by Lori Greene, CSI, AHC/CDC, CCPR, FDAI
Fire doors are an important part of a building’s passive fire protection system, and doors in a means of egress provide life safety by allowing people to exit quickly when necessary. Still, the requirements remain a mystery for many architects and specifiers.
Simply put, an opening protective in a fire or smoke barrier is required to be a fire door assembly, which includes the door, frame, hardware, and glazing. These components are not typically required to be supplied by the same manufacturer—in most cases, they can be separate products which are listed, labeled, or classified for use in a fire door assembly. Occasionally, an assembly will be made of components that have been tested together and must be used to maintain the rating.
This article addresses some of the basic code requirements pertaining to fire doors, in hopes of making them a little less mysterious. The best way to find the answers is through asking the right questions.
Where can I find the code requirements for fire doors?
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, is referenced by the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, and other codes and standards. NFPA 105, Standard for the Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, addresses smoke doors and is also referenced in these publications.
Some fire door requirements are included within the applicable building or fire code, but NFPA 80 and 105 are referenced for many of the detailed requirements. For product-specific issues, the manufacturer’s listings must be referenced. For example, to find out the maximum fire door size available from a particular manufacturer, one should consult Underwriters Laboratories’ UL Building Materials Directory or Intertek’s Warnock Hersey Mark Directory.
How can I find out more about an existing fire door?
Each fire door is labeled with a permanent label that must remain legible. Fire-rated frames may have a label or embossment from a listing agency. The door and frame labels contain a wealth of information, including the manufacturer, length of time the component is designed to resist fire, whether the opening is to be equipped with fire exit hardware, and whether the door carries a temperature rise rating or is a smoke door assembly.
Fire door labels usually include a number allowing manufacturers to access more information about the door’s original construction. Frame labels may state a fire resistance duration longer than that of the door. In this case, the assembly’s rating will be the lower of the two. Some hardware, such as fire exit hardware, will also be labeled, but the information on the label is typically less detailed.
How do I know what fire resistance rating I need?
The building code mandates the required fire resistance rating of a wall in a particular location, and also states the required rating of the opening protective, or fire door assembly. The fire resistance requirements for various types of fire walls, fire barriers, and fire partitions, as well as smoke partitions and smoke barriers can be found in Chapter 7 of IBC.
The 2012 edition of the International Building Code includes new tables that help clarify the opening protective requirements. For example, Table 716.5 states a two-hour exit enclosure requires a 1 ½-hour fire door assembly, and lists requirements for the glass used in that assembly. The rating of the door assembly is often less than the required rating of the wall, because it is assumed the door will have a lower fuel load since no combustibles (e.g. furniture, storage, etc.) will be piled in front of the door. If a fire door is no longer needed, it should be removed and replaced with construction of the same rating as the wall to accommodate the potentially higher fuel load.
When are temperature-rise doors required?
Temperature-rise doors are designed to limit heat transfer from one side of the door to the other. If there is a fire on one floor of a building, there may be a need to limit the transfer of heat to the other side of the stair door, so building occupants can exit safely down the stairwell.
The increased use of sprinklers has resulted in reduced requirements for temperature-rise doors. The 2012 IBC requires doors in interior exit stairways/ramps and exit passageways to have a maximum transmitted rise in temperature of 232 C (450 F) above ambient at the end of 30 minutes of exposure, but also includes an exception stating temperature-rise doors are not required in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
For the convenience of building occupants, how can fire doors be held open in a code-compliant manner?
Fire doors must be closed during a fire to compartmentalize the building and prevent the spread of smoke and flames. The intent is to protect the means of egress and allow building occupants time to evacuate safely. If fire doors are blocked or wedged open, they will not be able to do their job and protect the building and its occupants.
There are acceptable ways to hold open fire doors, using electromagnetic holders, or closer/holder combinations that contain integral smoke detectors or are initiated by the fire alarm system. When smoke is detected, the doors close, and provide 20, 45, 60, 90, or 180 minutes of protection. Fire doors are sometimes referred to by a letter designation—A for three hours, B for 60 or 90 minutes, and C for 45 minutes (20-minute doors do not have a letter). However, using the number of minutes is the more common practice.
A fire door with a standard closer and no hold-open capability is called ‘self-closing,’ fire doors that close on fire alarm are ‘automatic-closing,’ and fire doors with automatic operators are called ‘power-operated fire doors.’ Doors in this last category are required by NFPA 80 to become disconnected from power upon fire alarm, so they are manually operable and cannot be held open automatically.
What is positive-latching, and is it required for all fire doors?
Hardware on fire door assemblies has to have an active latchbolt to prevent the pressure caused by a fire from pushing the door open and allowing smoke and flames to spread. A springlatch found in a standard lockset or latchset is considered an active latchbolt; some fire door configurations require a specific ‘latch throw’ (i.e. dimension of latch projection).
A deadbolt is not an active latchbolt, because it can be held retracted. An electromagnetic lock does not provide a positive latch, because there is no latching mechanism and the locking is accomplished when the electromagnet bonds to the steel armature. Electric strikes used on fire doors must be fail-secure—that is, when power is cut, the latch is securely captured behind the strike keeper. A fail-safe electric strike could allow the door to become unlatched, so such strikes may not be used on fire doors.
How is fire exit hardware different from panic hardware?
