By definition, a fire rated door is an entryway or door manufactured with the purpose to resist spreading fire if any part of your commercial structure catches fire. If a fire breaks out in your kitchen, with fire rated doors in place, and with all doors closed, the fire will take longer to spread to the dining room and break room.
CDF distributors proudly carries the largest variety of commercial fire rated doors in the industry. The most popular door sizes of hollow metal doors, wood doors, glass doors and louver options are always in stock - available, ready for super rush shipping to your job site.
All commercial properties in the United States must be inspected annually by the National Fire Protection Association. The underwriters laboratory agency decides whether any specific door model reaches the fire resistance ratings acceptable within the United States. The fire ratings for doors are based on time.
CDF's metal doors (both single and double doors) ratings consist of 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 90 minutes or a 3-hour rating. CDF distributor's fire rated wood doors come with three options: 20, 45 and 90 minute ratings.
These time-based tests are based on the timed exposure of flames the door and assembly can handle; examining the hardware, wall and door assembly as written in the building code standards. The doors are put into a large furnace to properly test the door against its specific rating.
When deciding upon any specific given door model it's important to understand that "UL 20", for example, means the underwriter's laboratory has tested the door at 20 minutes of fire resistance.
The standards of how our hollow metal doors and frames are made determine the level of fire safety protection in terms of UL safety ratings.
Example materials used to make our doors include galvanized, galvannealed, cold rolled, and hot rolled steel materials. Every single one of our doors go through an extremely diligent testing system, not only testing our materials against fire, but, also, testing the closing devices used and more.
All fire rated doors within the United States must be labeled with a permanent label which must remain legible. In addition to fire rated doors, fire rated door frames must also include a permanent readable label.
While each door manufacturer must meet the UL criteria and are often part of a standards organization like the Steel Door Institute, hollow metal door ratings and tests are conducted by independent, internationally known labs.
An example of one of CDF distributor's fire rated door labels can be seen below.
When mapping out your building's customer or employee experience and aesthetics it's important to think of the details and materials, not only for function but also for aesthetics. To meet most fire requirements, you do not have to sacrifice aesthetics for safety.
CDF distributors always keep commercial fire rated wood and steel doors in stock, however, if these typical-fire-safe-doors do not fit the design of your building's corridors, we also offer wired glass and clear high-temperature fire rated glass options.
Another fire safe option CDF distributors ships to your business are fusible link louvers, which can be added ventilation to a room or closet door which would otherwise be closed off or used on a mechanical closet to seal off the room in the event of a fire.
CDF Distributors provides everything to make sure your building's hallways, stairwells, and other corridors are matching to fire code requirements.
Your building code mandates the required fire resistance rating of a wall in each particular location, and it also states the required rating of the opening protective, or fire door assembly. As an example, here is a table below from the 2009 international building code (IBC) which in detail describes the required fire resistance rating of fire door assembly for each type of wall.
Requirements on what type of door used are often based on the use of a building, as well as how many people will occupy it during a given time. Always ask your building professional for more information. Be sure to always check with your local building code authority to confirm fire door requirements in your location before the unthinkable happens.
We understand the importance of fire safety in commercial properties and the importance of getting your life and revenue saving products delivered quickly. If you're in a church, school, office space, retail shop, or any other commercial building CDF distributors will deliver your doors locally in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, New York, Nashville or Chicago. For those anywhere else in the United States, we offer affordable shipping rates and efficient delivery through FEDEX freight delivery.