Door Closer Startup Lifedoor Aims To Prevent Fire Deaths

By Brian Rhodes, Published Jan 24, 2018, 11:14am EST

A startup named Lifedoor has a device with one basic function: Close doors during a fire. Closing doors is so powerful, UL and FDNY Fire Chiefs say doing so could prevent fire deaths.

Device Shuts Doors During Fires

Lifedoor's basic purpose is to make sure a door is shut when smoke detectors alarm, with a small spring-loaded box that retrofits to existing hinges and is adhered to the door leaf using tape. 

Doors remain manually openable and closeable as normal when Lifedoor is fitted, and only when triggered by audible alerts does the device operate:

The benefit Lifedoor provides is the automatic closure of doors during a fire, a measure commonly cited as a huge difference maker in occupant survivability during house and apartment fires.

But what are the shortcomings of Lifedoor, and can these be overcome? We examine the product inside.

Lifedoor ******** *****

*** *******'* **** **** below ***** *** ** the *********, ******* **** Sellinger [**** ** ****** available], ********** ****** ********* on * ****-** ****:

** ******** ** ********* door *******, *** ****** also ******* * *****, which **** ******* * triggering ****** *** ***** audible-triggered ***** ********* *** sounds ***** ****** * room ** ** ******** is *******. 

******** **** *** ** integrated ***** ****, ***** illuminates ** **********, ********* occupants * ****** ********* of **** ********.

*** ****** ** ******* by *** ******** * V *********, ***** *** startup ****** **** **** 'for ***** * *****' in * ****** *****. The ******* ******** **** is *** **** **** typically ********* ** ***** detectors, *** * ******* maintenance ******** *** ** applied ** ******** **** those ********* *** *******.

Lifedoor *******

******* **** ** *** at $***.**, ******** ******* is *** *** *********.  Lifedoor **** ********** ****** to ***** ** ** 2018, *** **** ** available ****** **** *** company **** ********.

*******, *** ******* ** 'open ** *** ***********' and ********* *** ************, with '*********** ******* *********' available ** *******.

'Universal' *********** ************

*************, ******** ****** '********* retrofit' ******* ******* ** household *****. *****, *** top ******** ** ******* on ********* *****, **** Lifedoor **** ******* **** the *** ** *** hinge.  *** ******** *** has * ***** ** double-sided **** ***** ** pressed ***** **** *** door ****, *** **** the ******** ** ********** to **** *** ****** in *****.

** *** *** ******, the **** **** ** manually ******, ***** **** the ******** ******-****** *** to **** ****** ***** to ******** ***** *** door ****** **** ********.  From **** *****, *** door ** ******** ******** during ******* ***.

*** ************ ***** ** details ***** **** ************** that *** **** ******* with ********, *** *** device ****** **** **** doors **** ****** *****. However, ********** **** ** solid **** **** ***** (heavy), ** ****** **** have * ******-***** ** non-removable *** *** *** be ********** **** ********.

Closed ***** ******* **** ********

******** ********* *** **** that **** ***** **** lives ** * ****. *** concept ** ********* ****** that** ** *********** * new '***** ****** *** Doze' ****** ***** ******, ******* *** ********* life-saving ******** ** ******** bedroom ***** ** ******* inhabitants *** **** **** a ***** ****'* ******. Of *** ******* ******, one ****** *** *********** difference ** * **** with * ****** **** can ** '*** *******' cooler:

*** ** ******** ***** four ******** ** ****** closed ***** ** * fire, **** ** *** door ****** ** *** a ***** **** **** and ** * ******* hollow-core **** ******* ** closet ****. ***** ***:

  • ******** ***** **********: * closed **** ******** *** spread ** ***** ****** a ****, *********** ********** air ******* *** ***** acting ** ******.
  • ***** ****: ***** **** extreme **** **********, *********** keeping ** **** ********** occupants **** ** ***** is *** * ******.
  • ******* ** ******: ****** Monoxide ** * *****, incapacitating ********* ** **********, and **** ***** **** high ************** ****, ********** those *** ***** ** asleep **** * **** occurs.
  • ****** **** ******: *******, closed *****, **** *** fire-rated *****, *** ** physical ******** ** *** spread ** ****. 

