Why Are Some Fire Doors Held Open By Automatic Devices: What is the purpose behind using automatic devices to keep fire doors open in certain buildings?
In commercial properties fire doors serve as an essential part of fire safety systems. The main purpose of fire doors is to stop the spread of fire and smoke and protect lives while minimizing structural damage. You may have seen that some buildings use automatic devices to keep particular fire doors open. This raises a common question: What leads some buildings to use automatic devices to keep fire doors open?
This blog post provides information about the purpose of automatic door systems and their functionality and emphasizes the crucial nature of proper installation to maintain compliance and effectiveness.
What Are Fire Door Hold-Open Devices?
These systems maintain fire doors open for everyday usage until they close automatically when a fire is detected. When connected to fire alarm systems, these devices activate to release doors that close automatically to contain fire outbreaks.
Automatic devices hold some fire doors open in buildings during normal operations.
Multiple factors drive the use of automatic devices to hold fire doors open in commercial environments.
1. Accessibility and Convenience
Fire doors that remain permanently closed in active spaces such as hospitals and schools create movement restrictions. Automatic hold-open systems permit unrestricted movement for people and equipment while maintaining safety standards.
2. Improved Ventilation
Fire doors held open create better air circulation and temperature regulation particularly in older buildings or structures lacking mechanical ventilation systems.
3. Fire Safety Compliance
The design of these devices ensures adherence to fire safety standards while enhancing user convenience. Fire doors remain open until a fire alarm triggers activation, which releases them to shut and block fire and smoke spread.
How Do These Devices Work?
Automatic fire door holders are typically electromagnetic. The magnetic force keeps the door open while maintaining a connection to the building’s fire alarm system. When a fire is detected:
The power to the magnet is c.ut
The fire door is real.sed
The self-closing mechanism operates to guarantee that the door closes completely.
The automatic feature allows the fire door to properly function during emergencies even when people keep it open throughout regular hours.
Fire Door Regulations and Compliance
UK fire safety regulations and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 require that fire doors are properly fitted and maintained to guarantee reliable closure during fire emergencies.
Every door kept open by an automatic device needs to function based on specific safety requirements.
A compliant fire detection and alarm system should control the automatic door release function.
The door should release automatically when the alarm system becomes active.
Ensure that the door reaches its fully closed position and locks properly.
System malfunctions lead to non-compliant fire doors, which create serious safety hazards and legal liabilities.
Professional Installation Is Essential
Supreme Doors recognizes that precise installation of fire doors and their related devices is essential. An automatic device that holds open a fire door works properly only when both the door and its release mechanism are correctly installed and maintained.
Improper installation or choosing substandard components can lead to malfunction during an emergency. Our team maintains complete adherence to UK fire safety regulations while providing customer assurance and durability.
Final Thoughts: Why Are Some Fire Doors Held Open By Automatic Devices?
Automatic devices hold open fire doors to ensure practical functionality while maintaining essential safety features. This approach combines practical benefits with essential safety measures. Automatic devices enable everyday usability without compromising the essential ability to shut doors during fire emergencies. Professional installation together with proper system integration guarantees these solutions function correctly within the building’s alarm infrastructure.
Looking for Certified Fire Door Installation?
Supreme Doors delivers superior fire doors and professional installation services to commercial locations throughout the United Kingdom. Our certified team installs fire doors that keep your building compliant with safety standards while protecting occupants during fires.