When panic hardware is used on fire doors, it must be fire exit hardware, which bears labels for both panic and fire resistance. A door with fire exit hardware will also have an additional label, indicating it is equipped with fire exit hardware. Fire exit hardware does not incorporate a mechanical dogging feature—the means to hold the latch retracted using a key, thumbturn, or Allen wrench. For fire doors where a ‘push/pull’ condition is desired, fire exit hardware with electric latch retraction may be used, as long as the latch projects automatically upon fire alarm, to secure the door.
Some vertical rod fire exit hardware for pairs of doors can be installed ‘less bottom rod’ (LBR). These devices use the top rod and latch only, with no bottom rod or latch. The advantage is there is no floor-mounted strike, and no bottom rod or latch to become damaged by carts or traffic. This configuration can sometimes cause a reduction in security, because it may be more easily defeated with only one latching point at the top of the door. In most cases, doors with LBR devices are required to have an auxiliary fire pin, which mounts in the edge of one door and projects into a hole in the edge of the other door if there is a fire.
Do fire doors need smoke gasketing? Are smoke doors also fire doors?
NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 do not specifically state fire doors and smoke doors require smoke gasketing. The key is to check the applicable code or standard, such as the International Building Code, for a limitation on air infiltration, typically a reference to UL 1784, Air Leakage Tests of Door Assemblies, as the test standard.
For fire doors and smoke doors in certain locations, the limit for air infiltration is 0.02 m3/(s • m2) or less as tested at a pressure of 0.02 kPa (3 cfm per square foot or less as tested at a pressure of 0.10 inch of water)—for most door sizes, this cannot be achieved without smoke gasketing. The requirements for smoke doors and fire doors depend on where they are used. For example, smoke barriers, smoke partitions, exit enclosures, and corridors all have varying requirements for smoke and fire resistance, and the applicable code sections must be consulted to see if a limit on air infiltration is established.
When does a protection plate on a fire door need to be labeled?
NFPA 80 allows non-labeled kick plates to be field-installed on fire doors as long as the top of the kick plate is not more than 406 mm (16 in.) above the bottom of the door. Many door manufacturers have tested with non-labeled plates up to 1219 mm (48 in.) high with no special requirements, but NFPA 80 currently requires a field-installed plate to be labeled if it extends above the 406-mm mark.
What are the requirements for hinges on a fire door?
NFPA 80 requires hinges and pivots to be steel base material, ball bearing type, and of a certain size, thickness, and quantity depending on the door size, thickness, and fire rating. One hinge is required for each 762 mm (30 in.) of door height or fraction thereof. NFPA 80 includes criteria for the use of hinges or pivots that do not meet the requirements listed in the standard, for example, hinges of a different material, size, or bearing type. Continuous hinges and spring hinges must be tested and labeled for use on a fire door.
Although it may be tempting to use spring hinges instead of a door closer on a fire door for cost and aesthetic reasons, it is important to note spring hinges do not control a door the way a door closer does, and they need to be adjusted to keep them closing the door over time. In order to avoid having a fire door that either slams shut or does not close and latch, a door closer may be better-suited than spring hinges for most fire doors.
Can existing fire doors be modified for new hardware?
Field modifications are limited by NFPA 80 to jobsite preparation for:
- surface-applied hardware;
- function holes for mortise locks;
- holes for labeled viewers;
- protection plates; and
- a maximum 19-mm (¾-in.) wood and composite door undercutting.
Holes drilled in the field are limited to 25-mm (1-in.) diameter, with the exception of cylinder holes that can be any size. For other modifications not specifically addressed by NFPA 80, the listing agency may be contacted through the door/frame manufacturer to request permission to perform a specific modification in the field. Another option would be to transport the existing doors to an approved facility to modify them, attach new labels, and then reinstall the doors. Fire door assemblies can also be inspected and relabeled in the field by the listing agency, if acceptable, but this process can be very costly.
What is ‘positive pressure’ with regard to fire door testing?
Positive pressure testing is a method of testing fire doors that more accurately simulates the conditions of a real fire than the test that was previously used—UL 10B, Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, also known as a neutral or negative pressure test. The International Building Code requires fire doors to be tested using the positive pressure test—either UL 10C, Positive Pressure Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, or NFPA 252, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, with the neutral pressure level at a maximum of 1016 mm (40 in.) above the sill after five minutes.
The distinction between the two types of tests is particularly important with regard to wood doors. To successfully pass the positive pressure test, some wood doors require intumescent material—either integral to the door or frame construction or applied after manufacturing. The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) describes two types of positive pressure openings:
- Category A doors, which require no additional edge-sealing system (intumescent, if required, is integral to the door or frame); and
- Category B doors, which have applied intumescent material.
A wood door specification should state which type of doors must be furnished for the project.
What is a construction label and when would it be used?
A construction label is applied when a door or frame is used in a location that requires a fire rating, but does not qualify as a rated product. For example, the door or frame may be a size that has not been tested, the jamb depth may be larger (or smaller) than the manufacturer’s listings allow, or the specified hardware may not be included in the manufacturer’s listings. This is not the same as a UL or WH/Intertek label, which certifies the product has been tested to withstand fire for the stated period.
The construction label typically states the door or frame is identical in construction to a listed door or frame, but does not bear a listing mark from a testing laboratory because of size, hardware preparation, or other limiting factor. The construction label does not imply the door or frame is capable of furnishing standard fire protection, but that it is manufactured with the same materials and methods used in the manufacturers’ listings. The label is a means to permanently mark the product so all parties know at a glance the door or frame did not meet the listing requirements. To use a construction label, permission must be granted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
Are annual inspections of fire door assemblies required for all building types?
