steel Fire doors are central to the fire safety precautions for any building. For these doors to serve their purpose, there are some things that you should never do to them, as explained below:
1. Never Block A Steel Fire Door
All paths extending to a steel fire door should remain unobstructed at all times, as this ensures quick egress in case of a fire. If the pathway is unclear, accidents may occur as smoke and fumes blur vision, making it impossible to see clearly.
2. Never Lock A Steel Fire Door
You must not lock a steel fire door in such a way that it cannot be easily opened by anyone who needs to use it in case of an emergency. However, the doors must have a latching device that ensures the door remains closed when a fire breaks out.
3. Never Wedge A Steel Fire Door Open
steel Fire doors are expected to contain a fire by preventing the spread of flames or smoke to other parts of the building. However, this cannot happen if the doors are left open. For this reason, the fire doors should remain closed at all times.
You must install an automatic closing system in all fire doors to ensure that they are never propped open.
The system installed should afford a good balance such that the door is not a hindrance to the occupants of the building and its functionality is not compromised. The closing system should also be suitable for people with disabilities.
4. Never Cut Vision Panels And Other Holes On Steel Fire Doors
The vision panels and holes on the steel fire door create weak spots, which, if not correctly fire-rated, may result in catastrophic consequences in case of fire.
