All You Need To Know About UL Certified Fire-rated Doors!
Fire doors save lives; can yours?
Such a question arises every time you become a buyer. It must be a basic question, as you are going to spend so much on your employees. That’s why choosing a door becomes a critical determinant of survival. Door choice also defines your concerns for your business and property.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report, fire door can reduce the risk of spreading fire and protect lives up to 75%. For this reason, the selection of portals is very crucial. But first, it's important to understand what fire doors are and how they function.
Fire Resistant Doors:
Fire doors are experts in resisting flame and smoke. They also provide a safe escape route for people in a building. Its high-quality fire-resistant materials such as timber, glass, steel, gypsum, and vermiculite boards that hold back fire for at least 30 minutes. However, its range goes between 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the quality of the entrance.
When we talk about quality, we talk about standards. Standards can be made by testing and certifications. The fire safety industry revolves around codes and standards that are set according to the requirements and environment. Therefore, decision of choosing safety tools surly based on certification no matter what the product is.
You may find variations available in the market, such as BS 476, UL, EN 1634-1, BM TRADA, NFPA 252, BS EN, PAS 24, etc. However, two major types, UL doors and BS doors, are constantly evolving and improving themselves in the fire protection industry for specific reasons, such as rigorous testing and quality, reliability, and credibility.
BS Certified Door:
BS certifications typically refer to documents issued in compliance with the British Standards Institution (BSI). These certifications cover broad spectrum products, systems and services, ensuring their quality, safety, and reliability. For example, BS 476, BS EN 1634-1, etc. The standards are recognized widely and utilized in the UK and across Europe.
UL Certified Door:
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) tests and certifies the UL door to ensure they meet specific fire protection criteria. The door is declared fire-protective under various product categories, reflecting the type or use of the door and the criteria used to evaluate it.
UL combines trusted testing and certification expertise with global scope localized knowledge. It is available in several regions, including Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia. Its global presence and recognition make its certifications valuable in various international markets.
BS Standard Doors vs. UL Standard Doors:
BS and UL are two different standards for fire doors. They have different features and benefits compared to those in the table below. You can review the differences and choose the best fit for your needs.
BS (British standard)
UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
As per BS standards, fire door can be tested using only a self closing device, without the need of an active latch bolt on leaf.
In UL Standards, an active self-latching device that engages the strike is required. Deadbolts cannot be used as a substitute for latch bolts.
?There is no sprinkler system installed; only smoke and fire-resistant materials are used.
In US Standard door, sprinkler system is installed to make it more practical.
The fire hose test isn't required due to the lack of a sprinkler system; instead, a smoke management test is recommended.
The fire hose tests is required for American fire doors, it examines door's heat resistance by discharging cold water from a hose onto it.
For Bs standard, labeling of certification is not obligatory but recommended.
UL certified fire door and window frames have a UL Listing or Certified Mark visible on the frame after installation.
BS doors have self-closing function.
UL doors have self closing function. Only a cupboard or the active door leaf of an access panel may be installed without a closer but with a deadlock.
BS standards are acceptable in Uk and Asia.
UL certification can be used in America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia
Door testing enforces strict regulations on both sides, ensures rigorous quality and safety standards.
?The focus is on sprinkler system as well. It is assumed that sprinkler would enclose the fire from outside as well.
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Sprinkler system| A better choice.
What technology does is to evolve and become better. Therefore, it's essential to stay tuned about the latest product developments. When comparing BS (British Standard) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) standards for doors, it's clear that UL has made significant progress by incorporating sprinkler systems, a valuable enhancement. A fire sprinkler system is a safety feature that automatically releases water through a network of pipes and sprinkler heads to extinguish or contain fires. By doing this, it protects people and property from fire-related harm in a better way.
Furthermore, UL's international recognition makes it more suitable for people worldwide. The reason for UL Fire Door's fame is that engineers ensure that every aspect must be passed during authorization. For this reason, different standards have been named as per their features UL 10B, UL 10C, UL 1784, UL 555, and NFPA 105.
UL-certified door
Special Feature
Testing
Timing
Fire resistance of Gates
Flame test for door leaves, frames, locks and door closers.
240 minutes
Positive pressure of Tests of door
The door undergoes a hose stream test on the exposed side to evaluate its resistance to water damage and erosion
180-240 minutes
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Air leakage testing
It determines air leakage rate of a door assembly shall not exceed 3.0(cfm/ft2).
90 minutes
Fire dampers standard
To demonstrate dynamic closure against heated airflow and pressure.
75 seconds to detect
Smoke Doors
It determines the minimum necessities for smoke door assemblies to provide life safety and protection.
