What is a Fire-Rated Main Door? — My Digital Lock

Whether a front door needs to be fire-rated depends largely on building codes, safety regulations, and the specific environment where the door is installed. A fire-rated main door is designed to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke, providing occupants with more time to safely evacuate a building in case of a fire emergency. What is a Fire-Rated Main Door? A fire-rated main door is constructed from materials specifically engineered to withstand fire for a certain amount of time, typically ranging from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. These doors are tested under controlled conditions to ensure they meet the required fire-resistance standards. Fire-rated doors often include special fireproof seals and are typically thicker than regular doors. They act as a barrier between different areas of a building, minimizing the fire’s ability to spread and offering critical time for emergency response or evacuation. When is a Fire-Rated Door Required? In residential buildings, whether your front door needs to be fire-rated depends on the type of dwelling. For instance, in apartment complexes, multi-family homes, and buildings with shared corridors, building codes often require fire-rated main doors. This is particularly true if your front door opens into a hallway that acts as an evacuation route.

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