Replies

1. 
   RonK_ | Jan 11, 2001 11:02pm | #1

   *
   If the fire was beating on your bedroom door you would be long dead from the smoke inhalation. The smoke pickles you way before the fire gets to do the roasting.

   Spend the money on good smoke and monoxide detecters.

   Ron.

1. 
   Scott_Hitchcock | Jan 12, 2001 01:51am | #2

   *Nat,They were probably solid wood doors, much like what you see in older houses.But to echo what Ron said, smoke detectors are your best defense. The best option is a hard wired, interconnected system with a battery backup. When one detector senses smoke, all of them sound an alarm.

1. 
   calvin_ | Jan 12, 2001 03:57am | #3

   *If you got the scratch, do both. Check w/commercial door suppliers and find out what they have to offer. They'll have the door,frame, asst hardware and maybe the directions on what it will take to install to its rating. You're gonna find about what are hanging in motels (faily new)and commercial buildings. Lesser cost and rating: b someresidential entry doors (steel entry with rated frame installed per instructions). And there are some solid core interior doors that may or may not carry a rating. On all these, proper installation is the key to achieving their rating. It wont do you much good if the non-burning door falls outta the opening. Best of luck and start out with the alarms and means of egress and an escape plan among those that live in the house.

1. 
   Dave_Richeson | Jan 12, 2001 04:27am | #4

   *Nat, Check with a good lumber and milwork supply company in your area. Not a Home Depot or the likes. I use to install 1 hour rated solid core flush interiors doors in appartment complexes back in the mid 80s. They were filled with something like gypsum, and mayjor heavey. Part of the package was that they were in fire rated walls, so that could be another weak spot in attempting to buy time for your family in the event of a fire. A plaster wall has a slightly higher burn through time than 1/2 inch drywall I think.I agree with the others smoke and CO detectors are a better bang for your buck. If you plan your escape and PRACTICE IT, you have better chance of every one knowing what to do. Make sure you include a ralley point so you know everyone is out safetly. LOLDave

1. 
   Rein_Taul | Jan 12, 2001 06:02am | #5

   *All those good doors will do for you is give you accoustic privacy. Make sure the smoke detectors IN the bedrooms are working to interrupt your partying!

2. 
   David_Thomas | Jan 12, 2001 07:23am | #6

   *It could be an inconvenience, but a self-closing door would be safer vis-a-vis fire proprogation. They are required between garages and living spaces. My lumber yard had self-closing, fire-rated wood doors in stock. And I'm not exactly in the big city. -DavidP.S. when you change your clock (for daylight savings), change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Required now in each bedroom and recommended in each hallway to a bedroom.

3. 
   wedgehead | Jan 12, 2001 05:03pm | #7

   *These are all excellent suggestions. As a firefighter by trade, I must agree that smoke detectors save lives. period. We have a program we run sponsor called EDITH: exit drills in the home, that teaces families, kids especially, how to escape a house fire. The key is early detection, and training.One major obsticle is getting kids to sleep with the door closed. A standard hollow core door will buy you plenty of time to escape, if it is closed! Teach your kids to crawl to the door and feel it with the back of their hand. If the door is hot, leave it closed, and go out the window. Always(!) meet up at "The Meeting Place" a mailbox, tree, etc. for a head count. If you meet us at the street and say that everyone is accounted for, we don't have to be concerned about search and rescue, and can get down to the business of saving your home and belongings instead of your kids.Sorry if this is too brief, but I type like a neanderthal. If you live near a metropolitan fire dept. they probably have a similar program in place. I figure if WE do they must be pretty common:-)BTW: one more thing; Teach your kids how to unlock the windows! All the drills in the world won't help if they can't unlock or break the window.

2. 
   Nat_Christensen | Jan 12, 2001 05:03pm | #8

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   Several years ago I saw a news piece about un/safe residential bedroom doors. The gist of the piece was that many homes are being built with hollow bedroom doors that hold back fire for only minutes. It advocated replacing such doors, and mentioned alternative(s).

   At the time, I rented and could not do anything about the doors. I own now, and our doors are the cheap, hollow things the program warned about. However, I do not remember what type of doors it advocated. Any ideas what they would be? I know a solid wood door would be far better than what we have, but it seems to me the one(s) in the program were some type of composite material.

   Thanks for any help!

   Nat Christensen
   Washington, DC
   [email protected]