How Intumescent Seals Work
During fires, more deaths are caused by smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning than fire related injuries, such as burns. Smoke takes around 250 lives per year in the UK, an due to this is known as the “silent killer”. It is estimated that 50–80% deaths that happen in a fire are the result of smoke inhalation injuries, including burns to the respiratory system.
Whilst fire doors work to keep flames at bay, smoke can spread and fill up a room within seconds, poisoning those who inhale too much of it. Smoke can find its way through the smallest of gaps, meaning that no matter where in the building the fire is, the smoke can reach you.
For buildings with a central corridor that gives access to many rooms (hotels, schools, hospitals, blocks of flats, etc.) smoke can have horrific consequences. Once it’s made its way to the corridor, the smoke can then travel to any of the room, endangering many people.
In scenarios like this, intumescent seals are essential. Smoke seals prevent smoke from travelling room to room, giving you more time to escape in the event of a fire. If you ever find yourself in this situation and you are unable to escape, smoke seals can give you crucial minutes of toxic-free air, until help arrives.
So, how do Intumescent seals work?
An intumescent seal is a strip of material fitted around a doorway, that when exposed to heat, expands closing any gaps around the door to stop the fire spreading for a period of time. These seals usually come with either 30 or 60 minute ratings.
The issue with installing intumescent seals is that smoke doesn’t necessarily mean heat. Should the smoke from a fire advance it, other fire doors in the building may still have gaps around them as they’ve not yet been exposed to the heat of the fire, allowing cold smoke to pass through the gaps. This is why it’s best to have your fire doors fitted with intumescent seals that can stop both fire and smoke.
For more information on our range of fire and smoke safety seals, contact us today.
