When you hear the term, ‘access doors’, what comes to your mind first?

For many people that we, as the Dutco Tennant team, come across during projects, the access door is just an opening near the ceilings or walls of a building for maintenance and repair works. It is a convenient and safe access to plumbers, HVAC maintenance teams and solar power installation technicians to reach the systems without causing damage to the surrounding areas. 

But is that all? Doesn’t an access hatch have any other function? 

The truth is, a specialised fire-rated access door or FARD offers enhanced protection to the building and its occupants during emergencies like a fire or smoke break out. 

Building codes are tightening with each passing day in the Gulf regions. As a result, developers, architects, and facility managers are looking for certified and well-integrated systems that contribute to overall safety and fire-resistance. Access doors, these days, no longer provide access ONLY. These are fire-rated and compliant with international standards to control flames and fumes from spreading rapidly. In other words, the FARDs act as a barrier between an accident and a massacre. 

Let’s understand what the fire-rated access doors actually mean for modern buildings:

What Are The Functions Of A Fire-Rated Access Door?

Besides being a cover for maintenance and repair access, a fire-rated access door also maintains the fire integrity of walls, ceilings and other critical building areas. During a fire accident, flames tend to spread through the narrower openings, like corridors, ducts, shafts, etc. A certified access door tends to hold its position and prevent that for a considerable period, ranging from 60 to 120 minutes even. 

This delay in the spread of fumes and flames enables two things:

  • Fast evacuation of the building occupants
  • Rescue teams can work with lower risks 
  • Firefighters can control the fire effectively. 

When flames spread like wildfire in an enclosed space, this borrowed time is indeed a lifeline for everyone involved. 

Why Choosing The Right Materials Is Essential?

While fire is an accidental and rare occurrence, access doors across the Middle East have to combat other challenges regularly. For example, the climate in the region is always on the extreme side with unpredictable heavy rainfall, extreme heat waves, sandstorms, and salt-laden moist air in the coastal areas. If the access doors are not built of the right materials, they may corrode rapidly, thus rendering them non-functional during emergencies. 

Choosing fire-rated access doors made of galvanised steel or stainless steel is apt for combatting heat and sand. On the other hand, doors with powder-coated finishes are ideal for UV protection in the coastal regions.

Even many global products overlook the importance of the access door material. Let’s say you invest in a certified and fully-compliant, fire-rated access door that gets corroded after 5 years. Won’t you feel frustrated? And again that thing repeats after, say, 3 years. The ongoing maintenance and repair costs will add up, slowly making you feel that the entire thing was a waste. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But if you choose the right materials for your access doors, they will remain steady for a longer duration. 

  • Stainless steel (Grade 304 or 316) is ideal for structures in coastal areas like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Jeddah. 
  • Galvanised steel is best for industrial sites in Riyadh, Sohar, and Ras Al Khaimah, areas where strength and fire endurance matter more.
  • Powder-coating access door finishes offer enhanced protection against UV exposure, especially in open rooftops. 

Verified Fire Ratings For Access Doors 

Just having a fire label on the access door is not enough to evaluate the degree of safety it offers. Every component, frame, hinge, seal or lock must be tested and verified by authoritative bodies. This is also known as full-assembly testing, where each hardware is tested under lab conditions to measure its degree of protectiveness during emergencies. 

Here are some international certification standards that a high-performing FARD should adhere to:

  • UL 10B / UL 10C (USA) - It ensures that the access door can withstand both extreme intense heat and sudden cooling and maintain its structural integrity. 
  • British Standard 476 or BS 476 (UK) - This test evaluates how long a fire-rated access door can maintain its integrity against flames, preventing them from reaching the other side. 
  • European Standard EN 1634 (Europe) - Besides flames, this certification tests the ability of a FARD to prevent toxic fumes and heat from getting transferred. 

So essentially, an access door that meets the EN 1634 standards offers enhanced protection against fire, fumes and even heat. 

The Role Of Regular Inspection And Maintenance 

No system stays in its optimum-performance form if not maintained properly. And the fire-rated access door is not an exception to that natural phenomenon. With time, it becomes more susceptible to weather corrosion, structural damages, and ageing. At least an annual inspection is required to keep all components in working conditions. 

Your inspection checklist for access doors:

  • Check all hinges and latches for stiffness or rust. Smooth operations enable proper containment during emergencies. 
  • See the condition of the Intumescent seals. These are prone to heat damages, going dry or hardening over time. Replace if necessary.
  • Make sure that the fire-rated seal is visible properly. In the case of accidents, it may be required by the insurance auditors and investigation teams. 

Across the GCC, Civil Defence bodies need fire-rated access doors to be inspected at least once in a year. They also mandate that the records must be kept in maintenance logs with the right dates. So it’s not some casual thing. It’s a matter of complying with national regulations. 

Small Access With Increased Protection 

Fire-rated access doors offer increased protection for any building, commercial, industrial or even residential. These small, apparently invisible doors become life saviours during fire break outs. So choose them well. 

At Dutco Tennant LLC, we offer only certified designs for FARDs that are regionally tested for GCC-fitting performance. By complying with international standards, our systems leave no stone unturned for certification and protection. From selecting the right access door to installation, our team stays with you, helping you make the best choice regarding your building. Check out our extensive curation of fire-rated access doors today.