The 2007 edition of NFPA 80 (and all subsequent editions) require fire door assemblies be inspected each year by someone knowledgeable about the products. A list of inspection criteria is included in NFPA 80, and written documentation of the inspection must be kept for review by the AHJ. Deficiencies must be repaired “without delay.” This requirement becomes enforceable when a jurisdiction’s fire code references an edition of NFPA 80 published in 2007 or later. The 2009 and 2012 editions of NFPA 101 also require certain egress doors to be inspected annually.
NFPA 80 has always required fire door assemblies to be properly maintained—the 2007 edition just added more detailed requirements and included a specific time frame. Due to improper modifications and lack of maintenance, the condition of many existing fire doors has rendered them unable to perform in the event of a fire. A fire door blocked open with a wood wedge cannot stop the spread of smoke and flames, and damaged latches that have been removed instead of replaced could allow the door to be forced open by the pressure of a fire.
Although a jurisdiction may not be officially enforcing the annual inspection and documentation, fire door assemblies are required to be in good working order. Conducting an inspection and making the necessary repairs can mitigate the risk and liability of having fire doors that will not function properly in a fire. Inspecting newly installed fire door assemblies—a requirement of the 2013 edition of NFPA 80—ensures the building owner has a code-compliant installation to begin with, or allows the deficiencies to be repaired during the warranty period.
Conclusion
Fire doors can help compartmentalize a building, prevent the spread of smoke and flames, and protect egress routes to allow for safe escape. However, they must be properly specified, installed, and maintained to provide the necessary protection.
Lori Greene, CSI, AHC/CDC, CCPR, FDAI, is the codes and resources manager for Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. She has been in the industry for more than 25 years, and used to be a hardware consultant writing specifications. Greene is a member of CSI, the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI), the International Code Council (ICC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) Codes and Government Affairs Committee. She has a monthly column on code issues in Doors & Hardware, and blogs at www.iDigHardware.com (or www.iHateHardware.com). Greene can be contacted via e-mail at lori_greene@irco.com.
I want know rate fire door & panic bar which is
(1) Fire Door 7′ x 3′ x 2 Panel
(2) Fire Door 7′ x 4′ x 1 Panel
(3) Panic Bar
(4) Door with vision glass panel
Do you need a smoke seal when using a continuous hinge? smoke seal causes problems when door is closing. I have heard that you do not need smoke seal when using continuous hinges. If this is true can you direct me to a website that states that this is true.
Is it needed to be the door closer fire rated?
Because when the smoke or flame arises the door should be closed and seals must be activated.Means, no point is there for having high cost fire rated door closer.
I believe you still need smoke seal because that hinge even if you didn’t need the seal only covers one side of the door. It’s better to be safe than sorry! I would still seal that door.
Do you need a smoke seal when using a continuous hinge? If so, can you direct me to where it states it.
Is it possible to get an existing door fire rated if it is not currently rated?
How much the thickness of face sheets of door leaf should be for 20 min fire rated door?
1.5 mm steel sheet is OK or no it should be thicker ?
yes by either having it tested or having manufacture provide specs of door
I have around 300 old wooden doors, want them to be fire rated. Does fire test for one door enough to rate remaining doors for rating.
Rating shall be by third party after one fire test of a single door and frame.
Please guide
fitting fire door on a sloping floor, when door is closed it has a 25mm gap on handle side of door, customer not keen on having a threshold fitted how can i or do i need to do anything and still keep within fire regulations.
Add a Drop down sweep
As a temporary measure you should fit a spring loaded flap to prevent smoke
Can a fire rated door, in say a condominium, still be fire rated if a panel is cut out and put back with spring loaded hinges to allow a dog or things to pass thru? Does putting any rubber seal or gasket help or make it conform?
No it was not tested that way to receive the fire tag on door.
Only option would be a UL Listed fire rated dog door matching the door rating probably 20 minutes if it has spring hinges but check tag on door.
Thanks for the valauble information !! You have elected great topic to write as I too agree that Fire resistant doors are required with the intention of resisting fires and flames and used in both domestic and commercial applications.
Fire safety responsibility may be shared by more than one person. It is the duty of the responsible person(s) to ensure that a fire risk assessment of the premises is carried out.
In my 4 story apartment building there are 7 stairwell doors/fire doors. Someone has drilled 3 holes and installed a door stop at the bottom of one of these doors on the egress side of the door, and person or persons unknown frequently open this door and block it open with the doorstop, including during nighttime periods when tenants are asleep. Is this legal or is it a violation of the building codes or other laws, codes or ordinances?
a violation of the fire code
Hi! Do fire doors require a glass in them?
My door is fire rated 180mins, if I install a fire rated viewer 180 mins, the kit is still 180 mins?
can I install any mail slot into my interior apartment door that is already a fire rated door ?
I’m working with designers on a “high-end” hotel chain here in NYC. The designer is asking for a wood clad to be applied to the rated frames in both public spaces and on the hotel rooms throughout the building. It’s been my experience that combustible materials can not be in direct contact with a rated metal frame, without being tested as an assembly. Is there a separation material that can be used to facilitate the cladding, or do I need to revise the detail to accommodate a separation, and give the designers the bad news?
I have a damaged smoke door. What is the minimum time required to get the door repaired?
