Acceptable Door Specification for Electrical Rooms 1

[arvinolga]

Hi,

May I inquire if wooden doors are acceptable for installation for electrical rooms? If ok, what is the minimum fire rating for it?

Thanks
arvinolga

 

[RemoteControlFF]

A good overview on the topic of fire protection for electrical rooms is here:

http://www.nfpa.org/publicJournalDetail.asp?categoryID=&itemID=40181

What fire rating you need, if any, is based on what type of equipment will be put in the room. Size of transformers, if they are oil-cooled or dry, any other storage in the room, etc will all impact what level of protection the room needs. Wooden doors are available in 60 minute rating, so if you end up needing a fire door, it is possible that you can use wood.

 

[DonPhillips]

It depends on the building code, and how a building is designed. It may not require a rating, only a smoke rating, a 20 minute, 45 minute, etc., depending if the room is over 100 sf, if there is a sprinkler system, if the closet is rated, and what rating it is.

I have seen rated woods doors but it has been too many years now so I cannot recall how high the ratings go.


Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com