Fire-Rated Doors
Fire-Rated Doors for Safety and Compliance
Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in any building, yet they’re often overlooked until an emergency occurs. Fire-rated doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke. The specialized steel doors help protect lives, reduce property damage, and give first responders extra time. Often, they are required by building code and insurance standards. They are also often considered a best practice. Properly installed and maintained fire-rated doors are a critical part of any life safety plan.
A fire-rated door is a specially designed door assembly that has been tested and certified to resist fire for a specific period of time, such as 20, 45, 60, 90, or 180 minutes. However, hollow metal is the only door material widely available with a 3 hour label. Fire doors are built with materials and hardware that can withstand high heat and block the passage of flames and smoke. Common components include a fire-rated door leaf, frame, glazing, seals, and hardware that all work together as a tested system.
Common Applications for Fire-Rated Doors
Fire doors are used in a wide range of buildings and facilities, wherever there is a need to slow the spread of fire and protect safe exit routes. They are commonly found in:
- Corridors
- Stairwells
- Entry points to room with higher fire risks
Building codes often require fire-rated doors in areas that separate different sections of a structure. This ensures that a fire in one part of the building does not quickly compromise another. From offices and schools to hospitals and industrial spaces, fire doors are a standard feature in environments where life safety is a top priority.
Fire Door Codes & Standards
NFPA 80
Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives
NFPA 80 is the standard used by designers and contractors for “Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives” published by the National Fire Protections Association. The standards found in NFPA 80 address testing, installing, modifying and repairing opening protectives.
Resources
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to fire-rated products. SDI has developed a variety of resources for architects, specifiers and distributors. The “Fire-Rated Assemblies” presentation is a good place to start for a broad primer.
Articles
FAQ
FAQ on Fire Rating-Requirements & Fire Labels
Presentation
SDI 118
Basic Fire Door, Fire Door Frame, Transom/Sidelight Frame, and Window Frame Requirements
Video
Manufacturing & Testing Fire-Rated Doors
Webinar
Fire Doors 101: Your Guide to Testing and Certification
Manufacturers
The door and frame manufacturers below are SDI Certified and have a variety of fire-rated doors.
Clicking their logos will bring you to their website.
