What are Some Different Types of Fire Doors?

Fire doors are a type of door used to contain a fire in a certain part of a building. They form part of a passive fire protection system. The walls around fire doors are also often made to be fire-resistant. Fire doors and walls have hourly ratings, which express the time that they are able to stand up to fire in test conditions. There are several materials which these doors can be made out of. These materials are not all fireproof, but rather are meant to delay the fire from spreading for as long as possible. Some doors are made of timber, others of steel, and still others are partly composed of natural minerals. The door frame is most often also fire-resistant, featuring strong construction and seals to stop the passage of smoke. The door hardware must also tested and found suitable for use on a fire door. The door, frame, and hardware together form a "doorset," which carries a given fire rating. Fire ratings are assigned based on how long the door or doorset is able to withstand dir ... more