What type of door offers the best fire protection?

The best fire protection is provided by a solid core door. This type of door is constructed with a solid core material, often made of heavy particleboard, solid wood, or a similar material, which enhances its resistance to fire. Solid core doors are typically more substantial and more durable compared to hollow core doors, which contain lightweight materials that do not perform as well under fire conditions.

In a fire scenario, the solid core door can withstand flames and heat for a longer period, thereby delaying the spread of fire from one area to another. This quality makes solid core doors a reliable choice for fire-rated applications, often being used in environments where fire safety regulations require improved resistance—in commercial buildings, for instance.

Panel doors may also provide moderate fire resistance, but their effectiveness heavily depends on the materials used in the panels and the overall construction. Sliding doors, on the other hand, are generally not designed with optimal fire resistance in mind and can be less effective in containing a fire compared to solid core or fire-rated doors. Hollow core doors, while lighter and easier to install, typically do not meet the requirements for fire safety due to their internal construction, which lacks the density and material composition needed for fire suppression.