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The smoke protection door - function, significance and regulations in smoke protection

Smoke protection doors are an essential aspect of fire protection in buildings. They serve to prevent the spread of smoke in the event of a fire. Find out more about their function, significance and the general regulations in accordance with DIN 18095.

Protection against fire hazards and the spread of smoke with smoke protection doors

Smoke protection doors are an integral part of a comprehensive fire protection concept in all types of buildings. Their primary function is to prevent or at least delay the spread of smoke in the event of a fire. In doing so, they play a crucial role in keeping escape routes clear, protecting human life and maintaining the integrity of buildings. The smoke protection door is designed to maintain its functionality even under extreme conditions such as heat and smoke development.

    Content
    • What are smoke protection doors?
    • The importance of smoke protection doors for fire protection
    • Where is the use of smoke protection doors recommended?
    • Smoke protection doors - regulations and DIN standards
    • What is the difference between a fire door and a smoke protection door?
    • Westag - Smoke protection doors
    • Summarised: the advantages of smoke protection doors

    What are smoke protection doors?

    Smoke protection doors are specially developed doors that are subject to strict regulations and are used to control or prevent the spread of smoke in the event of a fire. Unlike conventional doors, they are designed to form a barrier against smoke ingress in the event of a fire. These doors make a significant contribution to protecting lives and minimising property damage by improving safety in buildings and keeping escape routes clear.

    The importance of smoke control doors for fire protection

    However, the importance of smoke control doors lies not only in their direct function, but also in their contribution to the overall safety of a building. Their installation significantly reduces the likelihood of smoke and fire damage, which in turn leads to lower risks for people, property and the environment.

    To ensure the effectiveness of smoke control doors, they must comply with certain regulations and standards. These regulations not only specify how the doors should be designed and installed, but also how often they need to be maintained and tested to ensure they function properly.

    Their correct use and proper maintenance can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. For this reason, it is essential that planners, architects and building operators understand the importance and functionality of smoke control doors and act accordingly.


    Where is the use of smoke protection doors recommended?

    In buildings with several floors, smoke protection doors in stairwells and corridors are essential to prevent smoke from spreading to other areas of the building and blocking escape routes. Smoke protection doors are particularly important in public buildings such as schools, hospitals, shopping centres and office complexes, as well as in buildings with an increased fire risk.

    1. Escape and rescue routes: Smoke control doors should be installed along escape and rescue routes to ensure that these routes remain free of smoke in the event of a fire and that people can evacuate safely.

    2. Fire compartments: Smoke control doors are also used to divide different areas of a building into fire compartments.This limits the spread of smoke and fire, which increases safety and minimises damage.

    3. Buildings with an increased fire risk: Smoke protection doors are essential in buildings where there is an increased fire risk due to their use, such as industrial facilities or storage rooms.

    Overall, the use of smoke control doors is recommended wherever the protection of people and property in the event of a fire is of the utmost importance and compliance with fire protection regulations is required.

      Smoke protection doors - regulations and DIN standards

      DIN 18095 is a standard that deals with smoke protection doors in buildings. Here are some important requirements and standards that are relevant in relation to smoke protection doors in accordance with DIN 18095.

        Requirements
        • Self closing (door closer)
        • Reliable functionality and maintenance over a long period.
        • Full fireproof door set including the leaf and hardware must be supplied by the manufacturer (i.e., door leaf, frame, closers, hinges, locks, handles, sealants including frame hinge seals and retractable floor seals, and threshold joint sealing)
        Standards
        • DIN EN 16034 Product standard, DIN EN 1634-3 Test standard for smoke protection closures
        • C = Self-closing in endurance test (C5 corresponds to 200,000 closures)
        • S = Tightness (S200 corresponds to smoke tightness at 200° C)
        • S200 - C5 (smoke-tight)

        Testing smoke protection doors

        Smoke protection doors that have been tested in accordance with this standard are suitable for preventing the spread of smoke in buildings. They must fulfil the performance criteria specified in DIN 18095. They require a certificate of usability as proof of this. They are labelled with a test plate in the door rebate. A declaration of conformity from the manufacturer is required as proof of compliance, following prior testing by a recognised testing body (Ü mark).

