The topic of fire doors vs. fire exits can be confusing for non-professionals in fire safety. If you have to replace some of the doors on your premises with fire doors, or you have to improve egress from a building by installing panic bars on fire exits, it is helpful to have a clear understanding of the differences between fire doors and fire exits.
The difference between a fire-rated door and a fire exit door can be night-and-day; but since they are both commonly called “fire doors” in our industry, it confuses many well-intentioned customers. Material that is fire-rated is designed to serve as a fire-stop or partition or to block the spread of fire, while fire exit doors are designed to allow quick and safe egress from an occupied space, usually to the exterior of the building.
Fire Doors
A fire door is an internal door whose purpose is to create/protect an escape route from a building in the event of a fire. It is also designed to compartmentalize a fire, to stop flames and smoke from spreading from one section of the building to another. Typical locations of fire doors include (1) stairwells, where they protect the stairs from corridors opening onto them, (2) kitchens and catering facilities, (3) storage areas that house combustible materials such as paper and cardstock, and (4) boiler rooms.
Fire doors must be kept closed at all times, unless a certified fire door retainer (not a door wedge) is installed to hold the fire door open until a fire alarm is set off.
Certified fire doors of solid timber construction are designed to resist the smoke and flames of a fire for a minimum specified length of time, typically 30 minutes (FD30), when closed. Because a fire door is not simply a block of wood in a frame, but an assembly of fire-resistant parts – door leaf/leaves, door frame, hardware (e.g. locks, latches, hinges, etc.), glazing, smoke/intumescent seals and an automatic closing device – it is also known as a fire door-set.
Fire Exit Doors
A fire exit door, on the other hand, is an external door; it can be left open and does not have to be fire resistant. The purpose of the fire exit door is to allow a quick and unhindered escape through a well-lit door to a place of safety, while preventing unauthorized access from the outside. Fire exit doors should open easily and in the direction of traffic flow when possible. If it is a security door that is usually kept locked, but which will be used by the public in an emergency, it must be fitted with a panic or push bar. By allowing people to pass rapidly to a place of safety, the fire exit door performs its function without having to be a fire door. Fire exit doors can also be opened from the outside, as with a panic bar that has a key lock override. Fire exits must never be obstructed and must be clearly marked and well lit. Best practices require that fire exit signs be installed above fire exits.
Some common examples:
- The door with the red exit signs leading from a movie theater out into the parking lot. That would be a fire exit door.
- The door in your house or workplace that separates flammable storage (like a garage) from the living space. That would be a fire-rated door.
