Fire exit doors and important standards in fire prevention and fighting

With the increasing number of high-rise buildings and residential areas, the issue of fire safety has become more urgent than ever. Fire exit doors play an important role in protecting people from the dangers of fire and other emergencies. To ensure the function of fire exit doors, compliance with fire standards is extremely important. This article will help you explore the factors that need to be followed when building fire exit doors, thereby better understanding effective fire protection solutions.

Fire doors in buildings

What is an exit door?

Fire exit door

Fire exit doors are special doors designed to help people in a building escape safely in the event of a fire or explosion. Usually made from fire-resistant materials, fire exit doors help prevent fire and smoke from spreading, protecting the space behind from the risk of fire.

Apartment buildings, offices, and commercial centers are required to have fire exit doors to meet fire prevention and fighting (PCCC) requirements.

Standards to be followed when building fire exit doors

Fire exit door materials

Fire exit doors must be made from highly fire-resistant materials such as steel or fire-resistant wood. In particular, the door frame and wings must be designed to be sealed to prevent fire and smoke from entering. Some fire resistance standards commonly applied to fire exit doors include:

• Fireproof steel doors: Steel is the most common material used to make fire exit doors. The thickness of the door leaf usually ranges from 1mm to 1.2mm, and the door frame is from 100mm to 200mm to ensure good fire resistance. The inside of the door can be lined with fiberglass or insulation materials to enhance fire resistance.
• Fireproof wooden doors: Although not as popular as steel doors, fireproof wooden doors are still used because of their high aesthetics. However, to ensure safety, the wood used must be specially treated against fire and have additional protective layers.

Important accessories

The fire exit door must also be fully equipped with fireproof accessories such as:

• Fireproof gasket: Prevents smoke and fire from spreading.
• Exit lock: Allows users to open the door easily even in the event of a power outage.
• Hydraulic arm and fireproof hinge: Ensure the door opens and closes gently and automatically after people move through.

Door Opening Standards

According to fire safety regulations, the exit door must be able to open fully at an angle of at least 90 degrees, creating the widest escape route for people to move. In addition, the door must be easy to open from the inside without a key to avoid hindering the evacuation process.

Specific standards for exit doors

EI Standard Testing

Fire exit doors must comply with the following standards:

• Fire resistance EI: This is an index showing the time the fire door can withstand high temperatures and prevent smoke and fire. Normally, fire exit doors must reach at least EI30 (30 minutes of fire resistance) or higher depending on each project.
• Steel structure and fireproof lining: For large projects, steel exit doors must be fireproofed to prevent fire from spreading. In particular, fireproof steel structures must comply with standards such as thickness and insulation materials.

Measures to overcome fire and explosion risks

In addition to installing standard fire exit doors, combining other fire prevention and fighting measures is also very important:

• Use early warning systems: Automatic fire alarm systems help detect and notify people in time so that people can evacuate before the fire spreads.
• Installation of fire extinguishers and fire hydrants: These devices need to be placed in easily accessible locations and checked periodically.
• Training staff and residents: Raising awareness and escape skills for everyone in the building will help reduce the risk of loss due to fire and explosion.

Not just a legal requirement

Investing in fire exit doors not only meets legal regulations but also protects human life in an emergency. In buildings with high user density, such as apartments, shopping malls or office buildings, installing and maintaining standard fire exit doors is mandatory.

Final advice

To ensure fire safety for your building, choosing quality fire exit doors that comply with fire prevention and fighting standards is indispensable. Contact KH Shield via hotline 0909 668 666 for advice and provision of the best fire exit door solutions.