WHY ARE FIRE DOORS SO IMPORTANT IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS?

“MAINLY BECAUSE HISTORY HAS PROVEN THAT THEY SAVE LIVES & PROPERTY!”
“FIRE DOORS HAVE MANY UNIQUE BUILD IN PURPOSES AND BENEFITS.”

-Their most visible purpose is to allow passage through an opening in a wall; this also accounts for the wear & tear caused by use by occupants. No other “Fire Protection System” gets as much misuse.

– In the event of a fire in a High-rise (the most significant percentage of fires in Residential buildings start in an apartment), the apartment entrance is supposed to be a fire-rated door whose main job is to CONTAIN the fire in the unit where it began.

– All Apartments and Enclosed Rooms in Modern High-rise buildings are constructed with fire-resistant walls, ceilings, floors, and exit doors. The apartment is built like a “Fire Safe,” with the wall-opening Door(s) being the potential
“weakest link” for prevening fire, smoke, toxic fumes, and heat from escaping into other parts of the facility.

– if a fully functioning Fire-door does not protect it.

– If the “fire source” apartment Fire door entrance – does its CONTAINMENT job, it protects the occupants in the rest of the building.

– Besides containing the Fire and Smoke (its main job), the apartment fire Door allows “clear “ passage for those who decide to Flee and protection from Smoke, Gases, and extreme heat for those residents who choose to Stay and “Shelter-in-Place.”

– It is tough to safely evacuate a building with a large occupancy load, some of which may be mobility impaired due to age or a handicap condition. With Fire Code Compliant Fire Doors, in most cases, total evacuation is unnecessary.

– A fire in a sealed apartment will quickly run out of fuel in the form of oxygen, slowing down its growth.
– When First Responders reach the “closed” Fire apartments, “Entrance Door” – in most cases, they will not open the Door until they are prepared to attack the “Fire directly” with extinguishing water at the ready.

– Next to sprinklers and fire alarms – fire- doors are the most critical “passive” fire protection components in a building. Unfortunately, it’s hard to believe, but in many facilities, as vital as they are, Fire Doors of the most neglected, underappreciated Fire Protection Systems in a building.

-In 2007, NFPA codes were changed – calling for every Fire, Smoke, and Final Egress Door in High-rise buildings to be Inspected and Tested at least annually and for written proof of the inspection to be made available for review by any Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The majority of State and local Fire Codes follow NFPA guidance.

HAVE YOUR BUILDING FIRE DOORS BEEN INSPECTED? ARE YOU SURE THEY’RE SAFE 

YOU SHOULD CHECK AND FIND OUT – YOU, YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS LIVES MAY DEPEND ON YOUR BUILDING’S FIRE DOORS TO BE FIRE CODE COMPLIAN.T