Gaps around fire doors are essential to allow smooth opening & closing operations. But they also pose a significant risk by allowing the passage of lethal smoke and fire to pass through in the event of a fire.
In the construction industry, where fire safety is paramount, understanding the components of fire door assemblies is vital. Intumescent seals are critical elements of a fire door, seamlessly combining the door's functionality with fire safety measures.
The role of intumescent seals
Intumescent seals are typically rebated into the head and jamb of the frame or door leaves.
Lorient's seals are supplied with a self-adhesive backing, and are butt-jointed into place for a secure fit.
How intumescent seals work
A basic fire seal consists of intumescent material encased in a rigid PVC casing
A basic fire seal consists of intumescent material encased in a rigid PVC casing. During a fire, the PVC casing softens, allowing the intumescent core to expand up to 10 times its original size.
This expansion effectively fills the gaps between the door and the door frame, preventing the passage of hot smoke and fire to other parts of the building for 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the door’s test evidence and seal configuration. It also holds the door in place, preventing deflection and bowing of the door leaf. This allows occupants time to evacuate safely, gives emergency services time to arrive, and helps minimize property damage.
Additional benefits
In addition to their fire-stopping capabilities, they offer a range of multifunctional seals designed to prevent the passage of cold smoke, which is a silent and toxic threat. These seals also provide the benefit of acoustic containment.
Comprehensive sealing solutions
For a complete sealing system, we recommend combining the DS seal with a drop seal at the threshold, such as the LAS8001 si.