I have stained flat wood fire doors. what can i do or use to place trim on the doors to give the effect of a panel door and paint white, without voiding the rating? Will i haft to get it re rated & sealed?
What is the maximum gap allowed on the bottom of a 90 minute door in a 2-hour wall?
Hello,
is hardware on 0hour rating requiring to be with fire label?
exit device with an “F” (VD98)
protection plates higher than 16” with “UL” label?
thanks
IUL label is more expensive than WH label, are they equivalent?
UL label is more expensive than WH, are they equivalent?
How do I find a company to rate existing steel doors and frames in 58 year old hospice.no doors are marked state wants them marked this is in Ohio
What is the purpose of fire rated door for residential projects?
The reason of having a fire rated door is to protect you from fire. As the regulation stated you are not needed any self closer on the doors which without it make the fire door useless. Usually the fire happens and expands during the night when people are not careful so the fire door with self-clsoer can protect the occupants of the building. Can someone bring more light into it?
Another important feature of the fire door is the bottom gap, which from my point of view is very dangerous when it comes to fire. When a fire takes place you are ( as a occupant of a building) more likely to open the window to get fresh air and find a solution to escape from fire. This is very wrong as fire needs air to expand and will get more power. So by opening the window you will reduce the chances of the door to achieve their purpose of 30 min fire barrier.
The commercial part of fire regulation is very clear and all the doors require self-closer and so other signs.
Is there any reduction in code required Fire Doors if the Building is Sprinkled?
I work in an old hospital that recently had one of its floors designated a “business” occupancy. On the floors above are a dialysis unit and an operating room on the floor above.
Recently, the smoke barrier doors on the “business” occupancy rated floor were removed. I don’t know why, but in my opinion if you already have a life saving feature in place, why would it be removed? I assume management would say it would save on maintenance costs…but at the expense of safety??
I live on the second floor of an apartment building, there are magnetic fire doors outside my apartment, yesterday I came home to a sign saying that the doors must remain open all the time, is this true or should the doors be closed/
Great for sharing this information. Really helpful. Moreover, One intelligent idea in making the most of safety doors is to add a fire seal to the nearly inevitable gaps that surround the doors once they are installed.
Question: On a fire rated door does the vision glass frame is it required to be of metal material, door are in corridors. If so may I please get the NFPA standard.
Question: On a fire rated door does the vision glass frame is it required to be of metal material. May I please get the NFPA standard.
Is it required to have a fire rated door for the door entering into the garage on a residential home? I’ve never heard of this before, however, it has come up on my home inspection report and the Buyer’s want my seller to do this.
Is it required to have a fire rated door for the door entering into the garage of a residential home? Buyer wants seller to install a fire door.
Thanks much for some valuable information and insights into issues related to Fire Rated Doors.
What are the comparative advantages/disadvantages of Timber Fire Rated doors and Metal Fire Rated Doors.
In double leaf doors is it essential to have rebated meeting edges – If so swing coordinating door closer would need to be used which are expensive and failure prone.. what are the options
Thanks very much for some valuable information and insights into issues related to fire doors
request your comments/ opinion on the following
.. what are the comparative advantages of Timber Fire Rated Doors and Steel Fir Rated Doors
…For doulble leaf doors is a rebated meting stile detail essential– if so, swing coordinating door closer would be required, which are expensive and prone to failure… what other options are possible.
Thank you so much for these information! Such a big help to those who are planning to install fire doors on their establishments. These types of doors can also be opened from the outside and only use in the emergency situations. Moreover, the fire door is built with such a care that there is hardly any chance of breaching the security of these doors.
Thanks for the great info.
I have a devise that is patent pending in the USA and Canada.
It helps teachers and students keep the classroom door locked or unlocked without having to use a key.
My issue is that on a fire rated door our product is only used for the 5-7 minutes while the kids are coming into the classroom building. When class starts the teacher retracts the latch and the door strike will no engage the door jamb.
This is a similar action: that is used in the hotel rooms across the USA. The hotel rooms are Fired Rated, and I’m trying to find the information that states it’s code compliant.
I have school districts that are interested in purchasing my product, but we both want to follow code.
Any and all info would be great!!!!
drilling through a fire rated door for door closures ect. How do you make sure they would still be rated?
most closures and other attaching hardware is usually a solid bolt. wouldn’t this be acceptable?
would you need to put fire retardant glue or filler?
could adding mag locks to fire rated doors reduce or diminish the fire rating?
Does a 100+ yr old, 2 story/ 2 family house need to have the existing solid core apartment doors be changed to new fire rated doors?
Can doors within the smoke compartment be non rated doors? Such as doors to patient rooms within the compartment that are not fire doors.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF THE SAFETY GLASS VISION PANEL ON A FIRE DOOR?
Why fire door no have alarm,
if a building exists already and a section is added on. does the door need to stay?
Thanks for this posting. I am very impressed with it,
sure this is one of the best articles.
The article that is mentioned in the blog is good.
we getting nice information through this blog. It’s very helpful.
Is there fire codes or other reasons that would prevent us from replacing our current two-door Exit Fire Doors located on the 5th floor Elevator Lobby (which needs replacing due to rust over the frame/doors) with a single-door (3.5 foot width or 4 foot width), which are similar to our Fire Exit Door on the 4th floor Elevator Lobby?
Why use push plate in fire door and how to use it in the fire door?
