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Fire door deadlock9/3/2023 ![]() ![]() Check that no parts of the door or frame are missing or broken.Missing or damaged labels might cause the AHJ to require recertification or replacement of the door. Check for missing, damaged, or painted over fire door labels.At a minimum, managers must ensure the following tasks are performed: NFPA 80 spells out specific items to inspect and tests that are to be performed on each fire door. Similarly, if a sign states that the door must remain closed, it probably is a fire door. If the door has a closer and panic hardware, it is most likely a fire door. Other factors that help identify a fire door include the hardware installed on the door and signage. Unfortunately, over the years, many labels have been painted over or otherwise rendered unreadable. But just because a door does not have a label does not mean it is not a fire door. ![]() Examine all doors and door frames closely for fire door labels. Similarly, fire doors are located at all points of egress from the building, including entrances, exits, and lobbies.įire doors and their frames must be labeled, showing the door manufacturer and the fire protection rating of the assembly. ![]() To stop the spread of smoke and fire, fire doors are located between discrete areas of the building, in corridors between building sections, and in interior stairwells. Code determines where fire doors must be installed, so understanding that the two primary intents of the code are to stop the spread of smoke and fire and to provide a safe path of egress in the event of a fire will help managers identify fire door locations. One problem managers face when conducting their first fire door inspection is locating all of the installed fire doors. A well maintained and properly operating fire door would have limited the spread of to protect the building and its occupants. Something as simple as a broken door closer or a failed door latch can keep a fire door from properly closing, allowing the spread of flames and smoke through the opening. Why the attention to fire doors? Post-fire examinations have shown that fire-related injuries and deaths have occurred as a result of improperly functioning fire doors. With that authorization, more fire marshals are asking to see that documentation during their annual inspection of the facility. The intent of the regulation is to give the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) the ability to see and review the fire door inspection documentation, just as they have been doing with sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, alarms, and other fire safety systems. ![]() In most cases, the building owner is responsible for carrying out and documenting the inspections. One of the most significant changes that this has for managers is the requirement for annual inspection and testing of all fire doors. These codes include: NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code, which is used in many jurisdictions the International Fire Code that is used by states as their fire codes and the International Building Code, which is perhaps the most widely used building code. NFPA 80 is being adopted into building codes not just as a reference but as a requirement. In addition, the standard was included only as a referenced standard and was not directly written into building codes. Maintenance and engineering managers assumed local fire marshals would conduct the inspections, while most fire marshals said they did not have the necessary manpower to do so. The changes were the result of the realization that of the condition of most existing fire doors would not provide proper protection during a fire in institutional and commercial facilities. Nearly 15 years ago, changes to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, mandated annual inspections for fire doors. ![]()
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