Safety and security are vital aspects of property or building management. One way to achieve this goal is by installing fire-rated doors. These doors greatly increase the occupants’ safety while improving the building’s security.
Aside from protecting against fire-related accidents, fire-rated doors can be customized to also protect against bullets, blasts, forced entry, hurricanes, and more. Not surprisingly, these specialized doors are used for various applications in different industries.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits and advantages of installing fire-rated doors in buildings in different industries.
What is a Fire-rated Door?
A fire-rated door is a type of security door designed to slow down the spread of flames and smoke in case of a fire. The reason it is called “fire-rated” is that it resists fire and does not burn for a specific time frame during a fire. The standard door ratings include 20-minute to 180-minute ratings.
Benefits of Installing Fire-rated Doors for Different Industries
Schools
Installing fire-rated doors and frames in school buildings can help ensure the safety of the students, teachers, and other building occupants during a fire. What these security doors do is minimize the spread of flames, protecting the occupants from potential injuries. They also allow for a safe exit while preventing the whole structure from catching fire.
For instance, if students were gathered in one area such as the auditorium and a fire broke out, fire-rated doors could prevent the spread of the fire, allowing everyone in the room to evacuate safely.
In an establishment such as a school building, experts suggest that fire-rated doors be installed in several areas to minimize damage. Titan Metal Products’ stainless steel doors and frames are ideal for institutional, industrial, and commercial applications. The doors can be customized to include full-vision lites with fire rating options of up to 90 minutes.
Additionally, the doors are built using the standard No. 304 alloy. Customization options include manufacturing the doors with No. 316 alloy for applications in extremely corrosive environments. Moreover, they include a 10-inch ADA-compliant bottom rail, which can be modified with approval from the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
Hospitals
The hospital houses vulnerable people that require prompt medical assistance. As such, measures that ensure their safety at all times must be in place. One such measure is installing fire-rated doors.
In case of a fire, staff members can easily and quickly organize evacuation routes since these doors can hold off the fire and gas for a prolonged period.
Titan Metal Products’ smoke-rated doors and frames are S-labeled doors that comply with NFPA 105 or the Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives.
The standard door profiles come with a 6-inch door stile, 6-inch door top rail, and 2-inch door frame. Meanwhile, the narrow door profiles have a 3 ¾-inch door stile, 3 2/4-inch door top rail, and 1 ⅛-inch frame. These two profiles include a 10-inch ADA-compliant bottom rail that can be modified with AHJ approval.
Banks
Banks require a high level of protection because of the confidential nature of the banking business. Without proper safety and security measures, fire incidents can cause costly damage.
Installing fire-rated doors within the bank’s premises helps create a “safe zone” toward the exit route during evacuation in case of a fire. With the hallway or stairway mounted with fire-rated doors, occupants can safely exit without panic. Additionally, by containing the fire in one specific area, the establishment can save on renovation costs.
Titan Metal Products’ security-rated doors and frames can provide sufficient protection as they meet the NFPA 252, UL 10B, UL 10C, and CAN/ULC-S104 requirements of up to three hours. Listed and labeled by Intertek, these USA-made doors are available in large sizes up to 12-ft. tall, including vision lite options. The doors also come with a five-year warranty.
Corporate Offices
According to a study, an estimated 18,000 fire incidents happen in offices and stores in the U.S. annually. These occurrences cause businesses to lose substantial assets and employees to get hurt. But these risks can be mitigated by installing fire-rated doors.
Fire-rated doors make it easier for occupants to evacuate the building in case of a fire while minimizing the damage to the structure since these doors are designed to contain the fire. For example, if a fire breaks out in the stock room, the fire-rated door can prevent the flames from spreading into the other rooms, protecting the occupants from dangerous fumes while buying them more time to exit the building.
Research Laboratories
Research laboratories house volatile and flammable substances, like chemicals. As such, they must remain clean at all times to avoid any contamination and potential combustion. In this aspect, installing a fire-rated door can significantly lessen the damage in case of a fire.
Titan Metal Products’ water-resistant doors and frames are manufactured in 14-gauge G-90 steel and insulated to meet the 450° F-temperature rise-door requirements. The doors come in standard hardware packages and can be made with specialty hardware depending on the customer’s preference. Vision lite options are also available, as well as single door and pair selections.
Real Estate Properties
Whether it’s a rental facility or residential establishment, the residents’ safety is always of utmost importance. In managing a real estate property, the goal is to have an effective source of protection that will enable rapid evacuation of occupants in case of emergencies like fires and hurricanes.
Specialized doors like hurricane-rated doors help provide the necessary protection during a storm. Titan Metal Products’ doors comply with the ASTM E330, ASTM 1886, ASTM 1996, and UL 1784 standards for structural performance, static air pressure, cyclic pressure, and missile impact protection. They can be customized to meet fire-rated and temperature rise-door requirements.
Music Studios and Auditoriums
In an enclosed structure like a studio or auditorium, noise control is extremely important. The facility must be soundproof to ensure that the recording or sound being produced is of good quality. It must also be equipped with the right safety and security measures to prevent injuries and enable everybody to exit without being harmed in case of a fire.
Installing an acoustic-rated door can help provide sound insulation and facilitate efficient evacuation during a fire. Titan Metal Products’ doors have a sound transmission class (STC) rating of up to 44 STC ideal for use in recording studios, auditoriums, schools, conference rooms, offices, machinery enclosures, and other applications where noise control is required. They can be customized to meet fire rating requirements of up to 90 minutes with positive pressure.
Jail and Detention Facilities
A heavily guarded structure like a jail or detention facility must implement the strongest safety measures. Setting up detention doors and frames within these facilities is an excellent way to provide maximum security in the vicinity.
Titan Metal Products’ doors are ideal for use in detention and correctional facilities, as they are certified to meet the NAAMM/HMMA 863 requirements. They are also tested using ASTM F1450 or the Standard Test Methods for Hollow Metal Swinging Door Assemblies for Detention and Correctional Facilities.
In addition, the doors comply with ASTM F1233 (Standard Test Method for Security Glazing Materials and Systems), ASTM F1915 (Standard Test Methods for Glazing for Detention Facilities), ASTM F1592 (Standard Test Methods for Detention Hollow Metal Vision Systems), ASTM F1577 (Standard Test Methods for Detention Locks for Swinging Doors), and SDI A250 (Specifications for Standard Steel Doors and Frames).
They also meet the UL 752 Level 3 ballistic rating requirements and can be customized to conform to the fire rating requirements of up to three hours with positive pressure.
Always Ensure Protection
Installing fire-rated doors helps prevent injuries and death in case of a fire and other emergencies by allowing occupants to safely evacuate the area. While these specialized doors are used for various applications in different industries, they serve a common purpose – to reduce the risk of fire-related accidents during a fire.
Likewise, you need advanced fire-rated doors and framing systems to tighten your building safety and security. Fortunately, Titan Metal Products offers specialty doors and frames with custom fabrication. Check out our range of fire-rated doors and let us help you pick the right one for your building!