Industrial settings are at high risk of fire through machinery, flammable substances, dust and debris from production processes, electrical hazards, or hot conditions caused by welding, soldering and brazing operations. The need to put in place adequate protection measures is essential, and measures such as fire shutter doors should be considered to reduce the risk of fire spreading and causing more damage.
Why Fire Shutter Doors?
Fire Shutter Doors can be fitted internally and externally to slow the spread of fire and give more time and safety for firefighting measures. This can effectively save lives too, as they may give people more time to escape premises before fire impedes on escape routes.
Fire shutter door – unique properties
Fire shutter doors offer radiant heat fortification. Radiant heat levels can drop from 65kw per square metre to an ultra-low 2.7kw per square metre. This reduction in levels makes it possible to store combustible materials far closer to doors (in fact, just a half-metre away from a 1200oc heat on the other side of the door), giving you more operational space.
Improved safety is achieved as fire breakouts are compartmentalised. Firefighters can more readily tackle blazes near a fire shutter with less risk. The fire shutter door also means that anyone blocked from an immediate exit can safely walk past the roller shutter to alternative exits without fear of radiant heat injury. Radiant heat effects often limit the routes available to staff who must exit the building. This heat can be as dangerous to people as the fire itself.
Fire safety doors can be customised to fit any opening, manufactured from galvanised steel. They can be powder coated to bespoke needs to maintain the appearance of the building, internally or externally. Customised solutions can be electronically and remotely operated. A Loss Prevention Certification of 2 or 4 hours provides valuable extra time over a standard door for staff to evacuate more safely. They effectively limit the spread of fire, obnoxious smoke and fumes, greater access and more time for firefighters to contain the blaze and bring the fire under control.
Cost efficiency
Goods and equipment can be stored closer to a fire shutter door than possible with a standard door, meaning less wasted space, possibly removing the need to move to larger premises. Many insurers recognise the importance of installing a fire shutter door and, as such, offer reductions in insurance premiums. Insurance companies set pricing based on the level of risk presented. The inclusion of suitably placed internal and external fire shutter doors demonstrates you take protection seriously and have taken appropriate measures to protect staff, equipment and goods by reducing the opportunity for fires to spread through more of the building. Lower premiums and a more comprehensive panel of insurers prepared to quote are just some of the additional benefits you can expect by occupying a building with regulatory-compliant fire shutter doors.
What To Consider
When selecting a fire shutter door installation, ensure that your new fire doors meet the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and that any existing doors meet the latest standards and are routinely serviced. A consultation with experts is advisable to help you identify the most effective placement to link to existing fire protection measures and improve overall safety. A variety of operational features that work to meet your practical needs will ensure you are better equipped should the worst happen.
You can never eliminate the risk of fire. Still, it is possible to lower the opportunity for fires to spread, protect your premises staff and better preserve continuity of operation simply by having a fire safety assessment and installing appropriate fire protection shutter doors.
