Fire-rated doors are an important part of any building’s fire protection system. They are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, giving people time to escape.
It is therefore essential that these doors are properly maintained at all times. In this blog post, we will discuss five steps you need to follow while maintaining your fire-rated doors.
But before we move ahead, let’s first understand…
Importance of Maintaining Fire-Rated Doors
Fire-rated doors perform better when they are properly maintained. By keeping these doors in good condition, you can be sure that they will work as intended in the event of a fire. Furthermore, regular maintenance can also help to extend the life of your fire doors.
While conducting regular maintenance, it’s always a good habit to document the details of every maintenance report.
Why Documenting Fire-Rated Door Maintenance is Necessary?
There are several reasons why documenting fire door maintenance is necessary. First and foremost, it helps to ensure that the doors are properly maintained. Furthermore, it can also help you identify any potential problems with the doors so that they can be addressed in a timely manner.
Finally, documenting fire door maintenance can also help you to create a record of the work that has been done, which can be useful in the event of an insurance claim.
Now that we understand the importance of documenting fire door maintenance, let’s take a look at the five steps you need to follow while maintaining your fire doors.
5 Things to Remember While Maintaining Fire-Rated Doors
- Inspect doors and frames for damage
One of the most important steps in maintaining fire doors is to regularly inspect them for damage. You should look for any cracks, warping, or other signs of damage. If you find any damage, it’s important to have it repaired as soon as possible.
Another thing to keep in mind is that fire doors are often subject to a lot of wear and tear. The hinges and other moving parts can become loose over time, so it’s important to check them regularly and tighten them as needed.
Finally, you should also check the door for any signs of damage from fire or smoke If you find any damage, you should have the door repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
- Conduct annual drop tests
In addition to regular inspections, it’s also important to conduct annual drop tests. Drop tests are an important part of maintaining fire doors, and they should not be ignored. This involves resting a bar on the sill of the door while ensuring that it still closes properly.
If you find that the door does not close properly after a drop test, you should have it repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
Moreover, it’s always better to get this test conducted by a trained technician to avoid any accidents.
- Perform observational checks regularly
Another important step in maintaining fire doors is to perform observational checks regularly. This involves checking the door for any signs of damage, such as cracks, warping, or other signs of wear and tear.
Observational checks need to be conducted frequently, as they can help you to identify any potential problems with the door before they become serious.
Generally, in commercial complexes where there are a lot of fire-rated doors, a separate person is assigned the task of conducting these checks.
But if you have a smaller number of doors, you can conduct the checks yourself. Just make sure to do them regularly and document the details of each check.
Performing these observational checks doesn’t require any special training or skills, so anyone can do it.
- Lubricate hinges and other moving parts
A crucial step of any fire-rated door’s maintenance is to lubricate the hinges and other moving parts. This helps to ensure that the door can open and close properly, and it also prevents the door from getting damaged over time.
Lubrication should be done regularly, as it can help to extend the life of your fire doors. Just make sure to use a lubricant that is specifically designed for use on fire doors.
Generally, you should lubricate the door once every six months. But if you live in an area with a lot of humidity, you may need to do it more often.
Lubricating the door is a simple task that anyone can do, and it doesn’t require any special training or skills. However, r, if you’re not sure how to lubricate the door, you can always consult a professional.
- Replace weatherstripping when needed
Weatherstripping is an important part of any door, but it’s especially important for fire doors. This is because weatherstripping helps to seal the door and prevent smoke and other toxins from entering the building.
Weatherstripping should be replaced when it starts to wear out. Generally, you can expect to replace weatherstripping every three to five years. However, in some cases, it might wear out sooner.
If you’re not sure when to replace the weatherstripping, you can always consult a professional. But in most cases, it’s a simple task that anyone can do.
These are just some of the things to keep in mind while maintaining fire-rated doors. By following these steps, you can help to ensure that your doors are in good condition and that they will continue to protect you in the event of a fire.
In closing
Maintaining fire-rated doors is important, but it’s also important to remember that these doors are only one part of your fire safety plan.
You should also have a working smoke alarm, and know how to use a fire extinguisher. You should also have an evacuation plan in place so that you know what to do in the event of a fire.
By following these steps, you can help to keep yourself and your family safe in the event of a fire. We hope this blog post was helpful! If you have any questions, please feel free to consult our professionals at Virtual Bridge Contracting!
