Can I use a 45-minute door in a 2-hour fire wall?
No. A 2-hour fire-resistance-rated wall requires a door assembly rated at 90 minutes (1-1/2 hours) per IBC Table 716.1. A 45-minute door does not meet the minimum requirement for a 2-hour wall and would be cited as a deficiency during inspection.
Are brass hinges acceptable on a 20-minute fire-rated door?
No. NFPA 80 requires steel or stainless steel hinges on all fire-rated doors regardless of the rating level. Brass, bronze, and aluminum hinges are not permitted at any fire rating, including 20-minute assemblies.
What is the difference between panic hardware and fire exit hardware?
Panic hardware is an exit device that meets the mechanical requirements of UL 305 for emergency egress. Fire exit hardware is panic hardware that has also been tested as part of a fire-rated assembly and carries a fire rating label. At 60 minutes and below, standard listed panic hardware may be used. Above 60 minutes (90-minute and 3-hour ratings), the exit device must be labeled as fire exit hardware.
Can I hold a fire door open with a doorstop or wedge?
No. NFPA 80 prohibits holding fire doors open with wedges, doorstops, or any device that is not connected to the building fire alarm system for automatic release. Electromagnetic hold-open devices that release the door upon fire alarm activation are the only approved method for holding a fire door in the open position.
What happens if the fire label on a door is painted over?
If the fire label is not legible, the component is treated as non-rated during inspection. NFPA 80 requires that all fire labels remain visible and readable. A door with a painted-over or illegible label must be replaced or relabeled through the listing agency’s field labeling program.
What is the maximum glass size in a 60-minute fire-rated door?
For traditional wired glass, the maximum area is 100 square inches per lite in a 60-minute door. Listed fire-rated ceramic glazing products can exceed this limit when the complete assembly—door, frame, glazing, and glazing kit—is tested and listed together. The specific maximum area depends on the assembly listing. Three-hour (180-minute) doors do not permit any glazing.
How often must fire doors be inspected?
NFPA 80 requires annual inspection of all fire door assemblies. The inspection must be performed by a qualified fire door inspector, and all deficiencies must be documented and corrected. Many AHJs require inspection records to be maintained and available for review.
Can I add a kickplate or mail slot to a fire-rated door?
Only if the accessory is included in the assembly’s listing. Kickplates are generally permitted up to a maximum height specified in the listing (typically 16 inches). Mail slots are not permitted on fire-rated doors because they create an opening through the door that was not part of the fire test. Any accessory not covered by the listing requires a field-modification label from the listing agency.
