Fire Stopping Ventilation: The Role of Fire Rated Louvres
In summary:
* Fire-rated louvres are the sensible and compliant option for your steel fire doors when you need airflow and fire protection in the same opening
* Inadequate ventilation is a particular concern in offices, classrooms, plant rooms and other enclosed spaces where people spend long periods of time
* Conventional louvres are not suitable for fire-rated doors
* Ideal for your steel fire doors, the Zero FBLS Fire Block Louvre System assures that ventilation doesn’t become a route for smoke or fire
* The FBLS Fire Block Louvre System is expertly manufactured in our workshop, providing up to 240 minutes of fire integrity and a 40% free area for effective airflow
Why fire rated louvres?
Door louvres are a straightforward, effective way to improve air circulation, helping reduce moisture, disperse pollutants, and support temperature control. But where air can pass, so can smoke and flame. That’s why a conventional louvre is not suitable for fire-rated doors, and fire-rated louvres are needed.
Why ventilation matters
Buildings that don’t breathe properly can become health hazards. Poor indoor air quality, from elevated CO2 to VOCs emitted by everyday materials, contributes to headaches, respiratory irritation and dips in concentration and productivity. Inadequate ventilation is a particular concern in offices, classrooms, plant rooms and other enclosed spaces where people spend long periods of time.
Balancing air movement & fire safety
When you need airflow and fire protection in the same opening, fire-rated louvres are the sensible, compliant option for your steel fire doors. Metal louvres will provide the ventilation you need in offices, classrooms, plant rooms, stores and other areas, but the Zero FBLS Fire Block Louvre System assures that ventilation doesn’t become a route for smoke or fire.
How it works
The ideal solution for both factory-fitting and retrofit applications, the FBLS Fire Block Louvre System accommodates door thicknesses from 29 mm upwards and provides a 40% free area for effective airflow. At the centre of the FBLS is an intumescent fire block, which, under high temperatures, expands to seal the opening, choking off the passage of fire and cold smoke, while the louvre remains unobtrusive in everyday use. The result is a practical, compliant solution for fire-rated doors that also require ventilation.
Our fire block louvre systems are expertly manufactured in our workshop and are suitable for steel fire doors, providing up to 240 minutes of fire integrity. We have over 20 standard sizes available from stock, and any size can be ordered from a minimum cut-out of 152 x 152mm.
Key questions:
What type of doors is the FBLS Fire Block Louvre suitable for?
The FBLS fire block louvre is suitable for steel doors.
What fire rating does the FBLS have?
The FBLS Fire Block Louvre system provides four hours' fire integrity in accordance with BS EN 1634-1:2014.
What sizes are the FBLS fire rated louvres available in?
There are over twenty standard sizes available from stock, including 610x610mm and 457x1524mm (width x height). Any size is available to order, with a minimum cut-out of 152x152 mm.
Louvre frames are supplied as standard in galvanised mild steel, already grey primed, ready for powder coating. Powder-coated finishes and stainless-steel frames are available to special order. The FBLS suits doors with a minimum thickness of 44 mm, with no maximum door thickness.
Learn more about our fire-rated louvres today or call us on 01785 282 910.