Fire Doors vs Fire Exits: How to tell the difference

It might be confusing for ordinary people what a fire door is versus fire exit. Of course we usually exit signs in buildings and commercial properties but it's difficult for people not in the fire safety industry to distinguish these types of doors.

This becomes a problem when you have to construct or replace your door. You go to the supplier or provider of fire protection services to request for a door and you're not sure what type of door you want to install.

So here are the basic differences between fire doors vs fire exits.

1. Location. A fire door is an internal door designed to create/protect an escape route through a building when a fire breaks out. Fire doors are usually installed in  stairwells, kitchens/catering facilities, storage areas and boiler rooms.

A fire exit door, on the other hand, is an external door which can be left open and is usually not fire resistant.

2. Purpose. Fire door installation helps compartmentalise a fire and stops flames and smoke from spreading from one section of the building or property  to another. A fire exit allows a quick and unhindered escape through a well lit door into a place of safety. It also  stops unauthorised access from the outside and prevent people from going back.

3. When there is a fire, fire doors must remain closed while fire exits should remain open to facilitate the evacuation.  Fire exit doors should also open easily and, wherever possible, in the direction of traffic flow.

4. Fire resistance. Fire doors are rated according to their resistance to fire while fire exits do not necessarily have to be fire-proof.

So the next time you need to replace a door in your house, make sure you know whether you need fire door installation services or fire exit door.

Which is more important: Passive or Active Fire Protection?

When you think about fire protection installation, you might be thinking about smoke detectors, sprinkler system and fire extinguishers.

However, fire protection is more than that. Yes, they are all part of the system. But what you don't know is that fire protection installation in Sydney and other parts of the world are composed of two systems: Active and Passive.

Active Fire Protection or AFP is a group of systems that need action or motion for it to work during the fire. These actions could include pulling the trigger or turning on the switch. Examples for fire protection installation under AFP include smoke alarm systems, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers and fire fighters.

Smoke alarm systems alert you when a fire breaks out or when there is smoke in the building. Sprinkler systems, on the other hand, are used to help put out small fires or slow down the growth of the fire. Fire extinguishers are used to put out the fire altogether.

Passive Fire Protection or PFP is the opposite of AFP, wherein no action is required for it to function. PFP includes fire protection installation that helps compartmentalise the building and stop or slow down the spread of fire.

Compartmentalising the building or the house helps in preventing the fire from spreading one room or level to another. PFP includes fire/smoke dampers, fire doors, and fire walls. Fire dampers help control fire through its ductwork while fire doors help keep out the fire for a certain period of time.

So which one should you invest in? You might think that because you have active fire protection services, you no longer need passive fire protection. For holistic fire protection coverage, invest in both AFP and PFP. You’ll never know when your fire extinguisher or smoke alarm will fail you, so it is better if you have back up fire protection services.

For top of the line active and passive fire protection installation in Sydney, contact Control Fire Protection at (02) 8244 1122.

Fire door installation: What you need to know

Fires can be prevented if you have a sufficient and working fire protection set up. Installing smoke detectors is not enough. You need to have an action plan for when the fire breaks out. How do you stop it from spreading so that you have enough time to get out?

That's where fire door installation comes in. Fire doors help keep out the fire and prevents it from spreading to the other rooms and other parts of the house. 

The Building Code of Australia or BCA requires that all fire door installation should comply with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1905.1.2005. Contact a fire protection company or a BSA licensed person to install your fire door to make sure that it is installed correctly and meets the standards requirements.

Here are some things you need to consider when having your fire door installed:

1. Choose the fire rated door that suits your needs. Fire doors are rated according to their capacity to hold off fire. Remember that fire doors are not totally invincible. They can only keep out fire for some time and they are rated as 30 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour or 4 hour fire doors.
2. Make sure that the door is hung the correct way. There are fire door models that contain reinforcing plates designed to accept hinges, lock and door closer.
3. Check if the fire door is properly tagged. All fire doors should have prescribed metal tags attached and certified to AS 1905.1 2005. This is proof that your fire door installation complies with the local and national standards.
4. Inspection programs are done usually every 6 or 12 months. This is to ensure that your fire door is in top shape and good working condition.
5. And when you have your fire door installed, make sure there are no obstructions. You’ll never when you are going to need to access it so you have to keep it free of obstructions at all times.

Keeping your family and property safe from fire is a very easy thing to do. You just have to take measures to ensure you have good protection.