EI Fire Resistance Standard For Fire-Resistant Steel Doors

In the era of architectural development, fire and explosion prevention is gradually becoming one of the foremost factors to safeguard human lives. Numerous fire prevention standards have been issued to enhance the rigor in fire prevention and firefighting, as well as quality evaluation standards for fire-resistant materials. Among them, the EI standard for fire-resistant steel doors (fire-resistant steel doors) stands out prominently

The stringent regulations of the EI standard for fire-resistant steel doors (fire-resistant steel doors)

The stringent EI standards for fire-resistant steel doors

New Decrees and Circulars have been successively issued, making it mandatory for all construction projects to ensure the use of materials that meet minimum fire resistance standards. Among these, the most important evaluation standards include E, EW, EI, and REI. These are indices reflecting the level of fire resistance within a certain timeframe, where a longer duration indicates a higher index and better fire resistance.

Depending on the installation component within a construction project, different standards will be applied. Among these, fire-resistant steel doors use the EI standard with the most common levels being: EI60, EI90, and EI120. Additionally, depending on the nature of the project, technical drawings, and the owner’s choices, different EI standards such as EI150, EI180, etc., can be used for fire-resistant doors.

According to Table 1 in Section 2.4.3 of Circular QCVN 06:2021/BXD, the minimum EI standard applicable to fire-resistant doors in any construction project is no less than EI60. Therefore, it is noted that all fire-resistant steel door solutions must meet at least the EI60 fire resistance standard or higher.

Basic Requirements for Designing Fire-Resistant Steel Doors

The design of fire-resistant steel doors must meet all of the following requirements:

• The door leaf panel must be made of cold-rolled steel, meeting a minimum dimension of 0.8mm x 1.2mm, and a leaf thickness ranging from 50mm to 70mm.
• The door frame shall be made of hot-rolled steel, meeting a minimum dimension of 1.6mm with a frame thickness of 100mm – 110mm.
• There must be a smoke-sealing frame in case of a fire.
• The door’s core must be reinforced with steel skeleton or other types of thermal insulation and fire-resistant materials.
• Rubber gaskets should be installed to ensure smooth and quiet door operation, minimize noise, and effectively prevent smoke from escaping.
• Hydraulic self-closing arm to ensure the door is always in a closed state.

Basic design requirements for fire-resistant steel doors must fulfill all of the above elements. If any of these elements are missing, the steel door will not meet the fire resistance standards and will compromise the safety protection in fire incidents for people.

Fire-Resistant Steel Doors and Basic Acceptance Steps

Acceptance testing is a crucial phase to conduct final evaluations before handing over and putting a construction project into operation. At this stage, the entire quality of the project, including fire-resistant steel doors, will undergo stringent inspection.

Acceptance Testing Between the Owner and the Construction Team

During the initial acceptance testing, the owner will conduct tests on the components of the fire protection system of the construction project, including fire-resistant steel doors. This is an internal process carried out before undergoing acceptance testing with the relevant authorities.

Acceptance Testing by Regulatory Authorities

During the acceptance testing of the fire protection system of the construction project with regulatory authorities, the acceptance testing of fire-resistant steel doors is an important and meticulous component. The fire-resistant steel doors used in the project must have certification labels and certificates issued by the Fire Department and the Ministry of Public Security.

To obtain certification from the Fire Department and the Ministry of Public Security, the manufacturer must be issued a general fire resistance certificate for the entire production facility. Then, for each fire-resistant material or insulation solution, the manufacturer must conduct fire testing at authorized agencies such as the Institute of Building Science and Technology (IBST) and submit the documentation for approval.

It is important to note that during the acceptance testing of the fire protection system for the construction project, if any component is not approved, the entire system will be considered incomplete in terms of fire safety acceptance testing. For instance, if the fire escape corridor does not meet technical and fire safety standards, the associated fire-resistant steel door system will also be considered incomplete.

Vitduct fire-resistant air ducts, structure and applications [HANOI] WORKSHOP - FIRE TRAINING