Fire doors can be crucial in saving your life, but only when they are fitted correctly. Incorrectly installed fire doors may only provide 5-10 minutes of fire resistance. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to follow all the fitting instructions as well as keeping them closed at all times.
Fire Doors plays a crucial roles in our life. It could save or even minimize the damage to the person who has been stuck due to fire. In installing fire doors it needs to follow guidelines in order to make it successfully.
Can I add an additional piece of hardwood to the bottom edge of a fire door without negating the fire certification.
Can I pin and glue using a fire retardant glue ?
Can a mail slot be installed in a fire door ? Like many companies, there is no longer a receptionist sitting at a desk behind a glass partition between the office and the lobby. Consequently, mail and couriered packages are often simply left on a chair in the lobby. Some of the items are sensitive and should not be left lying around.
Do entry doors of an apartment complex need to be fire rated if they aren’t enclosed in the building? They are on exterior walls but the plans are showing the walls to have a 60 min. rating.
My question is kind of backwards but here goes.
My mom, while visiting my father in a rehab facility, used a egress fire door (in the open position and she did not use the push bar to release the door) to sign a form. When she turned to walk away from the door, to head back to the office, she was hit from behind by the closing door where she fell and broke her hip. Talking with the rehab director he said the doors are pressure sensitive and as little pressure as 5-10 pounds is enough to release the doors. I can’t seem to find any specs in reference to this and find it odd that a door this sensitive would be used where residence are in wheelchairs,using walkers or canes and could easily bump against a door releasing it. Do pressure sensitive doors need to be labeled and are the to be opened at all times? Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated or if i can answer any other questions please let me know
I live ..in a rented 2 bedroom appartment which has a seperate entrance.I am on the 1st floor accessed by front door and stairs.The doors to the bedrooms, kitchen/living area are all ordinary doors.Should these be fire doors? In the plans and Fire Certificate BS 5588 Part 1 Section 9.5 is quoted for not having them.Is this correct? Is there current leglislation governing this? This appartment is part of an appartment block in Galway. I would really appreciate it if someone could help in pointing out the definitive Acts etc covering this.
Taking proper precautions is a necessity to protect your life and the lives of your family. Thank you for sharing this wonderful and helpful blog. Very informative and useful in choosing the right fire rated doors project.
Sir i want to know, which type of materil is used for fire resistence door. Plz inform me with material & its melting point..
Thank u..
I want to know what is the calculation for a man
I have a residential fire door in my basement with a regular lock can I change the lock to a deadbolt
Does every interior door have to have a label? for example storage closets? electrical rooms etc. where can i find this in writing?
I appreciated the insight about how much information fire rated doors and frame labels can contain. I’d heard the house I just moved into has some. However, I’m not sure what condition it’s in. I’ll have to check to see if it needs to be replaced.
Great article:
you read the heading:
“What is positive-latching, and is it required for all fire doors?”
And subsequently no answer to the question in the heading.
Very informative.
Doors that are resistant to fire may also suffer breakdown as a result of constant use. There is no other good option but to conduct the right fire door inspection. To obtain the services of a door inspector for these special doors is an obligatory rule. This is done to ensure that doors would function properly in the event of a fire disaster.
A fire door inspector possesses the capability to carry out minor repairs and component adjustments to doors in order to make them pass the compliant status. They are consider the only the certified tradesman who are able to execute this checking on fire doors.
A primary element of any fire door set is called the door frame. This is a crucial part that needs to be installed properly. In addition, all fire door frames must be maintained according to the standards and must be subjected through a certified inspection.
Why should doors be given routine check up? They can fail when being used heavily. Some of these doors are placed in high traffic areas which are subject to frequent openings per day. Some of these doors can be found in hospitals. If there are at least 100 openings made for the door in a day, it would need not only a yearly inspection but at least one every 3 months. This would guarantee that there are no loose components and that the gap of the door from the floor is still in the allowed limit which is kept at certain measurements.
What are the document OR certification is must with fire rated or HMPS doors from manufacture.
What is the maximum distance to place a smoke detector from the door for door holders in a fully sprinkled residential building?
could anyone be kind to confirm if there is a code in the NFPA that says that external egress doors need to be fire rated? say a steel door installed in the fire exit stairwell leading to the outside ground level. responses are very much appreciated thanks!.
yes there is, and it should be either mesh or ceramic
Can you please let me know what a label that say “non rated fire door” means.
Can a part countious hinge be cut out to see fire door label on door?
where do I find the exact reference to being able to use fire door pins in lue of the bottom rods and latches on exposed vertical rod panic devices.
We have a four hour set of Steele double doors and only latch on the top. We have two hour wooden doors that need top and bottom latches so we had fire pins installed. My question is that we don’t have to have the steele doors have top and bottom latches, is this legal?
We have a warehouse that has garage doors that has the automatic fire doors. Only one has an automatic fire door on both sides of the door and the other has one. Is it necessary to have the automatic fire doors on each side?
How long after a fire door inspection does the building owner have to make repairs to the doors that didn’t pass inspection?
My Utility room has a fire door between it and the rest of the house. There is also an exterior door leading outside, does it also need to be a fire door?
if the door is thru bolted for hinging does that negate the fire rating?
Is there a device that can be used on an evacuation ladder to prevent people from continuing down to the basement when the exit is on the first level?
Is it considered a fire hazard to have your office door window covered so that no one can see inside?
can someone advise me when the smoke seal is needed for the bottom of a fire rated door with smoke seal requirement, regardless the code asks for it or not
The threshold on our residential fire rated door is damaged. Is it possible to replace the threshold without compromising the door?
