When dealing with something as unpredictable as fire, all products in place to combat it should be stable and reliable. There are times that fire doors are mandatory in your building, but fire door operators are often able to be tailored to your needs and benefit you long after the installation is complete.

Just as a chef cooking with a scratched pan and worn out spatula won’t end his time in the kitchen with a culinary masterpiece, getting a fire door without a properly suited operator is a recipe for disaster.

If the chef gets the right tools, cooking will be easier. If you arm yourself with knowledge about fire door operators, choosing the best one will lead to easier maintenance and a safer building.

At Cornell, we have two main types of fire-rated closing systems.

In this blog post, we’ll compare our FireGard™ operator (the trusty, sharp kitchen knife the chef relies on when preparing his best meals) to the AlarmGard^® operator (the automatic food processor that works like a charm in the kitchen).

Firegard™ Closing System

Cornell’s Firegard is activated thermally by fusible links that melt after they reach a certain temperature to contain smoke and fire. The Firegard closing system also allows the fire doors to be easily reset (with help of a trained technician) after a fire event or power outage.

FireGard can automatically close, initiated by fusible link and is suitable where connection to an alarm system isn’t required, or where power is not available. FireGard also doesn’t require manual resetting of spring tension after closing, eliminating downtime and maintenance costs associated with the resetting process. Our FireGard closing system can be retrofitted to other manufacturer’s doors and boasts a controlled and safe rate of descent at 9 – 12 inches per second, protecting occupants and objects from potential danger.

For a video overview of the Firegard closing system with fusible link activation, click here: youtube.com/watch?v=VdiD8FnfdL4.

Alarmgard® Closing System

Cornell’s AlarmGard® is the next step up from the FireGard system. Our most advanced closing system that closes fire doors as soon as fire or smoke is detected, AlarmGard can be operated via chain or crank, with standard or plus motors, or with tube motor. It has a failsafe operating system that will still close the door when smoke or fire is detected, and can also use fusible links if necessary, although it does not require fusible links or chains to operate.

AlarmGard is alarm activated electrically to contain fire and smoke migration. It can automatically reset or auto open after a fire event or power outage. It connects directly into your building’s central alarm system or local smoke detector. During an alarm event such as a fire or power outage, your fire doors can be set to close automatically. AlarmGard can also close and reverse on obstructions up to three times, further protecting occupants and objects from potential danger.

Motor operation can be one of the most effective and consistent methods of opening security rolling doors, and in some cases, even come with the added benefit of allowing you to reset the door after a fire event with the touch of a button and without human interaction.

View Our Fire-Rated Closing Systems

 

To watch our video overview of the Alarmgard advanced fire door closing system, click here: youtube.com/watch?v=Q-GyXg5eBE0.

 

Fire-rated motor operators offer improvements over manual options in the following categories:

• Door Longevity: Offers the most consistent method of operation, and as such, maximizes door longevity
• Ease of Use: Can link to one-touch, or even no touch, opening triggers such as a push button station or a loop detector
• Safety: Accommodates entrapment devices such as photo eyes and sensing edges
• Remote Activation: Can be integrated into master building controls to operate doors remotely
• Durability: Can be designed to withstand weather, chemicals, or even explosions

Motor operation does require power to the opening and enough clearance to mount the motor. In the event of a power outage, auxiliary chain hoists can be used (depending on door size and configuration).

Check out our brochure on fire door closing systems.

To talk to our Architectural Design Team about which fire rated closing system is best for your building, call 833.958.1273 or fill out our contact form.

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