FIRE RATED GLASS DOORS
WHAT ARE FIRE-RATED DOORS?
The role of a fire-rated door is to maintain the integrity of a fire-rated enclosure in the event of a fire, giving building occupants enough time to exit the burning building. They can be made of any materials approved to slow or stop the spread of smoke, flames and (if necessary) radiant heat—materials used to be limited to wood, steel and wired glass, but now allow for more design options than ever with fire-rated glazing.
Requirements for fire-rated doors are found in NFPA publications and within the International Building Code. Vision panel sizes in fire-rated doors are laid out in table format in the 2012 and 2015 IBC, Table 716.5 or for 2018 in Table 716.1(2).
CAN GLASS DOORS BE FIRE RATED?
Yes! Glazing in fire-rated doors provides ample design and safety benefits. They safely compartmentalize a building, like non-glazed fire-rated doors, while helping occupants see escape routes and first responders determine if there are occupants or flames behind a door.
Glazed openings in fire-rated glass doors are limited by size, depending on the type of assembly, required wall assembly rating and minimum fire-door and fire-shutter assembly rating (both of the latter in hours). Vetrotech offers fire-protective and fire-resistive fire-rated glass door assemblies with 20-90 minute ratings.
All Vetrotech’s VDS doors arrive complete and ready to install, with minimal required assembly and including all hardware and glazing. Customers may specify either welded or K-D, depending on preference.
GLAZED FIRE DOORS
Glazed fire-rated doors allow the natural flow of light to penetrate through and within a building, offering a pleasant, modern and aesthetic atmosphere for those working and living inside. Additional safety benefits include being able to see through doors, allowing occupants to move safely within a building, while seeing who comes and goes from one room to another. Glazed fire doors provide the aesthetical openness of ordinary door systems while protecting against threats like fire, smoke or physical attacks. Fire doors with anti-panic requirements may be equipped with high-security glass to reach RC classifications.
SEGMENTS
Access to natural light and to exterior space has been shown to make people feel more energetic, productive and inspired. We have developed the expertise and products to help you design and execute your next project according to the most stringent fire and security requirements, always keeping the occupants’ safety and the buildings’ performance in mind.