***** *** ********** *********** nor ********** ** **, Lifedoor ***** ** ********** the ***** *** ** the '***** **** ****' ******.

Potential ********

*******, **** ********* ******** functions ** *******, ***** could ** ****** ************* that **** ** **** providing *******:

  • ******* *****: ** ***** to ******* ****, *** sweep **** ** * door **** ** **** from ************. ****, *******, even ***** ***** *** prevent * **** **** swinging ****, *** *** relative *** ****** ********** power ** *** ******** closer **** *** ** great ****** ** ******** them.  ** ***** ** work ** ********, ********** must ********** **** ******** clear.
  • *** ******: ***** ******* like **** ******* ** hinge ******* *** ***** the ******* ****** ** be **** ******* *** difficult ** ****. ******** requires ***** ********** ** in '**** ***' ******** condition, **** **** *** need ** ********.
  • ******** ****** *********: *************, a **** **** *** complicate ********* ******.  ***** not * ************ *** to ********, *********** ******** and ****** ***** *** not ******** ******* ** they *** ** ********** ***********. ** **** *****, **** ***** ******** **** ******** ** the ****** **** ** residences, *** * ****** like ******** *********** *********** things ** ******* *** door **** ** ** must ** ******** ******* the ********* ****** **** before ******* *** **** place.

Substitutes *** ***********

****** ************ ** ********, or ** *****-********* '*********' door ******, *** *** common ** *** ****** and ** *** *** aware ** * ******* device **** ****** ******* to ********.

*******, ***** ***** *********** fire **** ********** ***** include **** **** ** automatic ******* *********, ******* by ****** ****** ****** or ** *******-******** **** swing ****** ********* **** in ***** ** * fusible **** ** * material **** * ******** (low) ******* ***** **** activates **** **** ***** it. ***** ************* *** complex *** ***** ******, and ***** ****-****** **** be ************ ********* *** re-approved ** ********.

** *******, *********** '**** closer' ************ ******* ** devices **** ****** **** render *** **** ************* closed *** *** ****, not **** **** **** is *******.  *** * number ** ******* **** airflow, **** *******, ** children ***********, '****** ****' doors *** *** ** ideal ** * *****.

******** **** ****** ****** hinges *** *** *********, usually ******* *** per ****, *** ******** and **** *** ***** premature *********** ******** ** standard ******. ******** ******** on *** '****-*******' ******* by **** ******* ***** automatically **** ***** ********* trigger, ******* **** ***** position ** ****** *** rest ** *** ****.

No **** ********** ***

********** *********** ** ******* potential ***** ******** *****. Until *** *** ****** and ******** ** ************* the ****** *** ** worked ***, **** ******* of ******** ******** *****. While *********** *** ****** is ***** ** *** US, *** ******* *** yet **** ******** ******** the ***** ******** ************.

Vote / ****

Comments (6)

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 01/26/18 04:21pm

If you try to open and exit thru the closed door, will it oppose you?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/26/18 04:25pm

No, the springloaded cam essentially has enough force to swing the door closed, but the device lacks mechanical ability to keep the door shut if attempting to open it.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 01/26/18 04:36pm

What do you think about this one, from Allegion?

4x the cost, but it looks to be available from multiple outlets.

Maybe not ideal for residences because it only has one open position?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/26/18 04:48pm

4x the cost, but it looks to be available from multiple outlets.

That's a pretty big factor to overcome.  $500 - $600 per door!

It is a hold open device for high-traffic areas (like hospital hallways) that releases and closes when smoke is detected.  So it performs a similar function, but the door is not freely swinging, it is open when being used.

That unit contains an internal smoke detector too, so it very likely needs to be replaced every 10 years or similar interval.

Avatar

William Buckley

IPVMU Certified | 01/29/18 11:53pm

Hello Brian,

This is a great article on a possible breakthrough in saving lives!  Fireman Sellinger is definitely on to something with Lifedoor.  After some in - depth market testing, I am sure Lifedoor will eventually become as common as a smoke detector.  

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | 07/07/18 03:47am

[UPDATE]

LifeDoor's Kickstarter campaign was not successful, falling well short of the $50k goal.

However, the company apparently has a backup funding source, and sent an email reporting they plan to ship product:

We have recently secured a round of funding that will allow us to keep our goal of having a UL approved mass production device available by the end of this year.

Email:

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