Fire Door Applications: Examples for Different Building Types.

Fire doors are essential to passive fire protection, but every building has different risks, layouts and occupancy requirements. Reviewing typical fire door applications can provide useful guidance when developing a project-specific fire safety plan.

1. Residential Buildings

• Apartment Buildings: Fire doors may be used at apartment entrances, protected corridors, stair enclosures and service areas, depending on the approved fire strategy. They help maintain compartmentation and protect escape routes.
• Detached Houses: Where required, fire-rated doors may separate an integral garage, plant room or other higher-risk area from living spaces. The exact requirement depends on the building design and local regulations.

2. Workplaces

• Office Buildings: Fire doors are commonly used in protected corridors, stair enclosures, compartment walls, plant rooms and service areas. Glazed fire doors may provide visibility while maintaining the required classification.
• Factories: Industrial doorsets may separate production areas, warehouses, electrical rooms, boiler rooms and escape routes. Robust construction and appropriate exit hardware are often important.

3. Public Buildings

• Schools: Fire doors may protect corridors, stairways, laboratories, assembly areas and service rooms. Hardware and closing forces should also support safe use by the building's occupants.
• Hospitals: Hospitals may use fire and smoke-control doors to divide compartments and protect wards, operating areas, intensive care units, laboratories and evacuation routes. Door width, accessibility and controlled movement of beds and equipment require careful planning.

4. Shopping Centres

• Retail Units: Fire doors may be installed at stockrooms, service corridors and protected escape routes to help separate individual units and back-of-house areas.
• Common Areas: Corridors, lift lobbies, stair enclosures and service zones may require certified doorsets to maintain compartmentation and support evacuation.

5. Industrial Facilities

• Warehouses: Fire doors can separate storage compartments and protect escape routes. The rating and door type must reflect the stored materials, fire load and operational needs.
• Production Facilities: Doorsets may be used around production lines, laboratories, electrical rooms and plant areas. Where large openings are involved, a specifically tested industrial fire door or shutter system may be required.

Important Points for Every Fire Door Application

• Select the door according to the building's approved fire strategy and the specific opening.
• Verify compliance with applicable regulations and the scope of test, classification and product documentation.
• Arrange regular inspection, maintenance and prompt repair of defects.

Fire door locations and ratings cannot be determined from building type alone. A qualified fire safety professional should assess each project and specify doorsets that match the required compartmentation, evacuation and operational conditions.