Steps to Performing Visual Inspections of Fire Door Assemblies

Fire-rated doors are an integral part of not just the building’s passive fire-protection system but the building’s overall fire protection. A properly operating fire door, just like a properly operating fire damper, is a key component in the compartmentalization of a building to stop the spread of deadly fire, smoke, and toxic fumes and gases. The fire door assembly is composed of the fire door, frame, fire exit hardware, door closers, hinges, locks, door bolts, and other door components that when combined provide varying degrees of fire protection that is contingent on the door fire rating (e.g., 45 minutes, 90 minutes). In addition to all of the components of a fire door assembly there are multiple categories of fire doors: horizontal sliding, fire shutters, swinging, vertically sliding, chutes, and overhead rolling fire doors.

Combining the critical role fire doors play in fire protection, the varying types of fire doors, and the multiple components that comprise a fire assembly with the high frequency that fire doors are used on a day-to-day basis in building occupancy, the likelihood of a fire or smoke door not being in optimal condition to protect occupants in the event of a fire is quite high. That is why The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), The International Code Council (ICC), and The Joint Commission all require the inspection of Fire Doors. The two primary NFPA Codes that have requirements for the maintenance and inspection of fire doors are NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, and NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Protective Opening Protectives®.

To ensure the fire doors are up to code and working properly in your facility, follow these steps for a visual inspection of your openings. Please be mindful that fire door inspections require a skilled eye and an inspector who is an expert in fire door openings and the code requirements that mandate their maintenance.

 

The rating label should be attached to the hinge edge of the door, just below the top hinge (the label might be attached to the top edge of the door on some assemblies). When a label is present, read the information on the label and make note of the door’s fire rating (i.e., 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, or 180 minutes). It is imperative that the rating on the door and frame match the rating of the wall in which it is installed in. Furthermore, the door label also lists specific requirements regarding hardware and latch throw for that particular door.

Verify the frame has a label (the frame label could be a metal label, a stick-on label, or a stamped impression label). 

Step Three: Inspecting the Frame 

Verify the frame is securely anchored to the wall construction. Look for obvious signs of field modification that might have compromised the fire rating (e.g., unused fastener holes left from replacing any hardware, or missing door silencers, etc). 

Look for open holes from fasteners of hardware items that may have been replaced. 

Check for damage or delamination of the door skin or face and watch for obvious signs of field modifications that might compromise the fire rating of the door. Lastly, if the door is equipped with a vision light, make sure it was installed properly and that the glass is fire rated.

Verify the clearances around all sides of the door. Clearances for the top and two sides of the door are 1/8 in +/- 1/16 in for steel doors and shall not exceed 1/8 in. for wood doors. The clearance under the bottom of a door shall be a maximum of ¾ in. The gap between a pair of doors needs to also be proper range.

Verify all the door hardware functions properly and that the hardware is fire rated. Verify that the top edge of any kick plates on the door is not more than 16" from the bottom edge of the door. Any kick plate that extends more than 16’ requires a UL and/or WH symbol on the kick plate. Lastly, please be aware that all fire doors require an automatic closer.

Records of fire door inspections are just as important as the inspection itself. Requirements for documenting and retaining these inspections can be found in the 2007 Edition of NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, and has also been updated to offer guidance on what documentation is needed to be on file in the newest version of the code, NFPA 80, 2013 (which is to be adopted by the Joint Commission and CMS in early 2015). Information to be documented includes:

• Date of inspection
• Name of facility
• Address of facility
• Name of person(s) performing inspections and testing
• Company name and address of inspecting company
• Signature of inspector of record
• Individual record of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
• Opening identifier and location of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
• Type and description of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
• Verification of visual inspection and functional operation
• Listing of deficiencies in accordance with 5.2.3, Section 5.3, and Section 5.4