Fire Rated Door & Hardware Info

There can be confusion in the marketing of door hardware when it comes to products that are "fire rated". When you scan through a suppliers catalog you will often find the notation that the hardware is "fire rated". But non fire rated door Hardware and fire rated door Hardware are two different types of door device.

Fire rated doors serve a purpose. They are manufactured in a way that is to help reduce the spread of fire and smoke. Fire rated doors allow occupants time to safely exit the structure during a fire or to allow for an area of refuge within the building that protects them until fire service can arrive. These fire rated doors are also part of the building's design and serve to protect fire service personnel during fire suppression. When the door is not properly latched in its frame it loses its effectiveness. When they are not properly maintained they are of no value during a fire making the design and purpose of the door obsolete.