Fire safety is an extremely important consideration for any building, but it takes on a heightened importance in the hospitality industry. Hotels, restaurants, bars and other hospitality venues often feature large open floor plans, complex layouts and high occupancy—all aspects that can contribute to the rapid spread of fire and make evacuations more challenging. This is why fire rated glass doors in hospitality design has become an essential safety feature. These specialised doors not only provide a physical barrier to contain a fire, but also allow for visibility and natural light to flow through, creating an open, inviting atmosphere that is vital for hospitality spaces.
Let us explore the key benefits of fire rated glass doors in hospitality settings, examine fire safety codes and regulations and discuss how architects and designers can specify the right fire rated glazing solutions to meet their project needs.
The role of fire rated glass doors in hospitality spaces
Fire rated glass doors serve a crucial purpose in hospitality facilities by helping to compartmentalise spaces and prevent the rapid spread of fire. In the event of a fire, these doors can slow the movement of flames, smoke and heat, giving occupants more time to safely evacuate and allowing first responders more opportunity to contain the blaze.
But fire-rated doors offer more than just passive fire protection. Their use of specialised fire-resistant glazing also provides several other important benefits:
1. Visibility and daylighting
Compared to solid fire rated doors, the glazed panels in fire rated doors allow natural light to pass through, creating a more open, airy and inviting ambiance. This is particularly important in hospitality settings where an abundance of natural light is highly desirable. The transparent panels also improve visibility, which can aid navigation and wayfinding during an emergency.
2. Aesthetics
Modern fire rated glass doors can be designed with a wide variety of framing materials, glass types and hardware options, allowing them to seamlessly integrate with a hospitality venue’s overall aesthetic. This gives architects and designers more flexibility to create visually appealing and cohesive space.
3. Code compliance
Properly specified fire rated doors are essential for meeting the stringent life safety and fire protection requirements set forth in building codes and fire safety regulations. Failing to incorporate the right fire rated glazing solutions can lead to non-compliance issues and safety hazards.
Fire safety codes and regulations for hospitality spaces
When it comes to fire safety in the hospitality industry, rigorous building codes and regulations are in place to protect occupants and property. These standards are continually evolving to address new fire risks and construction techniques, so it’s crucial for hospitality design teams to stay up-to-date on the latest requirements.
Some of the key fire safety provisions in codes that pertain to fire rated doors in hospitality settings include:
- Minimum fire-resistance ratings for door assemblies based on the building’s construction type, occupancy classification, and other factors
- Requirements for the installation, labelling and maintenance of fire rated doors
- Restrictions on the use of glazing materials in fire rated door assemblies
- Allowances for the use of fire-resistance-rated glazing to exceed maximum size limitations for door vision panels
Keeping up with the evolving landscape of fire safety codes and standards is essential for hospitality design teams. Failure to properly specify and install the right fire rated glass doors can lead to major safety risks, costly compliance issues and even legal liability.
Selecting the appropriate fire rated glass doors
With a solid understanding of fire safety codes and the role of fire rated glass doors in hospitality spaces, the next step is selecting the appropriate fire rated glazing solutions for a project. This process requires careful consideration of factors such as fire-resistance ratings, glass types, framing systems and hardware.
1. Fire-resistance ratings
The required fire-resistance rating for a door assembly is based on the building’s construction type, occupancy classification and other factors outlined in the applicable fire safety codes. Common ratings include 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes. It’s crucial to specify a door with a rating that meets or exceeds the code requirements.
2. Glass types
There are several specialised fire rated glass products available, each with unique properties and performance characteristics. These include:
- Tempered fire-protection glass: Provides a barrier against the spread of flames and smoke for a limited time, typically 20 minutes.
- Laminated fire resistance glass: Offers increased fire-resistance, with ratings up to 180 minutes.
- Ceramic fire rated glass: Provides the highest levels of fire protection, with ratings up to 120 minutes, and can also offer impact safety glazing.
The glass selection should be based on the specific fire resistance requirements, as well as other factors like visual clarity, thermal performance and safety glazing needs.
3. Framing systems
Fire rated door frames play a crucial role in the overall fire performance of the assembly. Hospitality design teams should choose frames made from materials like steel, aluminium, or fire rated wood that have been tested and listed for the required fire-resistance rating.
4. Hardware
The hardware components like hinges, closers and latching mechanisms must also be fire rated and compatible with the door and frame system. Proper installation and maintenance of this hardware is essential for ensuring the door’s fire-resistance capabilities.
By carefully evaluating these key elements, hospitality designers can specify fire rated glass door assemblies that not only meet life safety codes, but also enhance the overall aesthetic and functional qualities of the space.
Be safe and secure with fire rated glass doors
Fire safety is one of the primary concerns in the hospitality industry where the complex layout of space can create significant fire risks. Fire rated glass doors play a vital role in mitigating these dangers by compartmentalising spaces, slowing the spread of fire and providing visibility and natural light—all while seamlessly integrating with the desired design aesthetic.
As building codes and fire safety regulations continue to evolve, it’s also important for hospitality design teams to stay up-to-date on the latest requirements and select the appropriate fire rated glazing solutions for their projects. By doing so, they can help ensure the safety of guests and staff while creating visually appealing and functional hospitality environments.