If molding is applied directly to a flush door and it’s a 20 minute rated door, does it still maintain the 20 minute rating??
I am in a power chair and the steel fire door closes on me or grabs my fingers. Is there something that can be added so that I can make it in and out safely and still have it comply?
is there any integrity effect in using wood flooring , carpet underneath a fire rated doors? it is ussually found in hotel entry doors having a FD60 fr rating.
Is there a permission allowing a fire screen door to be propped open for ventilation if a properly trained individual is assigned to stand watch in close proximity of the door?
I want to use a fire shutter on an interior window that is getting put inside a firewall. Does the window itself have to be fire-rated also? Or does the shutter only meet the requirements?
I live in a condo. Each floor has a room with a trash cute. The door to the room and the chute door both have a () min. rating. The cute door does not close on its own and the door to the room has no closer and most times stays open unless you push it closed. Also the board has replaced may of them by removing the concrete filled frames and installing a hollow metal door without any closer. Should I report this and if yes to whom. We live in Florida Pasco Conty
That was a 90 Minute Rating
Hello, I work in a commercial warehouse type of building with an office in the centre of the basement with no windows, two doors to get in and out of. Recently, someone decided to apply a FIRE DOOR, Keep closed on our most used door in. We do not have that much of an issue with it until we started to be told that it must be closed at all times, including when we are in the office. We are not willing to do this because the HVAC system in this building is terrible and the office is either too hot or too cold. Our pushback includes that if a fire drill were to happen, our warden would pull it closed when doing the office checks during a drill. Or we would ensure it is closed, or the janitor would when finished cleaning. So, does a fire door have to be closed as they say when we are all in the office?
Maintaining a house fire and life safety systems will help reduce the amount of damages done to its structure by preventing fire and smoke from spreading. Reading these posts really helps me decide things and inspired me on what to do for my fire doors project at home. Thanks for sharing!
My place of work is equipped with a sprinkler system and has fire doors that close automatically when an alarm is triggered separating the two major portions of the building. We were told that all other doors in the hallway must be closed at all times to be in conformance with fire safety standards. Is this true and where does it say so? This is a 24/7/365 continuously manned spaced.
I purchased a condo in a condo building. We have 3 levels and fire doors between the levels. I noticed that the doors have regular door knobs. Is the correct type of knob for a fire door? Are there code requirements? The knobs do not have a lock, but they must be turned to open the door.
As far as Fire Doors that link the outside with a hallway on each floor of an apartment building goes, Yes I can see that they have to be closed during a fire, but what law says that you cannot use these doors as long as you latch them in case of fire ? confusing apartment policies here.
We recently moved into a retirement apartment. The internal doors have intumescent strips for safety. Some of the door closures have metal lining and several of the doors do not have metal linings leaving a simple cavity of raw wood. Is this an acceptable finish or does the unpainted unlined raw wood pocket create an increased fire risk?
i am in a building that has been updated with sprinklers about 4 yrs ago .With that being said the listed fire doors on the floors that are to the dining rooms and the one from the nurses area are no longer needed because it is fully sprinklered both sides and we are 100% sprinklered.
In a Condominium , the unit doors are closing with door closer, but some of them not latching . The reason , the residents install there own locks what is touching the door and prevent positive latching . Who is responsible for the repair or removal of the locks ?
we have automatic roll down fire doors on our second story break room windows. we are going to remodel that room and need to bring supplies through the window. where can i find rules on disabling that fire door.
Very Informative blog! A fire door is the most important part in the fire protection system. It prevents the fire from spreading across the building and keep the fire contained to a particular compartment or room.
they say we have fire door in my apartment but can they be a fire door with 1/4 t0 1/2 inch light that comes thought at night
I have a set of wooden fire rated double doors that go into a church sanctuary from a foyer area. One of the fire rating tags was torn off by a lift and subsequently lost. I had a company tell me that I have to replace both doors. Is this true? Only one door is missing the label.
Can you use a push / pull on a 20 minute rated fire door?
Good Afternoon,
I had manufactured 45 min fire rated doors for a small hotel, so happens that the manufacturer milled the interior depth of the Mortise lock a 1/4″ deeper. I was wondering what filler can be used and is this considered a on site modification allowed under NFPA 80 modifications.
Many thanks for your reply!
hi just a quick question, bs5839 and nfpa state that fire doors cannot be locked is a system available for and emergency lock down , shooter or gunman that allows you to lock external doors yet use then in case of a fire, ie building needs to be secured from inside yet if fire allows people to escape in case of fire nfpa/bs approved
What’s the maximum allowed on the opening of the bottom of any fire coded door getting inspected by fire Marshals. Are you allowed to have as much as one inch opening at the bottom of the door?
How do I determine if a fire rated door is needed in my specific area?
Question about double fire doors with one side fixed. If the fixed side of the fire door unit is deadbolted above and below, can it be blocked and just have employees exit through the non-fixed side?
Why does a 2-hr. rated wall assembly only require a 90-minute rated assembly, and not 2 hours?
