Did You Know There’s a Proper Type of Fire Door Lock?

Because it holds back flames and smoke for an extended period, a fire door can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. But there’s a lot more that goes into fire doors than the door itself. To be an effective fire door, it must also have the proper type of lock.

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about fire door locks and choosing the right locks for fire doors.

Why are different locks required for fire doors?

Fire door panels can be made of several different materials like timber, steel, aluminum, gypsum (for a filler) or Vermiculite boards. Regardless of the material, they must adhere to safety ratings imposed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for 20-, 45-, 60- or 90-minute fire protection. The door components, including locks, hinges, handles and more, must also meet these fire ratings.

If the door components, especially the locks, don’t meet the NFPA protection requirements, the door can fail and won’t protect the building’s occupants from smoke or flames. Fire door locks are typically made of high-quality steel, as this metal has a much higher heat tolerance than metals used for traditional locks, like brass or die-cast zinc.

When choosing the right locks for fire doors, it’s a good idea to consider a lock that’s attached to your building’s fire security system. When the door is opened, an alarm is triggered that alerts all building occupants and the local fire department that there is a fire somewhere in the building.

Balancing safety and security

A fire door lock must also be able to function as a standard lock to keep intruders out while allowing for easy exit in the event of a fire. So, building managers and property owners must find a way to balance occupant security with their safety should a fire ever break out. It’s essential that you hire a professional to not only install the fire door, but also to fit it with a lock that defends against intruders and flames.

Let us handle your fire door needs

As we just mentioned, you should always leave fire door installation to the pros—and when you need help, call our team at Artie’s Lock and Key. Here are a few reasons to choose us:

• Wide range of services: Our services extend beyond traditional locksmithing. On top of opening your business, home or car locks, we’re capable of installing and repairing fire doors with the proper locks.
• Forty years of experience: We have over four decades of experience performing all of our services. When you choose us, you can rest easy knowing the job will be done right the first time.
• Fast response time: There’s no need to wait around for someone to install your new fire door or open a lock. We’re dedicated to arriving ASAP to meet your needs.

Whether you need a team to install fire door locks or open up your locked car door, we’re standing by to assist. Give us a call today to see what we can do for you.

Categorised in: Fire Doors

This post was written by Writer