60? minutes
Standard for Automatic Sprinklers
It covers all types of sprinklers, including standard spray, conventional, extended coverage, residential, and extended-coverage fast-response (ESFR), and more
180-240 minutes
These levels of certification are essential in helping differentiate products, ensure safety and quality, and gain market access and consumer confidence.
Identification of the UL Gateway:
Whenever you are going to buy a product, you might wonder which one is authentic. Mark on door will tell you the difference between genuine and fraudulent ones. Specific identifications on the door or window tell you certifications of this kind. For instance, it will include:
·?? UL Logo + one of the words "CLASSIFIED" or "CERTIFIED."
·?? Category Name (Appendix A)
·?? Time Period Ratings (e.g., 4 HR, 3 HR, 1-1/2 HR, 1 HR, 3/4 HR, 30 MIN, or 20 MIN)
·?? If applicable, Maximum Allowable Temperature Increase (e.g., 30 MIN – 250°F MAX, 30 MIN – 450°F MAX, 30 MIN – 650°F MAX)
Heat Transmission Limits:
The UL heat transmission limits tell us the range of heat transfer during a given time and how much a door can handle. Some fire doors are designed to keep heat from spreading from one side to the other, giving people time to escape safely. These doors have a special rating that shows how well they can keep heat out. The heat transmission limit of the flap is divided into three primary categories.
·?? 250 Degrees Fahrenheit: Considered highly rigorous, this door allows for just a slight temperature difference between sides of the door during the first 30 minutes of a standard fire test
·?? 450 Degrees Fahrenheit: More lenient than the 250°F limit, though still aiming to reduce drastic changes in temperature
·?? 650 Degrees Fahrenheit: Relatively negligent compared to the earlier two, although it controls heat diffusion somewhat effectively.
Fire-rated Products:
Variety is a spice of life, so why not include resistant products? Fire rated not just bound to doors; they have a good range of products. Such as and screens, fire windows, fire-resistant doors, and glass are available. In Pakistan, UL fireproof doors are now available in different firms Like Mechatronix Solutions, Karachi Steel Services (KSS), Mek Pakistan and Guardia.
Mechatronix, a pioneer in security and safety innovations in Pakistan, offers UL-listed fire doors that meet the highest quality standards in Pakistan. They surely are the best to deliver top-notch fire doors that exceed your expectations and ensure your safety!
MEK Pakistan leads in fire door manufacturing since 1921. The company produces top-quality UL-listed doors with advanced technology. Their expertise is built on a strong foundation of cutting-edge innovation and advanced R&D capabilities, making them a trusted name in the industry.
KSS offers a wide range of products that provide reliable passive fire protection. Their UL fire doors meet all security needs and requirements, guaranteeing complete satisfaction and peace of mind. You can count on KSS fire doors to keep you safe!
What can fire proof doors provide?
UL fire doors can be the right choice for your premises as they meet the highest safety standards and have certification to prove it. They are strategically installed in areas where fire compartmentalization is critical, such as stairwells, corridors, elevator shafts, and fire-rated walls. Fire doors are crucial and the best choice after users' personal experiences. You can also look at its numerous benefits.
·?? Life insurance:
The raison d'être of such gadgets is to save lives. If the gadget is not performing as the best lifesaver, then what's the purpose of all this? That's why fire-resistant doors are the best for having confidence and peace of mind. In a fire emergency, it will be much less if you were prepared before. Doors have become popular due to heightened building safety awareness and fire protection regulations. That's why their annual growth is increasing up to 6.1% from 2022 and is still growing.
·?? Physical security:
Ratings of fire doors matter the most when it comes to saving lives and property. During fire incidents, people need time to escape from the building to a safer place. Considering this situation, these doors can hold smoke and dangerous combustion for up to 120 minutes. This will significantly save people and property. Such a feature mitigates the risks of severe injuries and property damage caused by intense heat and flames.
·?? Save Your Property:
Property is something that you can't ignore to save. Installing fire-rated doors can be crucial in safeguarding your property from damages caused by fire incidents. It creates compartments in your building through which fire cannot pass for a certain period. Its substantial material limits heat transfer and prevents toxic gases and smoke from spreading. People have 120-240 minutes to escape from the building.
Importance of Choosing the Right Product:
The importance of doors during a fire emergency cannot be overstated. Installing the right certified resistant doors can significantly impact the safety of individuals. It provides crucial seconds for evacuation until people are rescued. The right fire door, with proper certification, can potentially delay the progression of fire within a building. It also offers up to an hour of fire resistance and effective smoke control. Furthermore, your life is precious and can be rescued in emergencies with only the right product.
So if you are interested in purchasing ?UL fire doors in Pakistan, you no longer need to worry about finding them. UL fire-rated doors are now delivering by top-notch manufacturer like Mechatronix solutions.