Technician Jeff Billingsley from Denver (CO) Tower 1 sent in these photos of something they recently ran into on a fire alarm. The building was an old church that had a recent addition of an office and classroom building with modern construction techniques.
In order to separate the old portion of the building form the new building, they utilized roll down fire doors to achieve building separation from a fire code point of view.
As you can see in the photos both doors have a fusible link on either side to allow the doors to roll down into place in the event of a heat condition on either side of the door. The crew was able to manually pull the door down to inspect and take a photo. These style doors typically have a counter weight or spring mechanism that allows them to automatically roll into the down position when the fusible link lets go.
Below is a photo of the smaller door that was found in place of an average 33â€-36†door way.
Below is a photo of the larger door that spanned about a 12’ wide hallway.
Because of the potential issues these could create on the fireground, we should try to be aware of this type of door in any of our buildings. These doors could operate behind us potentially cutting off our primary means of egress. It could also come down on the engine company’s umbilical cord and compromise their water flow.
We have a liquor store in our first due that has steel roll up doors similar to this separating the retail area from stock room.
The part about the doors cutting off egress and water supply is inaccurate. You have to remember that the doors are designed to fail with heat. Hopefully you wont be in the environment (one that would cause the link to fail) without a hose line. If you are, the doors would be light enough to pull back up. Even if it came down on a line, it wouldnt cut off a charged line. Plus, that would give you an eaiser access to lifting the door. It is important to remember where these doors are. Keep in mind these doors have no locks. Pre plan for these doors and what to do in the scenarios. Its also good to note that if you are recon and come to one of these doors down, you are very near the location. Work time. Good pics, always have a plan.
I wouldn’t be so sure that a larger roll-up door couldn’t impeed or block off the flow of water should the link fail while you’re operating inside. I did a little reaserch online from a well know roll-up door builder and there doors for commercial applications have a 165 degree rated link. Those temperatures are very easily achieved with a working fire. Unfortunatly they don’t list the weights of the door. These doors are designed to be raised either manualy by means of the chain or automatically by a motor. You’re gonna have one heck of a time trying to lift it up from the bottom.
We have a clinic in our first due, that has doors similar to this, as well as a recent addition to the hospital, that has a balcony within the from entrance. Theres a sideways moving roll door, that covers that one.
I have three of these doors within 20′ of each other at the airport I work at. The first is for a standard 3′ acccess door and the other two cover spans from 10-12′.
While they wont cut off a hose completely they will impeded it’s flow. Steve is correct by the time you make access these doors have done there job and are in place. However there is nothing stopping fire from moving into the ceiling and over the door. Be situationally aware. Stay safe.