Fire remains one of the most dangerous and destructive forces that humans must face. Prevention and protective action are the best ways to ensure that people and property have the best chance of avoiding and surviving any potential fire emergency. In the UK alone, fire caused over £3 billion in damages in 2019-2020.
Thankfully, innovations in fire door technology are helping to reduce that number and save countless lives in the process. Exactly what type of innovations in the fire doors can make a lasting difference in the future?
Innovations in Fire Door Design
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Addressable Door Retainers
Source: fireproductsdirect.ie
Addressable door retainers are game changers in the fire safety world. Each one has addressable functionality, allowing for complex buildings, like hospitals or government offices, to be programmed for maximum fire suppression and containment efficiency. Doors can be programmed to close where fire is present or likely and can be left open for evacuation in other areas, maximizing the lives saved and property protected.
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Wireless, Battery-Powered Door Closers
Maria from Doors Galore said “Wedged-open fire doors can be deadly. That is why new door closers have been developed to specifically tackle this problem.” These door closers can easily and effortlessly hold a door open (and be adjusted for swing, closing and latch speed), removing the need for a wedge. How is that innovative? They are programmed to automatically close when they hear a fire alarm over 65 decibels, ensuring a sealed and fire-resistant doorway.
Innovations in Material Science
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Lightweight, Ceramic Bonded Slab Interiors
Source: buildmyplace.com
Areas that require fire doors yet experience high traffic and lots of wear and tear, such as hospitals, can often be so beat up that they wouldn’t be able to perform to their necessary standards should a fire start. To combat this, new door materials (non-combustible ceramic-bonded door slab interiors) have been used to create lightweight doors that remain durable in the face of incredibly rugged use while retaining their fire rating, even with glazing.
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Fire-Resistant Glazing
Fire-rated glazing has been around for decades but innovations in fire-resistant glazing have made it possible to install full-view doors, with large windows that can still provide a sufficient fire rating. These changes allow for more options in design and better fire door aesthetics.
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Nano-Coating Technologies
Nano-coatings have played an important role in the fire protection world for quite some time. However, advances in technology have created more effective and longer-lasting nano-coatings, helping to slow fires even more. By starving the fire of the necessary fuel and oxygen to burn at a nano-particulate level, these coatings help preserve life and property.
New Technology for an Age-Old Fight
Protecting people from fire has been a challenge from the day that humans decided to harness it as a tool. Leveraging these innovations can help to protect lives more effectively and efficiently than ever before. The danger from fire is never truly gone but as technology matures and risks are mitigated, fire hazards become more manageable and easier to prepare for.
