Fire-rated doors are considered to be an important component in the fire protection system of a building. It can effectively slow down and prevent the spread of fire during emergencies. It also prevents smoke and allows people to escape the building till the firefighters arrive. Installing these doors would ensure a lower risk of injuries and fatalities. Thus, it can be considered life-saving equipment.
As fire rated doors are so important, it is essential to maintain them properly. Then only they will be able to give the necessary protection. Proper assembly inspections ensure that the given door is safe and secure for use. These inspections should be carried out by certified professionals who will check the issues and make necessary upgrades to offer better protection.
Visual Inspection
The first step toward effective maintenance of these doors is a thorough visual inspection. It is essential to check all the parts of the door assembly along with the surrounding door set. Also, you should ensure that all fire rated doors are labelled properly. An inspector will check for the following things:
- The doors, along with the components like frame, hinges, etc., must be properly aligned and properly secured. There should not be any sign of visible damage.
- The gasket and edge seals should be intact. Also, no bolts should be loose or missing.
- The door clearance should comply with the standard undercut.
- Nothing should be attached to the door that might interfere with its operation.
The inspector would also keep a close eye to ensure that things like vision light frames, glazing, and glazing beads are properly intact and fastened in a secured way.
Operational Inspection
After completing the visual inspection, an operational check should also be conducted to ensure that all the components of the door are working properly. Along with these, the inspector would also ensure that the latching hardware operates and secures the door in a proper way. It is also essential to check that the door opens and closes smoothly, without any hindrances.
In case they notice any hindrance that might prevent the door from operating properly, it should be taken care of immediately. Also, any repair done should meet fire protection standards.
Dop Test
Once the door becomes operational, it is time to proceed with a drop test. It is essential to conduct a drop test on all fire-rated doors annually to ensure that they will be completely and accurately operational at the time of emergencies.
You should always consult a professional if you need to install new fire-rated doors or repair/maintain your old ones. The experts will have vast knowledge in this field and they will offer different styles of fire-rated doors to keep your commercial property safe.