Fire safety is a critical element in building design and facility management. Fire-resistant steel doors limit the spread of fire, secure evacuation routes, and prevent loss of life. In this article, we will examine in detail what EI60 and EI120 class fire doors are, according to which standards they are tested, and where they are mandatory.
What Do EI60 and EI120 Mean?
Fire-resistant doors are tested under the European standard EN 1634-1. The abbreviation 'EI' stands for Integrity and Insulation.
- E (Integrity): The duration the door maintains its integrity against fire, preventing the passage of flames and smoke.
- I (Insulation): The insulation performance of the door, not allowing a specified temperature rise from the fire-exposed side to the other side.
For example, an EI60 door provides both integrity and insulation for 60 minutes. EI120 offers the same protection for 120 minutes. These durations are vital for evacuation and intervention.
How Is a Fire-Resistant Steel Door Made?
Işıldak Çelik Kapı uses sheet thickness (1.0-1.5 mm), rock wool filling, and special cold-formed profiles in its fire doors. The door leaf and frame have a geometry that minimizes deformation under fire. The seals used provide smoke tightness. All products are certified with TSE and CE marks and tested in independent laboratories.
Where Are Fire Doors Mandatory?
In Turkey, the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY) and related standards make fire doors mandatory in certain areas. Here are the main mandatory areas:
- Escape Routes: Emergency exit corridors and stairs must be protected from smoke and flames by fire doors.
- Fire Compartments: Fire doors must be present in compartment walls to prevent the spread of fire between different sections of the building.
- Technical Rooms: In areas with high fire risk such as electrical panels, boiler rooms, generator rooms, EI60 or EI120 doors are mandatory.
- Parking Lots and Warehouses: Enclosed parking lots, archive rooms, and chemical storage areas must be secured with fire doors.
- Hospitals and Schools: In these structures with high human traffic, fire doors are critical for evacuation safety.
- High-Rise Buildings: Residential buildings taller than 30 meters and assembly buildings taller than 15 meters also require fire resistance in fire stairs and doors.
The regulation may require different fire resistance durations depending on the usage class and building height. For example, in hospital buildings, fire walls must be equipped with EI120 doors.
Choosing the Right Fire Door: What to Consider?
When selecting a fire door, evaluate the following factors:
- Certification and Documentation: The door must be TSE and CE certified, and test reports must be available.
- Intended Use: The fire load of the area where the door will be installed and the evacuation scenario are decisive.
- Hardware Compatibility: The locks, handles, and hinges used in fire doors must also be fire-resistant. Işıldak Çelik Kapı tests all its accessories in fire tests.
- Maintenance and Periodic Inspection: Fire doors should be inspected by authorized service at least once a year. Worn seals and loose hinges reduce performance.
Warning: Non-certified products that only look like fire doors put your life safety at risk. Always prefer certified and reliable manufacturers.
The Işıldak Çelik Kapı Difference
With years of experience, Işıldak Çelik Kapı is one of the leading brands in fire safety. All our fire doors are designed and manufactured in compliance with current regulations. We offer our customers not just a door, but also life safety. For detailed information and technical support, you can contact our expert team.
