Fire-Rated and Smoke-Rated Products

What Is a Fire-Rated Door? 

Fire-rated doors are rolling doors specifically engineered for fire-rated openings and designed for durability and safety. In the event of a fire, they act as passive fire protection to stop the spread of smoke and flames through a building. Fire doors and fire rated shutters are required by building codes and make an excellent proactive measure for preserving property and reducing liability in the event of a fire. 

Fire doors generally contain fire-retardant slats made of materials like aluminum, tempered glass, gypsum, timber and steel. They also usually have smoke seals, which are special gaskets that inhibit the movement of smoke between the door and its frame.

Installed correctly, a commercial fire-rated rollup door will resist combustion for a specified amount of time during a typical building fire. Each door receives a fire rating that is specified in minutes or hours. The rating of a specific roll-up fire door depends on the door's materials and construction, and is based on the lowest-rated component. 

The Steel Door Institute, for instance, has five fire door ratings for commercial steel fire doors:

• 20-minute fire ratings
• 45-minute fire ratings
• One-hour fire ratings
  
• 1.5-hour fire ratings
  
• Three-hour fire ratings

The global safety certification company UL gives fire ratings from a half hour to four hours. 

The Benefits of Fire-Rated Doors

Our commercial roll-up fire doors and shutters offer benefits for facilities of any size, including:

• Security: Fire doors are made from durable steel, protecting businesses 24/7.
• Insulated: Insulated fire doors provide climate control, reduced energy usage and sound-deadening qualities.
  
• Code enforcement:  Our rolling fire doors are UL listed for fire protection ratings of 3/4, 1 1/2, two and four hours.
• Protection: Our advanced fire door operating systems automatically activate thermally or electronically.

Our advanced AlarmGard Fire Door Closing System reacts instantly to an alarm signal, activating the door closing sequence which stops fire and smoke migration – a performance that thermally activated systems simply cannot match. 

In addition, AlarmGard does not require human interaction after an alarm is cleared – ideal for parking structures that may not be staffed full time.  AlarmGard resets, and motor-operated units can even reopen your fire doors automatically, eliminating reset downtime by 100%. 

Installing Fire-Rated Doors or Shutters

If the rest of a building is constructed of fireproof or fire-retardant materials, maintain continuous protection with a fire-rated exterior door. Inside the building, fire doors offer valuable shields, allowing occupants more time to escape safely in the event of a fire. Installing fire doors anywhere flames can spread will improve safety while meeting applicable building codes. Consider the following locations:

• Exits: A building's exterior offers a strong defense from approaching flames and flames spreading from within. Maintain the wall of protection with fire-rated steel doors.
• Elevators: During fires, elevators become chimneys, feeding the flames. Elevator smoke shields prevent smoke and other gases from traveling through the shaft, minimizing the spread of fire and smoke and reducing building damage.
• Equipment: Equipment malfunctions can create flames, which can spread to adjoining areas. Placing rolling fire doors between maintenance areas and the rest of a building increases fire safety.
• Shutters: Commercial counters can be a weak point, but not with the proper closure and countertops. We offer fire-rated counter shutters with fire-rated countertops in a range of finishes for added security and safety.

Commercial and Industrial Fire Shutters Manufactured to Size

Fire doors keep flames and smoke contained by creating a barrier and forming a secure, tight seal. To ensure proper operation and product effectiveness, we offer extensive design services through our Architect Portal. If you're designing a project, speak with our expert design team for help creating a door with all the features on your list.

Cornell fire doors are available in different designs for unique applications, with UL protection ratings ranging from 3/4 up to four hours. Get a personalized quote for fire-rated steel roll-up doors designed to meet or exceed all of your specifications.

Our team is happy to assist with the design process during any stage. For more designs and inspiration, browse our full line of products, or view our project gallery. If you have any questions, would like to speak with a representative or could use help finding a Cornell dealer in your area, call (800) 233-8366 today.

Additional Resources