Fire Doors: A Modern Solution to an Old Problem

Archeological excavations have uncovered doors dating back to the ancient Egyptians, almost 4,000 years ago. Some of the best examples of historic doors can be found in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Roman cities that were buried in ash in 79 AD after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Unfortunately, these doors didn’t stand a chance against the molten lava descending from above.

For millenia, doors have been used as a method of limiting fires, notably so within urban environments, but the margin of error used to be too wide. In September 1666, the Great Fire of London devastated the city, leaving 85% of the population homeless. The incident led to some of the first pieces of fire safety-related legislation, among them the 1667 Rebuilding Act dictating that all new buildings were to be built out of brick and stone.

Panel doors

In the 18th Century, a breakthrough occurred. Panel doors began replacing traditional wooden plank doors, which were commonplace for thousands of years. This new method allowed for greater fire resistance, according to a paper published by Historic England. However, the first door with the specific purpose of fire safety was created in 1904 by Charles P Dahlstrom from New York.

Fire doors first arrived in the UK in 1951. However, they were manufactured using asbestos, which we now know to be hazardous to inhale. In 1999, the use of the substance was made illegal and the old doors were promptly replaced.

Today’s fire doors are made out of a solid core of timber and provide 30 minutes or 60 minutes of fire resistance. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the more recent Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 have collectively rendered fire doors a mandatory means of fire safety in buildings across the country.

Room for improvement

Fire doors have evolved for centuries, yet there’s still room for improvement. Hyfire’s new Taurus Wireless Door Holder allows fire doors to remain open, releasing in the event of a fire alarm. By virtue of also offering real-time monitoring of battery status, radio signal strength, tamper detection and door supervision options, this device delivers total peace of mind for installers, building managers and end users alike.

Certified to EN 54-25 and EN 1155 standards and compliant with BS 7273 Category B (when connected directly to a translator), the new device provides the holding power and reliability of a traditional door holder without the need for any cabling, I/O modules or mains supply.

Powered by two standard lithium batteries with a five-year lifespan considering a daily activation, the door holder ensures effortless installation and long-term performance, making it ideal for both retrofit projects and live environments where minimal disruption is essential.

With a 200N magnetic holding force, the device securely holds open even the heaviest fire doors, releasing instantly in the event of a fire alarm. It also offers real-time monitoring of battery status, radio signal strength, tamper detection and door supervision options.

Fully compatible with any existing fire alarm system, the Taurus Wireless Door Holder enables fast and compliant upgrades without major system modifications.

Fire safety is a complex organism comprising technology, infrastructure and awareness that ensures our buildings, cities and communities are kept safe. By building on the legacy of fire doors and continuing to innovate, we are all granted another level of security.

*Further information is available online at www.hyfirewireless.com