Passive form of fire protection is one of the best means to keep your family and property safe from the ill effects of fire. Fire rated walls, ceilings and doors are the most popular way of taking passive fire protection. The right type of fire doors give at least twenty minutes of protection from a fire and keeps its contained in the same place as it started. Thus, it gives good time to the family to make a safe exit.
Reason behind People Not Investing in Fire Doors
Many people did not use these doors in the past as they did not gel well with the home decor. These doors, though very useful, were not too good-looking and hence, they disturbed the overall look of the house decor. Home owners wanted an aesthetic appeal to these doors and that is what many companies later worked upon. Now we have many options where fire-proof doors are also available with good looks.
Different Variety of Fire Rated Doors
The combination of safety and beauty is hard to resist for any home owner and the fire doors provide just that. The best doors include finishes in wood grain which are very good to look at and also durable. In case you have limited budget, there are simpler versions also available in the market.
Most of these doors have a set up and locking system by which they can open both inwards and outwards. These are important features as they will help in making a quick and safe exit in case of a fire accident.
When you are looking at fire rated doors, look for the metal strip which certifies that the door can give you protection against fire for a minimal duration, as mandated by law. Another important point with respect to these doors is that they cannot be adjusted in width and the height can only be adjusted by three-fourth of an inch.
You should plan the same at the time of construction itself. In case you are planning on installing these doors later and using normal doors as of now, make sure that you have made sufficient space that can fit in these doors or else you will need a lot of unnecessary renovation with added costs.
Some of these doors come with a setting that makes them easy to install by do-it-yourselfers and thus, you save the cost of installation as well. These are important features that must be kept in mind while shopping for a fire rated door.
What is Necessary as per Law?
Law also mandates certain things. Some building regulations mandate the use of fire doors with minimal safety requirements. The use of such a door between garage and home is also necessary. It is also recommended that large estates with adjoining quarters should also have fire rated doors for optimum protection.