I have seven 1-1/2 hour fire doors that I removed the old hydraulic door closers and installed new electric door openers/closers on. After removing the old closers I installed 1/4-20 screws into the doors and frames to “plug” the old unused holes. the new Electric door opener/closers were attached to the fire door frames using three 1/4-20 drilled and tapped holes and two 1/4-20 drilled and tapped holes in the fire doors to attach the opener/closer arms to. There is also electric strikes that we installed on the door frames using 1/4-20 screws. There was also a 7/8″ hole drilled into the frame behind the electric strikes in order to fish the low voltage wire for the strike.
With this information, in your opinion is the fire rating for these doors still intact?
The building I live in screwed the fire shut? That I believe is illegal. They have no common sense
We are a door manufacturer, we are always in the look of 20-minute door core. Do any one carry this kind of door core ?
Needing price and availability of 1 1/2 hour wood hallway door with all hardware. THIS IS A DOUBLE DOOR MISSING ONE DOOR IN A HEALTHCARE FACILITY. I just inherited the facility and cant locate the missing door!
Public building in Ontario. Two hallways leading to a stairwell. Both hallway have firedoors to access the staircase. There is a perfect area at top of staircase to install a Christmas tree. Any code would object to this ?
Fire rated door should install in the way of pull inside or push outside?
is fire rated core can be joined, if joining of core will affect its fire rating.
I am a fire marshal and am writing from an 8 story state nursing home facility. We are in the late stages of planning (About to begin) installation of numerous 80 year old wooden stair tower doors due to failure on our last inspection. A certain entity from PA-DOH(Unidentified individual) has just now stated that our clinical needs FAS 660 L SDSDM mag-locks are not authorized and cannot be used on the new doors as they are not fire rated to the required 90 minutes. In my experience, mag-locks do not carry a prescribed fire time rating. They are more like frames which are simply fire rated. Neither have I ever found anything in the NFPA nor the IBC requiring a rating on mag-locks. Am I mistaken and we must come up with different locking arrangements or is their AHJ prerogative without solution..
Is it still an effective fire door if the wood chip interior is exposed at the bottom because of the amount that has been cut off to make the boor fit?
If you put holes in fire door and hand things on it,does that change or damage door or rating?
any1 here could help me please ? this may cost me my jop . iam working in hospital and we are planning to design firerated elevators for the OPD the OPD has 3 compartments . as standard says we need 2 fire rated elevators . (the area of the OPD is 3.5) do i have to put the elevators in deffrent compartments ? is it ok to put it both in one compartment . i need the code for this i could nnot find it
Our new compulsory apartment fire wall door badly reinjures my old
rib cage injury. What assistive devices, etc. Can l use to prevent this?
Idk much about fire doors. My employer has them all over the property, connected to magnetic holders to keep them open. Fire alarm deactivates the mags and auto shuts the fire doors.
My question is, are there any laws/state compliance guidelines that govern these doors? Currently, one of them is blocked with three 50 gal. garbage cans that are being used to catch water from a bad leak. The cans are heavy when full, and will keep the door from auto closing if there is an alarm. I’m just wondering if I have a legal basis to try and convince my employer to fix the leak so the cans wont block the door anymore, since he’s been putting it off for over a week now (even though that one leak has created 4 different ongoing safety hazards).
Hello. I live in a building that all the apartments within have wooden doors. Its a 3 floor building with about 30 units in it. Im curious because Im pretty a wood door wouldn’t have the reauired burn time. Anyone wanna help me out? Thanks in advance.
Very Informative blog! A fire door is the most important part in the fire protection system. It prevents the fire from spreading across the building and keep the fire contained to a particular compartment or room.
If the Exit stair door are only 45-min fire rated in 42 floor high rise tower and the building completely fire sprinkler it is alowe able in standard or we installed one more sprinkler in exit stairs
Can a pair of rated door’s with panic hardware, for an assembly room , have an interior hand lock. This is for shelter in place requirements.
Our Company has some Drop Down Fire Doors that now need to be replaced. They are not fixable. Wondering if we are required to Replace with another fire door or can we just take door out and frame in the door way ? We have a non-Fire door on other side that is a Automatic censored door.
What is the equivalent of fire rating A 60 in American standard in the European standard ?
hi i,m making 6 condos in VA , i have a sprinkler system ! what hour rated doors do i need ! many thanks
When does alarm go off when u push handel or when I. Let off of it cause we like to go out side and smoke and if it’s when we let off then we can tape it down right
Can a sliding window be cut into a steel fire door for the purpose of passing paper and such during the Covid outbreak
Do I need a fire door in an apartment where the only door is within 6 feet of a gas fired hot water heater and a gas fired boiler? Montana location
existing fire door in my apartment unit looks ugly, can i clad it with ordinary stone or timber on top of it?
We have an old ambulance bay that is no longer used for vehicles. The bay is separated from the hospital with a roll down fire door above the entrance to the building from the bay, has a fusible link and is regularly inspected and maintained. If we install a garage door for the bay does it have to be a fire rated garage door?
I want to build my retirement home with a finished basement about 1/3 the home’s total square footage under the foundations. My computer back up systems and CD/DVD/BD collections would be stored there.
What else besides following this advise https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1728-25045-1351/home_builders_guide_to_construction_in_wildfire_zones.pdf
and what kind of door would i need to do for protecting those things from heat and smoke if a wildfire devastates most of the house? And how much would implementing these construction techniques add to the cost of building a new house in the southwest?
is there a standard way to make the central parts where the doors close ( for 2 flap doors )
or dose any one have a photo i have been trying to find a pic but till now no luck .
Does a residential fire door have to have on the door and door frame the metal label plates on them stating that that it an approved door and frame?
