Fire Door Frames

Fire Door Frames.

Fire door frames and doors play a vital role in ensuring safety within residential and commercial buildings. These components act as critical barriers during a fire, containing the spread of flames and smoke. This containment provides occupants with valuable time to evacuate and protects property from further damage. Properly installing fire doors ensures compliance with fire safety regulations.

In South Africa, fireproof doors are a legal requirement. All fire doors and frames must comply with SANS 1253 standards, which specify fire resistance ratings ranging from 30 to 120 minutes. Buildings must adhere to the regulations outlined in SANS 10400: Part T, which forms part of the Fire Protection Act.

When purchasing a fire door, ensure that all components meet the standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). This includes the frame and hardware such as hinges, locks, and handles, which must align with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Install fire doors within purpose-built frames to guarantee effective protection. Many companies sell fire doors paired with the wrong components, which compromises their safety performance. At Doors Online, we offer a 30-minute rated timber frame specifically designed to complement our fire doors. This frame includes a 25mm rebate. Alternatively, a 1.6mm steel frame with the same rebate provides another fire-safe option for installation.

Material: Steel frames are popular due to their strength and durability under high heat. Heavy-duty hardwoods also serve as effective materials for fire-rated products.

Seals and Intumescent Strips: Many fire doors include intumescent strips that expand when exposed to heat, sealing gaps and preventing the spread of smoke and fire through any gaps.

All fire doors from Doors Online hold Class ratings under SANS 1253. This includes Class 1-rated (SANS 545) external doors, which resist both fire and environmental elements.

Class ratings indicate performance across three criteria:

• Integrity: Measures the door’s ability to resist fire without significant deformation, ensuring it moves no more than 25mm out of the frame.
• Stability: Assesses the door’s structural integrity and the gaps that form on its surface during a fire.
• Insulation: Evaluates the door’s capacity to limit heat transfer, ensuring the temperature on the unexposed side remains below 140°C.

For more details, visit our website to explore fire door classes and specifications.