What Are General Requirements For Fire Doors?

Building fire codes require the installation of fire doors in escape routes and other areas, but not every purchaser is familiar with fire door codes and standards. They may not understand how to express their requirements when purchasing. This article analyzes and summarizes some common purchasing requirements for the U.S. market. After reading this article you will be able to understand the basic information you need to pay attention to when purchasing fire doors, which will enable you to behave more professionally and confidently when purchasing.

The first thing you need to know is one of the most important parameters of a fire door, i.e. the fire resistance standard. The U.S. market usually mandates the use of UL certified fire doors. Simply put this standard ensures how long a certified fire protection device can hold up in a fire. So, when purchasing you need to inform the merchant how much fire resistance time you need to buy for your door. Typically, timber doors will start at 20 minutes and steel doors will start at 1 hour. If the use of certified fire doors is not forced, there are also ordinary fire doors on the market that have some fire resistance, because they are not certified so the price will be more appropriate.

Next is the size, some buildings use standard sizes that can be found on the internet and purchased based on that. However, most door sizes need to be measured directly, especially if the old door needs to be replaced. Measure the length and height from wall to wall and tell the merchant that this is the STRUCTURE OPENING SIZE, as each manufacturer has different tolerances for door frames and retention, so tell them this size and let them calculate the right size for themselves to tell you. Also, when measuring the height, note if there is a height difference between the interior and exterior or if a threshold is needed and tell the merchant along with it.

The form of the wall is also something that needs to be understood. Masonry wall and dry wall are two different type, they should use different frame to install the door. Of course, this may influence the price. Different manufacturers of different walls used by the door frame is not exactly the same, purchasing can inform the business you want to use in the wall is what structure.

There is also the thickness of the material, usually steel doors are made using galvanized steel sheets bent and welded and filled with fireproofing material inside. The thickness of the steel sheet may vary between merchants, commonly 18Ga or 16Ga, 1.0/1.2/1.5mm thick. The door frame is usually one size thicker than the door leaf.

Also, you need to know what some of the hardware does, such as hinges, door closers, panic devices, flush bolts, etc. It's pretty much the same thing as buying a car with options.

Finally, the opening direction of the door is also important to know, although it does not affect the price at the time of purchase, the exact opening direction is needed when placing the order to ensure that the door can be used properly.

Shanghai Xunzhong Industry Co., Ltd. (XZIC) have a history of more than 15 years in producing and selling fire doors. We understand the fire safety standards of different fire doors and can give professional advice to help customers choose suitable fire doors and keep them maintenance. We product high quality UL fire rated doors, we have wooden fire door certification for 20-90 minutes rated time, and up to 3 hours for steel fire doors. All products are customized. We are welcome to ask any questions and help you to push your projects. Check our website for more information and our products: www.ulfiredoormfg.com

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