Fire Doors: Hyfire’s modern solution to an old problem

Why Hyfire’s Taurus Wireless Door Holder offers a smart solution to the long-standing fire door issue

Fire doors may sound like a recent invention, but in reality, the concept of using doors to try to limit the spread of fire has existed for thousands of years.

Although modern fire doors look very different from the ones used in antiquity, they should still be seen as an evolution rather than radical invention.

Roman Doors and molten lava

Archeological excavations have uncovered doors dating back to the ancient Egyptians, almost 4000 years ago.

Researchers have even recently discovered a 5100-year-old door in Zurich, Switzerland.

Some of the best examples of these historic doors can be found in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roman cities that were buried in ash in 79 A.D. after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Unfortunately, these doors didn’t stand a chance against the molten lava descending from above.

The beginning of fire Legislation in the UK

Although for millenia doors were used as a method of limiting fires, especially within urban environments, the margin of error was still too wide.

In September 1666, the Great fire of London devastated the city leaving 85% of the population homeless.

The incident led to some of the first pieces of fire safety legislation: The 1667 Rebuilding Act.

The Act dictated that all new buildings were to be built out of brick and stone.

In the 18th century, a breakthrough occurred.

Panel doors began replacing traditional wooden plank doors, which were commonplace for thousands of years.

This new method allowed for greater fire resistance, according to a paper published by Historic England.

However, the first door with the specific purpose of fire safety was created in 1904 by Charles P. Dahlstrom from New York.

Fire doors first arrived in the UK in 1951, however they were made using asbestos, which we now know to be hazardous to inhale.

In 1999 the use of the substance was made illegal and the old doors were promptly replaced.

Today’s fire doors are made out of a solid core of timber and provide 30 minutes or 60 minutes of fire resistance.

Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 (FSO) and the more recent  fire safety Act 2021 and fire safety (England) Regulations 2022 have made fire doors mandatory means of fire safety in buildings all around the country.

Building off the legacy

Fire doors have evolved for centuries. Yet there’s still room for improvement.

Hyfire’s new Taurus Wireless Door Holder allows fire doors to remain open, releasing in the event of a fire alarm.

By also offering real-time monitoring of battery status, radio signal strength, tamper detection and  door supervision options, this device delivers total peace of mind for installers, building managers, and end users alike.

Fire safety does not require a one time solution.

It’s a complex organism comprising technology, infrastructure and awareness that ensure our buildings, cities and communities are kept safe.

By building off of the legacy of fire doors and continuing to innovate, we are granted another level of security.