- Author
- Shoub, H. | Gross, D.
- Title
- Doors as Barriers to Fire and Smoke.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Report
- NBS BSS 003, March 25, 1966, 12 p.
- Book or Conf
- Methods and Applications of Fire Testing Symposium. Proceedings. Armstrong Cork Co. June 24-25, 1965, 1966
- Keywords
- fire doors | residential buildings | fire barriers | smoke barriers | paints | venting | door assemblies
- Abstract
- A study was made of means for improving dwelling unit entrance doors as fire and smoke barriers. Existing combustible doors and frames could be modified to enhance their fire resistance, but it did not appear practical to raise them to the level of rated commercial fire door assemblies. Fire retardant paints, except those consisting of heavy, reinforced, intumescent-type coatings, provided little or no increase in fire resistance. Several modifications of existing doors were not effective in preventing the transmission of smoke. However, controlling the pressure levels on both sides of a door, as by suitable venting, appeared to offer a means of reducing smoke penetration into an area. It is recommended that current methods of fire tests of doors, and criteria relating to their fire and smoke transmission be improved.