Fire Door Smoke Seal Regulations

Fire door seals or fire and smoke seals.

Fire door smoke seal regulations.

The official regulations recommend smoke seals on fire doors that lead to escape routes. To properly specify doors frames and hardware for fire door and smoke door assemblies it is critical the proper terminology is used and the correct code requirements are referenced. If a frame bears a recognized label qualifying it as a fire door frame it may sup port a 3 hour a 1 1 2 hour a 3 4 hour or a 1 3 hour door. Frames used in masonry walls may be used with a maximum 3.

The gaskets must be fire listed and approved for use in a smoke and draft control assembly. Opening all fire doors should open in the direction of escape and should not swing both ways double swing otherwise smoke seals will not work correctly. And tends not to rise therefore smoke seals on fire doors are essential. Fire doors even the 20 minute assemblies are subject to completely different criteria than the non fire rated smoke doors.

Smoke seals can be fitted into the door itself or a better option is to apply to the door stop so that the fire door closes onto the seals. This standard shall prescribe minimum requirements for smoke door assemblies for use in providing safety to life and protection of property from smoke. Nylon brush or neoprene smoke seals draught proofing kits are acceptable. For example the ibc requires this limited airflow for fire doors that are also smoke and draft control doors in corridors and smoke barriers.

For example for a 20 minute fire. Not all fire doors and smoke doors are required to have air leakage limited to this level the key is to look for the reference to ul 1784 in the requirements for a specific door location. Smoke gaskets on fire doors must meet smoke and draft control requirements. So in apartment buildings where tenants will have to use the same stairwell to get to safety in case of a fire.

It is vital that all the properties have fire doors with smoke seals leading to that common area. Intumescent fire door seals should be fitted to the stiles and head of a fire resisting doorset. A door sweep or bottom seal is not a required. A gasket is required to provide a seal where the door meets the stop at the top and on both sides.

These seals are fitted into grooves cut into the door or the frame or alternatively can be surface mounted. As smoke spread is an even greater threat to life and property than flames particularly in the early stages of a fire fire doors might also have to be fitted with a cold smoke seal to prevent the ingress of smoke around the door edges such fire doors would be specified as fds fire doors.