Regarding fire safety, fire doors are vital in preventing the spread of fire and smoke. However, different types of fire doors are designed for specific purposes. Similarly to internal fire doors, external fire doors, also known as fire exit doors, are an essential part of a building's passive fire protection system.
This guide will explore the purpose and functionality of external fire doors and their frame sets.
What is an External Fire Door?
External fire doors, also known as fire exit doors, are designed to provide a secure exit path from a building during a fire and facilitate a safe evacuation for everyone in the building.
External fire doors must be CE-marked and adhere to BS EN 1634-1 requirements. They are typically constructed from timber or steel and designed to withstand and prevent the passage of fire and smoke for at least 30 minutes. An external fire door will have a minimum fire rating of FD30, which provides 30 minutes of fire protection.
What is an External Fire Door Frame?
An external fire door frame will also be constructed from robust and fire-resistant materials such as steel. They are precisely designed to fit with the fire door, ensuring minimal gaps that could allow fire and smoke to pass through. The fire door frame must have the same fire rating as the external door to provide the advertised level of fire protection.
What is the Difference Between Internal and External Fire Doors?
Internal fire doors are specifically designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within a building, protecting an escape route and allowing occupants to escape effectively. An external fire door is situated at the end of an escape route. Its primary function is to provide a secure and fire-resistant barrier between the building's interior and the outside environment.
Fire Exit Door Regulations
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that each building has a responsible person in charge of all aspects of fire safety within a building.
A Responsible Person must:
Conduct regular fire risk assessments
Create a fire evacuation plan
Install necessary fire protection measures, such as fire doors
Carry out maintenance and repairs on fire equipment to maximise its effectiveness
Conduct training for any employees so they know how to proceed in the event of a fire
Under Article 14, it is highlighted that the responsible persons' duty includes ensuring that all routes to emergency exits from the premises and exits themselves are kept clear at all times, and these emergency routes and exits must lead to a place of safety.
These external fire doors must open easily, immediately and wherever practicable in the direction of escape. However, this can cause safety concerns because external fire door frames “must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them”. This creates tension as it means that when exiting a building in the event of a fire, the door must be easily opened, but it must be secured to prevent unauthorised entry under normal circumstances.
To combat this security issue, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has noted that while fire doors on escape routes should not be fitted with locking devices, dedicated hardware can be installed that prevents unlimited access but still enables the occupants to open the door safely in the event of a fire. This hardware can be either a panic bar or emergency pads that allow occupants to evacuate a building at the push of a button while preventing unauthorised entry.
Where Should External Fire Door Sets Be Installed?
External fire doors are commonly installed in commercial buildings, industrial facilities, schools, hospitals, and any other structures where fire safety is a concern. They are often found in walls separating different building sections, emergency exits, and access points to high-risk areas.
External Fire Door Frame Sets FAQs
How do I tell if a door frame is fire-rated?
Fire-rated door labels will be attached to both a fire door and its frame. This label will contain information about the door's fire rating, the manufacturer, and the testing agency that has certified its use as a fire-rated door.
Can external fire doors be held open?
Fire doors should not be held open unless equipped with an approved automatic release mechanism that closes the door when a fire alarm is activated. If an external fire door is held open during a fire, it may not provide the necessary safety outlet for those escaping a building if the fire spreads to nearby buildings.
Can external fire doors have glass panels?
External fire doors can include fire-rated glazing or vision panels, provided the glass and framing meet fire resistance standards. The fire-rated glazing must match the level of fire protection that the external door and door frame offers to withstand the fire for its advertised time.
Do external fire doors need to be inspected?
The person responsible for a building has a duty to conduct routine inspections of all internal and external fire doors at least once annually. These doors should be checked regularly for any signs of wear and tear that could prevent them from performing their duty as fire-rated doors.
Choose LFS to install your External Fire Door and Frame Sets
At LFS, we proudly offer design, construction, testing, and installation services for external fire doors and frames for all buildings. Alongside internal fire doors, external fire doors and frames form a crucial part of a building's passive fire protection system. Therefore, it is essential to choose a fire door manufacturer that puts safety at the forefront of everything they do.
That is why you should trust LFS. Our expert team is dedicated to providing you with the highest-quality external fire doors and frames. Contact us today to learn more about our external fire doors.
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