Fire-rated door closers are devices attached to doors to prevent the spread of flames and smoke, ensuring the doorway remains closed in case of fire outbreaks and protecting the property from further damage. Generally, this type of door closer works by returning an entrance to its closed position automatically after opening.
In the United States alone, authorities reveal there is an average of around 500,000 structure fires happening every year over the past decade. This only goes to show that doors expected to perform their duties in the event of fire must follow the best safety standards.
In this guide, you will learn about two of today’s most important standards for fire-rated door closers, the UL 10B and UL 10C, covering the following:
– Overview of UL standards
– Key differences between UL 10B and 10C (Testing conditions, performance, test procedure, and applications)
– Choosing the right fire-rated door closers
UL Standards, which stand for standards set by Underwriters Laboratories, a worldwide safety certification company, are science-based safety prerequisites for products to ensure they excel in providing reliability and safety. Some of the products that must adhere to those standards to ensure they are safe to use are:
– Fire-rated door closers
– Electrical products, such as lamps and outlets
– Consumer technologies, such as vacuum cleaners and TVs
Fire-rated doors and their devices are tested according to two primary UL standards, the UL 10B and the UL 10C.
This standard is responsible for evaluating the fire resistance of door assemblies by means of exposing them to high temperatures and further assessing how they can withstand fire and smoke for a specified time frame.
Meanwhile, this standard assesses the performance of fire door assemblies under positive pressure, evaluating how they can protect against fire and prevent the passage of smoke during testing conditions.
Basically, the UL 10B standard makes use of neutral or negative pressure. It simulates conditions where smoke and heat have minimal pressure upon door assemblies.
On the other hand, UL 10C utilizes positive pressure, mimicking real-world scenarios where gases and smoke significantly press against the door, enhancing its preparedness against life-threatening smoke passage during a fire outbreak.
The performance of UL 10B standards in fire scenarios is tainted primarily because of the fact they test under neutral or negative pressure, therefore not accurately replicating real-world conditions, potentially allowing some smoke to escape. Nevertheless, this standard is used when there isn’t too much fire.
Conversely, UL 10 C standards ensure the door and its closers remain functioning at their peak even during massive fire events.
Those two standards also greatly differ in terms of the testing procedure. UL 10B tests devices under neutral pressure, so it exposes areas below the neutral plane to fire at negative pressure, while the other tests door closers under positive pressure. While both are present to ensure doors can protect against fire, the UL 10C simulates more intense fire outbreaks.
UL 10B standards are used for conventional fire-rated doors and closers, shutting against a neutral or no pressure at all. On the other hand, UL 10C standards are for areas with higher fire risks, such as corridors and exit routes.
Investing in fire-rated door closers that comply with those standards is necessary to guarantee buildings and the people inside are safe in the occurrence of fire. Door closers and doors adhering to such standards are able to provide enough time for people to egress and evacuate during emergencies.
OUDE is a China-Hong Kong provider of commercial door closers that are 100 percent compliant with global standards. With all the door closers in their catalog certified operative in cases of emergencies, the lives of people are protected. Learn more by reaching out to them today.
