In the event of a fire, you want to take every precaution that will keep your property safe. One way to improve the protection of goods and inventory in your facility is to use fire-rated overhead garage doors. This type of door can help better protect your property, in the event of a fire, at your facility. Should this fire tragically happen with employees in the building, they can increase the chances of saving lives as well.
How Does A Fire-Rated Overhead Door Work To Protect Your Property?
A fire-rated overhead door is constructed to withstand the heat that a fire produces. The door will not combust under the high temperatures and are graded on a rating system that is based on how long the door can withstand the fire. They are built to last anywhere from 20-90 minutes. A fire-rated overhead garage door is another piece of a commercial building’s fire protection system. These doors are also used to keep a fire contained in one portion of a facility.
For these doors to work, they must remain closed at all times or be set to close upon fire alarms being activated. Having a fire-rated door doesn’t mean the door cannot eventually be penetrated by the blaze but, the goal of these doors is to give people time to escape the premise by temporarily containing the fire. To ensure these doors can work properly, don’t block them with objects or use door props to keep them open. Such objects can hinder the door from working during a fire emergency.
What Elements Should A Person Look For In A Fire Door?
You want to make sure your door is going to do the job you installed it to do. Make sure you examine these components:
- Door hardware
- Seals
- Windows
When examining the components of the door, you will want to make sure it automatically closes when the alarm system is triggered. You will also want one that has the hardware to seal out gas and smoke. These seals are in addition to fire-rated neoprene weather stripping seals at the base of the door. Also, look for gaskets that expand when contacted by heat. That will also help block smoke and fire from penetrating around the door.
The kind of glass in your door window likely will change based on your needs. Some types of glass (wired glass) resists heat while other kinds (sodium silicate) work by using thermodynamics to transfer heat.
Let Authority Dock & Door Help You Find The Right Fire-Rated Overhead Garage Door
Entrust something this important to the company that has been in the business for years. The sales team at Authority Dock & Door knows what questions to ask to make sure you get the right fire-rated overhead door for your facility. Contact us today to learn more about our options and follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on the latest company news.
