There are building standards in effect across the nation that help to promote safety for people and structures. When it comes to your commercial property, there are going to be several different ones that you must follow to be compliant. When it comes to your commercial garage doors, they must be fire-rated.
What Is a Fire-Rated Commercial Garage Door?
A fire-rated commercial garage door is going to be a door that can withstand extreme fire and heat. The door itself is not susceptible to combustion for a set amount of time when it comes into contact with fire. This helps to protect fire and smoke from spreading throughout other parts of the building.
These fire-rated commercial doors are typically constructed with galvanized steel or stainless steel exteriors and components. Their interlocking slats help to provide a seamless barrier between both sides of the door. The requirements for the type of fire-rated commercial door that must be used in your building is going to be highly dependent on your building’s construction type, its overall proximity to other fire-rated components, and the intended use of your space.
Why Do Time Frame Ratings Matter?
Each commercial garage door will be given a specific time frame rating. This is the amount of time the door will be able to withstand combustion from fire and heat. These time frame standards will typically range anywhere from as low as 20 minutes to as long as 180 minutes. The longer the rated time that a door has, the longer employees and visitors are going to have to evacuate the building if a fire does break out.
Each door’s fire rating will be granted by a third-party independent testing agency. In many cases, the fire rating of a surrounding wall will dictate the necessary fire rating of the door. Some common building codes that commercial buildings may need to follow include those established by the National Fire Protection Association, the International Fire Code, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association, the American National Standards Institute, and the International Building Code.
Most building codes will require the commercial garage door to have a fire rating that is at least equal to 75% of the fire rating for the surrounding walls. Ideally, you’ll want to match the fire rating of the surrounding wall, if possible, to provide additional security and safety for your commercial building.
The Main Benefits of Investing in Fire-Rated Doors
There are many different benefits that you can gain from investing in fire-rated commercial garage doors. First and foremost, they’ll help to slow the spread of flames, heat, and smoke if a fire does develop in your building. This can go a long way toward minimizing the damage to your building and giving fire personnel more time to respond successfully to the fire.
When the fire is less likely to spread over a lengthy period of time, it helps to reduce the likelihood of your business losing precious property. Whether it be your product supplies or your computer equipment, you can help drastically minimize any damage that occurs.
Furthermore, that extra time is absolutely essential to allow employees and customers to escape. In fact, these fire-rated commercial garage doors are well known to save many lives every year. This can go a long way in providing you with peace of mind about your staff’s safety, your products, and your overall commercial building.
A Note on Maintenance
The effectiveness of your fire-rated commercial doors is going to be highly dependent on the amount of regular maintenance they receive. You should have a professional inspect your commercial doors at least once a year. They’ll ensure that there is no gapping in the seal so that the door can remain functional to keep out smoke during fire events.
You want to regularly assess the self-latching door and lubricate it as necessary. All fire-rated commercial doors must be self-closing. You want to ensure that you’re testing the garage door opener on a consistent basis to verify that it fully closes the garage door.
Expert Commercial Garage Door Service
Legacy Garage Doors offers expert commercial garage door replacement services for the entire Boise, Idaho community. Our garage door professionals can also assist with all your residential repair, replacement, and installation needs. Call our office to schedule an appointment with one of our garage door experts today.
