Steel vs Wood Door: Who is the real firefighter?
Wooden fire doors have been the standard choice for fire-rated applications in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings for decades. However, in tropical climates like Malaysia, wood’s durability is often questioned due to humidity and temperature changes. Steel fire doors have emerged as a strong alternative, but their benefits are not widely recognized, leading to wood still being the preferred option in many designs. Is this due to tradition, or is there an outdated perception that wood is the better choice for fire-rated doors?
Steel vs Wood: Who wins the battle?
Security
Steel doors provide better security, as they are harder to break through or bend, offering superior protection against forced entry compared to wooden doors.
Termites
Steel is an inorganic material, so termites are not attracted to it. Unlike wood, which provides a food source for termites, steel doors remain unaffected by these pests.
Weather Resistance
Steel doors are not affected by humidity, moisture, or temperature fluctuations like wood. In tropical climates, wood can expand, contract, or rot, while steel maintains its form and strength regardless of environmental conditions.
Price
Steel is generally less expensive than high-quality wood. While hardwoods require heavy maintenance, which can be costly, steel is more cost-effective and typically results in lower prices for steel doors.
Maintenance
Steel doors are more durable and require less maintenance over time compared to wood doors. Wood can need regular treatments to prevent issues like rot, warping, and pest infestations, adding to its long-term cost.
Choosing the right steel door: What are your choices?
The insulated fire-rated door has become a popular alternative to the commonly used wooden fire-rated doors in shopping malls, residential buildings, and industrial spaces. While 2.4m is the typical height for fire doors found in Malaysia, SKB Shutters offers architects the option to install fire doors as tall as 3m, providing a high ceiling solution and a generous solution for data centers.
Every component of the door, including the mechanism, is meticulously crafted by SKB Shutters with high-quality specifications, ensuring robustness and reliability even in harsh environments like industrial settings.
Ever heard of doors built to withstand explosions?
A fire-rated door is designed to withstand heat for a specific period during a fire, but it is not built to endure an explosion. In environments such as laboratories and warehouses storing explosive materials, where the risk of an explosion is higher, a blast-resistant steel door must be installed to contain the explosion within the room.
Looking for a more durable door for your home?
The advantages of steel doors extend beyond commercial and public spaces; they can also be used in residential settings. With the high-quality specifications from SKB Shutters, these steel doors not only ensure durability but also provide noise reduction, making them particularly practical for residences near high-traffic areas.
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