Today we are going to answer the question ‘What To Know Before A Fire Door Inspection?’
At Loc-Doc Security, our Mission is to help you protect your people and your property. We recently had a customer that was flagged for several failed openings on a fire door inspection. The last thing a facility manager wants to hear is that they aren’t compliant with regulations and didn’t pass the fire door inspection. While this can be a frustrating problem, we were able to review the Fire Marshall’s Notes from the inspection and look for key indicators and specific violations. We can learn from this experience by sharing how we helped solve our customers problem and what you need to know before a Fire Door Inspection.
Problem: A customer was flagged for several failed openings on a fire door inspection.
Solution: Assess each opening and determine the necessary repairs or replacement.
What is a Fire Door Inspection? The goal of a fire door inspection is to ensure the fire doors in the building are functioning properly, have no damage, and are able to be used as intended during a fire. This fire door inspection normally happens annually for many commercial office buildings, warehouses, schools, hospitals and health care facilities. Should a fire break out, the safety of the occupants as well as emergency responders all depend on the inspection of the fire doors. If your fire doors aren’t code compliant they can cause a safety hazard.
5 Tips To Prepare For A Fire Door Inspection
1. Is the fire label clearly visible and legible on both the door and the frame? Additionally, is the assembly the correct rating for the wall it’s installed in?
2. Is the door closer in good condition? Even though it may be currently working, be on the lookout for leaking oil or degraded hardware, it can be a sign of a near failure.
3. Is the lock in good condition? The door must positively latch at all times. Make sure there are no obstructions in the frame that would prevent the door from fully closing and latching and that the latch on the lock fully engages with the strike.
4. Are there large gaps between the door and the frame? Tight tolerances are required to pass inspection.
5. Is the door in good condition? For wood doors, make sure that the veneer isn’t excessively cracked or separated from the rails. Metal doors must also be inspected to make sure there aren’t large amounts of rust present or if the internal welds are failing. Are there large holes or added hardware to the door that would prevent egress or positive latching?
Keeping a close eye on your fire rated openings and taking a preventative approach can save you time and headache with your local inspectors. We were able to help our customer repair and ensure their fire doors were functioning properly and pass the fire door inspection! We can help you protect your people and property with repairs or replacement of fire door so you can pass fire door inspections. Book a free evaluation with our team below!