
- What Is a Class B Fire Door?
- Are Fire Doors Necessary?
- Fire Door Regulations
- Fire Door Sizes
- The Cost of Fire Doors
- Maintaining Fire Doors
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### **What Are Fire Doors?**
Often overlooked in daily life, fire doors play a vital role in ensuring safety. These doors are designed to stop the rapid spread of fire and smoke throughout a building. By containing the fire and its byproducts within a specific area, they buy valuable time for evacuation. Additionally, fire doors create a clear escape route, guiding occupants safely away from danger and out of the affected building.
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### **How Do Fire Doors Differ from Regular Doors?**
Fire-resistant doors stand apart from standard commercial doors due to their construction. Made from heavy-duty, high-grade materials, fire doors include more than just the door leaf itself. Components like the fire-rated door frame, fire-rated hinges (typically three or more), fire door closers (which can be concealed for a sleek look), intumescent strips, and cold smoke seals are all integral parts.
For a fire door to earn certification, it undergoes rigorous testing, including fire and stress tests, and is assigned a fire rating indicating how long it can resist fire (measured in minutes).
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### **Understanding Fire Door Ratings**
Every fire door carries a label detailing its fire rating, usually found on both the door panel and frame (typically on the hinge side). This label specifies the testing agency, the door type, and the duration of protection it provides (in hours and minutes).
For instance, an FD-30 fire door can endure fire for approximately 30 minutes, while an FD-60 can last up to 60 minutes, and an FD-120 offers protection for 120 minutes. In most homes, FD-30 fire doors are commonly used.
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### **What Is a Class B Fire Door?**
Fire doors are often categorized as Class A or Class B. Class A doors use premium materials, resulting in a thicker door with a longer lifespan—typically five to eight years. These are usually installed in critical areas like equipment rooms or power distribution centers in high-rise buildings.
Class B fire doors, on the other hand, are more common in everyday settings like schools, offices, and homes. Thinner and constructed with slightly less high-grade materials (such as wood or steel), they have a shorter lifespan but remain highly effective in preventing the spread of fire and smoke compared to standard internal doors.
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### **Are Fire Doors Necessary?**
While it’s not legally required to install fire doors in every home, they are a powerful tool for safeguarding your family, property, and belongings. Fire doors limit the spread of fire and smoke, giving emergency responders a better chance to control the blaze and minimize potential damage. Even without legal obligation, installing fire doors in high-risk areas like kitchens or rooms with fireplaces is a wise precaution.
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### **Fire Door Regulations**
Fire safety laws in the UK, outlined in The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, mandate fire doors in certain situations. These include:
- Properties with internal garage doors connected to the house.
- Escape routes in buildings over two stories tall.
- Entrance doors to flats.
We also recommend installing fire doors in high-risk areas such as kitchens or rooms with fireplaces.
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### **Fire Door Sizes**
Fire door dimensions are similar to standard internal doors, making it easy to find one that fits your space. Custom-made options are available if you have unique measurements, such as those needed for a loft conversion.
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### **The Cost of Fire Doors**
At Leader Doors, we offer a wide range of fire doors to suit different budgets, starting at around £80 for high-quality models. Prices increase based on the fire rating and thickness required. Keep in mind that proper installation by a professional is essential to maximize safety, adding to the overall cost.
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### **Maintaining Fire Doors**
Regular checks are key to ensuring your fire doors remain functional. Refurbishments or frequent use can affect their performance, so maintaining hinges, locks, and handles is crucial. Ensure gaps are less than 4mm, and check that the door closes properly.
Look out for certification labels, secure hinges, and minimal gaps when inspecting your fire doors.
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**Discover Quality Fire Doors at Leader Doors.**
Leader Doors takes pride in providing top-notch fire-rated doors in various styles and colors. Whether you prefer oak, white, black, grey, or walnut, we have the perfect option to meet your needs. Explore our range of PAS24 fire door sets, complete with frames, locks, hinges, and more, ensuring your home remains safe and secure.
For more insights, check out our other guides on sliding doors, external doors, and door finishes.
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At Leader Doors, we’re committed to helping you make informed decisions about fire safety. Contact us today to learn more!
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