There are some new building codes and reference standards for the State of California which were adopted January 2009. These codes and standards are retroactive for all buildings which have a Fire Rated door.
Some of these building codes become enforceable by the State Fire Marshal on August 1 2009. If you own a commercial or institutional building AND have a fire door, you have to be prepared to pass a rigorous inspection by a qualified individual. These individuals are a third party not associated with the owner, contractor , or manufacturer of the door.
Building Owners are responsible for maintaining the fire rated door in a manner equal to the way it was tested by the listing agency ( the people who certified and set the standard for the way the door is to operate). This is very similar to the testing reports on Fire sprinklers and annual elevator inspections. These all involve the life and safety of commercial and institutional buildings.
In 1984 San Diego, Los Angeles, and other major metro areas enforced the High Rise standard for fire sprinklers. All high rise buildings over 75 feet were required to have sprinklers. The sad part is that fire is not the main killer of people in these buildings; it is smoke. The fire rated doors form a safety envelope for people to escape. Stairwells and fire walls need to have the fire doors operate correctly. Most people do not know by looking what the difference is between a regular door and a fire door. They look the same but perform completely differently.
CAFDI.org (Certified Association of Fire Door Inspectors) can recommend a qualified inspector. Average cost to the building owner is an average range of $75.00 - $200.00 per opening. Some of the more technical opening assemblies involving electronics, auto operators and fire alarm signaling could be tested for $1,250.00 per opening. Some of these openings require a great deal of background research regarding the age of the building, code compliance at the time of construction, and testing regulations at the time of manufacture for each component on the opening (lock, hinges, door core, frame, panic exit hardware, ect..
New Fire Code Requirements-NFPA 80 Compliance
NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives – 2007 edition, requires documented inspections of fire-rated door assemblies on an annual basis. NFPA 80 requires these inspections to be performed by persons who are knowledgeable of the types of door assemblies being inspected. Swinging doors with builder’s hardware are the most common type of fire door assembly, and are among the most complex due to the myriad of materials and products that are used to create them. These assemblies often provide accessibility, security and life-safety functions in addition to their fire-safety protection, also increasing their complexity. Inspectors must thoroughly understand the dynamics of these assemblies in order to correctly evaluate them in the field.
That's where California Fire Door Inspections comes in. Our fully trained and knowledgeable staff is ready to inspect your door for compliance today. Please call us toll free at (877)661-6013 or local at (619)546-4708 to schedule your appointment. Free estimates are available.
Facts about Fire Doors & Inspection Services
Annual Inspections are now required as of January 1st, 2009 - Upon renewing your insurance policy, an annual inspection will be required on all your businesses fire doors. You doors must be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
- Fire Door Purpose - Is to of course, limit fire damage and save lives and property. A fire door, frame and hardware must prevent the spread of flame through the opening for a designated period of time depending on the rating of the actual door. Common time ratings are 3 hrs., 1 1/2 hrs., 3/4 hr., or 20 min.
- To be certified - The actual fire door, frames and hardware must be tested for flame retardation. The test can be performed by various testing organizations. The most widely recognized testing agencies are Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc. (UL) & Warnock-Hersey (WH).
- Fire Door Hardware - It is of importance that only UL Labeled finish hardware are furnished on the fire door and frame. Non-labeled hardware defeats the purpose of labeling the door and frame.
- Label Classification - The determination of the type of certification the door and frame must bare (UL or WH) is made by the authorities having jurisdiction at the job location, i.e. building inspector, etc.
The following table lists the class/rating time/maximum allowable glass area for common type fire doors:
Class |
Rating Time |
Max. Glass Area |
A |
3 hr. rating |
No Glass Permitted |
B |
1 1/2 hr. rating |
100 sq. inches per leaf |
C |
3/4 hr. rating |
1,296 square inches |
D |
1 1/2 hr. rating |
No Glass Permitted |
E |
3/4 hr. rating |
1,296 square inches |
|
20 minute |
1,296 square inches |
To view a more specific and descriptive table please visit this link.
Fire Door Checklist - we recommend going through the list before we do your inspection so a re-inspection is not needed. Per NFPA 80 5.2.4.2 as a minimum the following items shall be verified:
- No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces of either the door or the frame
- Glazing, vision light frames & glazing beads are intact and securely fastened in place, if so equipped
- The door, frame, hinges, hardware & noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned, and in working order with no visible signs of damage.
- No parts are missing or broken
- Door clearances at the door edge of the door frame, on the pull side of the door, do not exceed clearances listed in 4.8.4 (the clearance under the bottom of the door shall be a maximum of 3/4 in) and 6.3.1 (top & edges 1/8 in)
- The self-closing device is operational, that is, the active door completely closes when operated from the full open position
- If a coordinator is installed, the inactive leaf closes before active leaf
- Latching hardware operates and secures the door when it is in the closed position
- Auxiliary hardware items that interfere or prohibit operation are not installed on the door or frame
- No field modifications to the door assembly have been performed that void the label
- Gasket and edge seals, where required, are inspected to verify their presence and integrity
Call today to schedule your inspection. Toll Free (877)661-6013 Local (619)546-4708