Imagine if a fire broke out at your office? Or the curtains at home caught fire, risking your entire house? Wouldn’t it be heartbreaking if you or people you know are trapped with no way of getting out? Here’s how access panels could be your saviour. 

Access doors and access panels are all part of a passive fire protection system, that must be implemented in all residential and commercial spaces. While the active protection system includes sprinklers and extinguishers, a passive fire protection system includes using fire-resistant materials in construction and fire-rated access panels, among others. 


Why fire-rated access panels are important


Fire-rated access panels withstand heat for longer durations than regular doors or panels before they give in to the fire. It allows more time to control the fire while simultaneously providing a safe exit route for people who might have been inside when the fire broke. Fire rated access panels can also act as protection for electrical wiring, gas lines, ventilation, air conditioning, or heating systems. Anything prone to fire can be protected within these resistant panels.


Types of fire access panels


Fire rated access panels or any other fire rated accessory is rated based on how long it can resist fire. This duration could range from 20 minutes to 4 hours. 


Mounting factors


Fire rating is also determined by how the access point, whether a panel, door, or window, is mounted. For example, a door or panel mounted on a wooden flammable frame may last 60 minutes, as compared to one on non-flammable frames, which could probably withstand the heat and fire for 3 hours. Although the latter may be more expensive, it will be an investment that will prove its worth in case of an emergency.


Latching mechanisms


Fire rated access panels must have a latch bolt so that, in case there is a fire, the bolt can withstand any pressure that the fire could cause. Inability to resist the pressure could easily cause the panel to fly open and spread the fire. Automatic or manual latches can be chosen depending on the area where the panel will be installed. 


A fire is not something that anyone chooses. Nonetheless, it is an incident that everyone should be prepared for.