Page 139 - 6848

 installment of fire-prevention barriers for the limitation of the fire spread
over constructions and combustible materials (ridges, skirting boards, peaks, belts,
etc.);

 installment of fire-prevention doors and gates;
 installment of fire-prevention breaks between the houses.

Fire Doors. Fire barriers play an integral role in managing a fire by
preventing the spread of smoke, toxic gases, and fire itself from one area to
another. Fire doors are fundamental to the integrity of fire barriers because any
time there is an open doorway to a compartment; a fire barrier is temporarily
broken. To prevent breaks in fire protection, fire doors must be self-closing and be
equipped with proper latching devices in order to provide as much resistance as
possible to the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases. Fire exit doors are often held
open for the convenience of employees and visitors, creating a significant fire
hazard for all building occupants due to the break created in the fire barrier. Doors
that are designed to be fire exit doors can be held open, but only if they
automatically release when the building fire alarms are activated. Fire doors may
only be held open by a device that automatically releases when the fire alarm is
activated (such as an electromagnetic hold-open device).
Fire doors are needed:
 where a door has an „EXIT sign on or around it; ‟
 where a door leads to exit stairwells and horizontal exits;
 where a door leads to a hazardous area such as flammable storage;
 where a door leads to a hallway or from one fully-enclosed room to
another.

Hazards to avoid with fire doors:
a) fire doors should never be tied open or held open by devices such as door
wedges or blocks;

b) when closed, fire doors should never have their latches taped over. During
a fire, hot gases can easily build up enough pressure to cause fire doors to blow
open.

Fire action signage is essential to clearly communicate to anyone on your
premises what action should be taken in the event of a fire. It is a legal requirement
that visitors and employees know the fire evacuation procedure in the event of a
fire and alarm activation (Figure 15.3).

4