Fire performance of escape route doors in cultural heritage buildings A state-of-the-art review

Abstract

The aim of this project was an inventory of the upgrading of old wooden doors for improved fire performance, to identify the key issues and find possibilities for the future. Expected benefit was an update of knowledge, as a preparation for reworking guidelines for improvement of fire resistance of old paneled doors as important parts of historic interiors. Technical solutions for fire rating as well as matrix-based risk assessment approaches for fire performance of timber doors in cultural heritage buildings are presented. A thesis that question the established interpretation of the fire safety regulations by looking into the cost-benefit ratio of upgrading is also presented. Further fire-testing of doors can serve as a basis for a revision of guidelines. Also, the implementation of a more risk-based approach to fire threats in old apartment houses and further investigations of the numbers behind interpretations of regulations - which fire safety measures that give the best effect/cost-benefit ratio – could be useful for the fire safety work in stairwells in the old apartment buildings. The results of the project are highly relevant at a regional and national level. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the Research Council of Norway and several partners through the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (www.fric.no).