In a fireproof multiple dwelling 8 stories tall, I have a balcony not used for egress. My balcony doors are now wood. Should they be fireproof, and if so, is the wood door sufficient for 1-hr rating? thank you GP
Due to frozen pipes we have a major leak in a two story facility. The first floor is offices occupied from 6a-6p. The second floor is staffed 24 hours where there are patients. We are using a restoration company to dry out the second floor. While this is going on, the fire doors (2) on the first floor are propped open for the airlines to be run up the stairs and used for drying. Is this legal, do we need a fire watch even though 2nd floor is staffed 24 hours a day?
commercial building; electrical rooms on each floor require to have fire-rated doors installed, I cannot find information whether telephone rooms/communications cable room or closet rooms require to also have fire-rated doors installed. If anyone can assist, thanks.
I live in a high-rise apartment building. On each floor there is a common hallway balcony and residents keep the sliders open 24/7! There is also a ventilation system in the building and my concern is the draft being drawn into the hallways if there should be a fire from these doors being left open. Is this against fire code?
It is now has become an essential in Dubai. I have seen ideal.ae has been NO.1 in making the fie rated doors and their service is excellent. They have all quality checks and nothing to worry about the delivery even if it is in Dubai, Abudhabi or across all over UAE and also in Saudi, Riyadh, Jeddah and in Qatar.
Tôi rất cần bản vẽ thiết kế
Hello – question about fire rated glass in doors. We have fire doors installed in corridors between building phases and are waiting for fire rated glass for these doors to be delivered for installation this week/early next week. Issue is we are currently going through Temp Cert of Occupancy inspections and fire rated glass was supposed to be here by now prior to inspections. Is there anything we can do to temporarily infill the glass openings in these fire doors until glass arrives on site. Can we infill opening with plywood & apply type-X gyp board each side of opening to achieve rating temporarily until glass arrives? If not, is there anything we can do and is there a UL-testing or any other testing/assembly that we can show the building inspectors?
I have a double door entrance in my business and the internal door is a pull, it spakrs concern to me because of the potential danger, tell me I’m not crazy for feeling like this should be a push… does this Matter in a fire hazard situation?
If a fire door is found inoperable should it remain in the closed position until repaired? What is the code for this?
Can fire doors prevent hearing a fire alarm on a different floor
Amazing piece of content, Thank you for sharing this blog….
I have been told that decorations (wreaths or other items) are/should not be allowed on unit doors in multi-unit apartment/condo buildings.
Can you kindly explain why?
I have some 3 hours fire rated door had predrill peephole on them. Can I make another peephole on them, if I can/did do I need to call inspector to re-rate the doors?
What are the laws regarding single fire doors in hallways on 2 story walk-up 8 units per side .16 unit single bedroom apartments
Can a pair of woof fire doors be field prepped for a fire pin? I have a pair with CVRs less the bottom rods but no pin. Or do they need to come from the manufacture preped
Heres my argurment with fire doors.
Im a flooring guy. And was told recently that i can not use a wedge or string to hold doors open.
How am i suspose to do my job with doors closed?
They have to be propt open some how in order for me to wax underneath.
What can i do?
I have an electric fire door but it also has chains for a manual open and close. if i do not have power to the door will the chains not operate the door? i Have not put power to the doors yet but the chains done open and close the door. the chain just keeps spinning and i can keep pulling it as forever. thx
Hi , i am inquiring to know from what distance must a fire safety door in a residential building close on its own from
How many inches ???
Can the Fire separation doors in a hospital be closed legally or do they need to always stay open? i.e. if a staff member wants to close them for another reason on a shift.
Dp they need to be always left open as per any DOH or state rules?
If the plans call for a 60 min fire rated door and you install a 90 min door is that wrong?
A new fire door installed leading to garage from house.
1″ gap bottom of door to floor that has a metal threshold. How to remedy?
I have several trash chute panic door panic mechanisms bad. Is it required to have panic door mechanism on chute room enterance door?
Must a door to a separate room on each floor containing a trash shoot access in a high-rise apartment be a fire-door and kept closed at all times?
I Have a question for anyone who may have the answer. Can Automatic self closing fire doors be equipped with ADA compliant door openers? I assume they can be since this technically doesn’t hold the door open indefinitely and only for a certain amount of time. The question that arose is what if there is a fire in a building and the doors close, but someone in a wheelchair cannot physically open the door without assistance. How are they supposed to get out? Anyone with an answer, can you please provide code sections as well for California preferably?
Hi
I just want to knows how can I get a license for fire rate doors and frames to modifications?
Thanks
Hi
Anybody knows for installing and modifications need license or not?
I know we are not allowed to install kick door closer to Fire rated doors. However are there any exceptions or issues if we choose to install for occasional use regardless?
If a roll down fire door is always closed and never used, can I build a wall infront of it to cover it up?
If a door closer is pulled from the door can you move it over slightly to use new screw holes and repair old holes?
Can a 14” deep closet with sliding panel doors be permitted in a fire exit corridor? The walls are concrete block. The corridor is 5-1/2’ wide. The church building is 60 years old. It is a 1 story structure.
In case of wooden fire rated doors , is the mechanical fixation for the door frame is mandatory or using the fire rated foam for fixation of frame will be enough?
Hi there, why are the fire doors/fire door pin scrapping the rubber floors? Is there a solution so that door does not damage the floors any further?