Steel Fire Doors
Shaanxi SGL Doors&Windows Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the most reliable manufacturers and suppliers of steel fire doors in China, also supports customized service. Please feel free to wholesale high quality steel fire doors for sale here from our factory. If you have any enquiry about pricelist and quotation, please feel free to email us.
Steel Fire Doors
Fire doors save lives. When a fire breaks out, they compartmentalize the spread, protect escape routes, and buy time for evacuation. A steel fire door isn't just a door with a fire rating-it's a tested assembly where every component (leaf, frame, seals, hardware) must perform together under extreme heat conditions.
This guide covers the technical fundamentals of steel fire doors for projects specifying certified fire-rated openings.
How Fire Ratings Work
Fire ratings express performance in minutes: EI 30 (30 minutes), EI 60 (60 minutes), EI 90 (90 minutes), EI 120 (120 minutes).
The "E" measures integrity-whether the door prevents flames and hot gases from passing through. The "I" measures insulation-whether the unexposed face stays below specified temperature limits (180°C average or 360°C maximum at any point).
A door rated EI 60 has been tested to 60 minutes of combined integrity and insulation performance. After 60 minutes under standardized furnace conditions, the door neither failed to contain fire spread nor allowed the unexposed surface to exceed safe temperature thresholds.
Testing standards vary by market:
- EN 1634-1: European standard
- ASTM E2074: US standard
- GB/T 12955: Chinese standard
- Local standards: Dubai Civil Defence, Kazakhstan СТ РК, etc.
Always verify which standard is required for your specific project and jurisdiction.
Product Parameters
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Frame material | Steel, 1.5–2.0mm, galvanized |
| Steel skin | 0.8–1.2mm galvanized steel |
| Standard fire ratings | EI 30, EI 60, EI 90, EI 120 |
| Standard sizes | 900×2100mm, 1000×2100mm |
| Max single door | 1500×3000mm (varies by rating) |
| Max double door | 2700×3000mm |
| Core | Fire-rated mineral wool or perlite |
| Frame depth | 100–160mm (to suit wall thickness) |
| Finish | Powder coat, RAL range |
| Hardware | Fire-rated hinges, locks, closers required |
Key Components of a Fire Door Assembly
1. Door Leaf
The steel skin thickness and core material determine fire performance. Thicker skins and higher-density cores achieve longer ratings. Common constructions:
- EI 30: 0.8mm steel skins, 40–50mm door thickness, mineral wool core
- EI 60: 1.0mm steel skins, 50–60mm door thickness, higher-density core
- EI 90: 1.0–1.2mm steel skins, 60–70mm door thickness, perlite or high-density mineral wool
- EI 120: Specialized construction, engineering review required
2. Frame
Fire door frames are steel, not aluminum or wood. The frame must resist deformation under heat without losing its shape (which would create gaps for fire to pass through).
Frame depth must accommodate the wall thickness. For solid walls, standard frames work. For stud walls, fire-rated frames with intumescent jamb seals are required.
3. Intumescent Seals
These are the critical passive fire protection element. Intumescent seals (strips or tapes applied to the frame or door edge) expand rapidly when heated, sealing the gaps between door and frame.
Standard placement: three sides of the frame. For higher ratings, additional seals may be required at the threshold or glazing perimeter.
Intumescent seals are single-use-they activate once during a fire and must be replaced afterward. This is a maintenance consideration for fire doors in active use.
4. Hardware
Every piece of hardware on a fire door must be fire-rated:
- Hinges: Steel, minimum three per door leaf (four for heavy doors). Non-fire-rated hinges can fail within minutes under fire conditions.
- Locks: Fire-rated cylindrical or mortise locks. Standard locks may not maintain the latching function under heat.
- Door closers: Required by code on fire doors in most jurisdictions. Must be fire-rated and listed for the specific door rating.
- Exit devices (panic hardware): Fire-rated exit devices allow egress while maintaining fire compartmentation. The device must be certified with the door assembly.
Using non-fire-rated hardware voids the certification. We supply only listed hardware combinations for our fire door assemblies.
Glazing in Fire Doors
Fire-rated glazing is a specialized product. Not all glass survives fire test conditions.
- Wire glass was historically used but is now considered inadequate-wire glass can crack and allow fire passage at temperatures well below modern test standards.
- Fire-rated ceramic glass tolerates thermal shock and maintains integrity longer than standard glass.
- Intumescent gel-filled units use clear intumescent gel that expands when heated, providing insulation while remaining transparent.
- Laminated glass in fire doors must be specifically fire-rated-standard laminated glass used in security applications may not pass fire testing.
Glass area in fire doors is limited by the rating. Larger glazing reduces the fire-resistant area of the door leaf. For EI 60 and above, maximum glass percentage decreases.
Product Application
Our factory
Customer visit
FAQ
Q: What's the difference between fire door and fire exit door?
A: Fire exit doors are fire doors with panic hardware for emergency egress. They must meet fire rating requirements AND allow safe evacuation. All fire exit doors are fire doors; not all fire doors are required to be fire exit doors.
Q: Can we use standard steel doors instead of fire-rated doors?
A: No. Standard steel doors lack the fire-rated core, intumescent seals, and hardware required for fire compartmentation. Using a non-rated door in a fire-rated opening fails building code compliance and creates liability.
Q: What wall types accept fire door frames?
A: Fire door frames are installed in masonry, concrete, and fire-rated stud walls. The wall itself must meet the required fire rating for the application. We provide frame specifications compatible with standard wall construction types.
Q: How are fire doors tested?
A: Full-scale furnace testing per the applicable standard (EN 1634-1, ASTM E2074, etc.). The door assembly is mounted in a test furnace, exposed to the standard time-temperature curve, and monitored for integrity (flame passage) and insulation (temperature rise on unexposed face).
Q: Can fire doors have vision panels (glass)?
A: Yes, with fire-rated glazing. The glass size and type are limited by the rating requirement. Larger glass reduces the fire-resistant area of the door leaf. We provide fire-rated glazing options for all standard ratings.
Q: What's the lead time for fire-rated doors?
A: Standard sizes: 5–7 weeks. Custom sizes or non-standard ratings: 8–12 weeks. Certification documentation (test reports, FPC certificates) is included with every order.
Q: Do fire doors require periodic testing?
A: Building codes typically require annual inspection by a qualified person. Full-scale testing is not required unless there is reason to doubt the door's performance. Documentation of annual inspections should be maintained.
Q: Can fire doors be held open legally?
A: Fire doors can be held open ONLY with approved devices that release automatically upon fire alarm activation. Propping fire doors open with wedges, chairs, or other objects is a code violation and a safety hazard.
Q: What happens to fire doors after a fire?
A: Fire doors should be inspected after any fire event, even if the door appears undamaged. Intumescent seals activate and are destroyed. The door leaf may have warped. Hardware may be damaged. We provide post-fire assessment services and replacement doors as needed.
Q: How do we specify fire doors correctly?
A: Specify: fire rating (EI 30/60/90/120), standard (EN 1634-1, ASTM E2074, etc.), door size, wall thickness, handing, and hardware requirements. We can review your door schedule and confirm specifications before ordering.
Next Steps
For fire door specifications, provide your project location, applicable standard, and door schedule. We confirm specifications, provide test documentation, and coordinate delivery.
Contact our export team.
SGL Steel Fire Doors | Technical Specification Guide | Export Division
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