        The leakage rate Q is the key parameter for the tightness of a smoke protection door. It is the air volume flow that passes through the door leaf/frame connection area at a certain pressure difference. The leakage rate and therefore the tightness of a smoke protection door is first determined with positive pressure at ambient temperature at different pressure levels. This is followed by a test at an elevated temperature. For this purpose, the air in the test chamber is heated to 200° C.

          Smoke-tight doors:

          There may be different regulations or interpretations of the "smoke protection door" or "smoke-tight" requirement depending on the federal state. These doors must comply with the DIN 18095 Part 1 smoke protection standard. DIN 18095-1 has been introduced by the building authorities and is therefore a generally recognised rule of technology.

            What is the difference between a fire door and a smoke protection door?

            A fire door and a smoke protection door fulfil different functions in accordance with DIN standards.

              Fire doors (in accordance with DIN EN 1634) ...

              ... are designed to limit or prevent the spread of fire from one room to another. They must withstand the heat and flame of a fire for a certain period of time and thus protect escape routes and neighbouring areas from the spread of fire.

              Smoke protection doors (in accordance with DIN 18095) ...

              ... are specially designed to limit or prevent the spread of smoke in a building. They are constructed in such a way that they form a barrier against the entry of smoke, thus keeping escape routes clear and enabling evacuation.

              The main difference between the two variants therefore lies in their main purpose: fire doors are designed to stop fire, while smoke protection doors aim to prevent the spread of smoke. Both types of doors fulfil important fire protection functions, but with different focuses according to the respective DIN standards.

                Westag - Smoke protection doors

                Smoke protection doors are not only purely functional but can also be aesthetically pleasing. Our interior door with a metal surface from Homapal combines attractive design with high-quality fire protection functions. They can be seamlessly integrated into various room concepts and furnishing styles. Whether a modern office, stylish restaurant or elegant living area - our design door with Homapal surface blends harmoniously into any environment. With this design door, we show that fire protection and design do not have to be opposites.

                  It is not only an eye-catcher, but also fulfills the strict requirements for fire and smoke protection. With a fire protection class of T30 (EI30) and a smoke protection class of S200, it offers optimum protection in the event of a fire. It also has a security class of SK32, which means that it is highly stable and resistant.

                  Helpful links
                  • Our doors are certified and tested, an overview of our approvals and test certificates is available as a PDF download here.
                  • An overview of our block frames and their smoke protection functions can be found on this page.

                  Summarised: the advantages of smoke protection doors

                  Smoke protection doors play a crucial role in the fire protection of buildings by limiting or preventing the spread of smoke in the event of a fire. Their main function is to keep escape routes clear by preventing smoke from spreading to other areas of the building.

                  The advantages of smoke control doors summarised:

                    1. Safety

                    Smoke protection doors protect lives by allowing people to evacuate safely from a burning building and by limiting the spread of smoke, which is one of the main causes of injury and death in fires.

                    3. Compliance with regulations

                    The installation of smoke protection doors contributes to compliance with fire safety regulations and building codes, which is crucial for building operators and owners.

                    2. Protection of property

                    By limiting the spread of smoke, smoke protection doors help to minimise damage to property in neighbouring rooms or parts of the building.

                    4. Versatility

                    Smoke protection doors are available in a variety of designs, including automatic and manual versions, as well as designs that blend harmoniously into the architecture of a building.

                    Overall, smoke protection doors are an indispensable component of a comprehensive fire protection concept for buildings and offer effective protection against the dangers of fire. Their installation can save lives and minimise property damage, making them a worthwhile investment for any building.

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