Fire Doors: Evidence that they don't last 30 minutes in a fire situation

[SidM]

Can anybody provide any?

[Phoenix]

No.  But, ironically, I could give you lots of examples of when plain ordinary panelled doors have lasted well over 30 minutes and when 30 minute doors have lasted well over well over 30 minutes!  Not a lot of use, I know.  Sorry.

I expect lots of others will give you fodder for your cause.

The 30 minutes is only nominal really, actual fire performance depends on many variables.  Certainly the temperature curve used in fire tests bears little resemblance to actual fire temperatures.

Stu

[wee brian]

Usually they last longer, that's cos the test is a bit severe.

[Tom Sutton]

I think most anecdotal evidence will not support your premise and if a fire door was to fail it is most likely because of how it was fitted or was held open.

[Bobbins]

Try the BWF website I think they have a video regarding poorly fitted doors failing in tests.

The key to the time a door lasts is how it is fitted and how closely it represents that which was tested as a 'door set' in the initial test.

Get the test evidence for the doors in question and see if it was a match in terms of fixing fittings etc. Often fire doors have apatures cut in them on site which makes the door fail if not done properly or they are fitted in the wrong frame or the joiner cuts too much off to get it to hang or the closer is removed or as others have said some one props it open.

Gosh I did learn something at that BWF seminar after all.

[Phoenix]

If you want to set fire to a piece of paper you put the flame to the edge because it lights easier there.  In similar fashion, a door is most susceptible to hot gases at its edges.  And how do the edges get attacked?  By gaps, usually around the upper part of the door.  Hot gases being forced through a gap by fire pressures in the upper part of a room are the most likely causes of deterioration of the door and of the progressive failure of the door.  The solid face of the door is much more fire resistant.  Watch out for the gaps. 

Just wanted to put my bit in to support what others have said.

Stu

 

[colin todd]

Bobbins, I think the geezer meant in real fires, not sodding great furnaces. All the BWF video proves is that aged consultants should not spend a quarter of an hour talking to some blonde bit of stuff right outside a door with a post flashover fire.  Definitely not a good idea, cos in the quarter of an hour before the first flame penetration with bells ringing from even before then, people might still be around. NOT!

[Bobbins]

Colin the video demonstrates some of the reasons why a fire door may fail in a real fire by a representative test. If by some horrible misfortune you found yourself trapped in a compartment with only a fire door to save you from being burnt to a crisp, perhaps you and only you would have the presence of mind to record the doors performance in a real fire with your mobile phone video.

Testing is just an indication of how a door would perform, and I would rather be trapped behind a tested door than one that looks OK.

They also mentioned that doors sets had to be tested with both sides against the furnace the reason being; who knows which side the fire will be on? Apart from you Colin of course!