Safely Securing the Built Environment in both commercial and industrial buildings

Guide to Annual Fire Door Inspection

1. Safely Securing the Built
Environment
Annual Fire Door Inspection
NFPA 80 & NFPA 101

2. •National Fire Protection Association
–NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code
–NFPA 80 – Fire Doors & Rated Opening Protectives
–NFPA 105 – Smoke Control Door Assemblies
•International Code Council – Storm Shelter Committee
•Underwriters Laboratories – Standards Technical Panels
Introductions
Kurt Roeper – Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies

3. NFPA - Annual Fire Door Inspection
Today’s Agenda
•Background & Context of NFPA Changes
•Annual Inspection Requirements
•Owner’s Responsibilities
•AHJ’s Responsibilities

4. Why Do We Need This?

6. Why Do We Need This?

7. Why Do We Need This?

8. Why Do We Need This?

9. “Investigators Seize More Fire Evidence Items Linked
to Possible Code Violations” Charleston Post & Courier August 22, 2007
Jay Lowry, a former Charleston firefighter and fire inspector, said fire
doors can serve a vital role in slowing the spread of fire. Keeping exit
doors clear also is key because they provide people with a way in
and out of a building during emergencies.......
“Any businesses out there with locks on their exit doors, I'll tell
you, they're setting themselves up for a bad, bad time.”
Sofa Super Store – Charleston, SC

11. Fire Door Inspection Process
Background & Context
Fire Doors are governed by the building code and
NFPA throughout design, specification, installation
and occupancy permitting.

12. Fire Door Inspection Process
Background & Context
Once a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued, the building
code is closed. The Fire Code or Life Safety Code is now in
effect for the operation and maintenance of the facility.

13. Fire Door Inspection Process
The International Fire Code now contains language
requiring post-occupancy inspections of swinging
fire doors

14. The Life Safety Code now contains language requiring
post-occupancy inspections of swinging fire doors
and doors in the means of egress
Fire Door Inspection Process

15. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.1* Fire door assemblies shall be
inspected and tested not less than annually,
and a written record of the inspection shall
be signed and kept for inspection by the
AHJ.
 
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

16. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.3.1 Functional testing of fire door and
window assemblies shall be performed by
individuals with knowledge and
understanding of the operating
components of the type of door being
subject to testing.
 
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

17. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.1.1.2 The requirements of this chapter
shall apply to new and existing installations.
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

18. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items shall be verified:
 
(1) No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces
(2)
  Glazing, vision light frames, and glazing
beads are intact
(3)
  The door, frame, hinges, hardware, and
noncombustible threshold are secured,
aligned, and in working order
(4)
  No parts are missing or broken. 

19. (4) No parts are missing or broken.
 
NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors

20. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items shall
be verified:
 
(5)
  Door clearances do not exceed
the clearances listed

21. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
Door clearances at the door edge to the frame, on the pull side of
the door, do not exceed clearances listed in 4.8.4.1 and 6.3.1.7
–Hollow metal door -1/8” (+/- 1/16”), door to frame and at
meeting stiles of pairs – 6.3.1.7
–Wood door - 1/8” maximum, door to frame and at meeting
stiles of pairs – 6.3.1.7
–3/4” between bottom of door and floor or threshold – 4.8.4.1

22. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items
shall be verified:
(6)
   The self-closing device is operational 
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

23. Self Closing or Automatic Closing?
NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
3.3.101 Self-Closing Doors – Doors that when opened and
released return to the closed position
3.3.7 Automatic-Closing Doors – A door that normally is open
but that closes when the automatic closing device is activated

24. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items
shall be verified:
(7)
   If a coordinator is installed, the inactive
leaf closes before active leaf.
 
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

25. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items
shall be verified:
 
(8)
  Latching hardware operates and secures
the door when it is in the closed position.
 Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

26. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items
shall be verified:
(9)
  Auxiliary hardware items that interfere or
prohibit operation are not installed
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

27. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items
shall be verified:
(10)
  No field modifications to the door
have been performed
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

28. NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
5.2.4.2 As a minimum, the following items
shall be verified:
 
(11)
 Gasketing and edge seals are inspected
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

29. 5.2.2 Performance-Based Option
 
5.2.2.1 As an alternate means of compliance
with 5.2.1, subject to the AHJ, fire door
assemblies shall be permitted to be inspected,
tested, and maintained under a written
performance-based program.
 
NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

30. 5.2.2 Performance-Based Option.
 
5.2.2.2 Goals established under a
performance-based program shall provide
assurance that the fire door assembly will
perform its intended function when exposed to
fire conditions.
 
5.2.2.3 Technical justification for inspection,
testing, and maintenance intervals shall be
documented.
 
NFPA 80 2007 – Standard for Fire Doors
Chapter 5 Care & Maintenance

31. NFPA – Annual Fire Door Inspection

32. NFPA – Annual Fire Door Inspection
AHJ’s Responsibilities

33. NFPA 80 – Annual Fire Door Inspection
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