- NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code: NFPA 101 has been adopted in many jurisdictions as the code addressing provisions for the means of egress. The requirements for fire door assembly inspection are clearly stated in NFPA 101:
- 8.3.3.3.1 Required fire door assemblies shall be installed, inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 80. [NFPA 101 – 2021, 2018]
- 8.2.2.4 Where door assemblies are required elsewhere in this Code to be smoke-leakage-rated in accordance with 8.2.2.4…(3) Door assemblies shall be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives. [NFPA 101 – 2021, 2018]
- International Fire Code (IFC) – Many US states have adopted the IFC as their state fire code, with or without state modifications. The requirements for fire doors and smoke doors to be maintained in accordance with the standards includes the requirements for documented inspections:
- 705.2 Inspection and maintenance. Opening protectives in fire-resistance-rated assemblies shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 80. Opening protectives in smoke barriers shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 80 and NFPA 105. Openings in smoke partitions shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 105. [IFC – 2021, 2018]
- International Building Code (IBC) – The IBC is the most widely-used building code in the US and has also been adopted in other countries. The building code is generally used during design and construction, and not referenced for maintenance throughout the life of the building (the adopted fire code is used for that). However, when the building code references NFPA 80 – the 2013 edition or later – these recent editions require fire door assemblies to be inspected after installation, and after maintenance work is completed, in addition to the annual inspections required by the fire code:
- 716.1 General. Opening protectives required by other sections of this code shall comply with the provisions of this section and shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 80. [IBC – 2021, 2018]
- 716.2.10 Installation of door assemblies in corridors and smoke barriers. Installation of smoke doors shall be in accordance with NFPA 105. [IBC – 2021, 2018]
Clearly, the model codes require fire doors and smoke doors to comply with NFPA 80 and NFPA 105. The annual inspections of fire door assemblies began with the 2007 edition of NFPA 80, and the inspections after installation or maintenance work began with the 2013 edition. When the adopted codes in a state or jurisdiction reference an edition of these standards that requires documented fire door inspections, the AHJ can – and should – enforce the requirements unless they are specifically exempted by the state or local code. Detailed information including inspection criteria, documentation, and inspector qualifications are found in NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 – Chapter 5 covers inspection, testing, and maintenance.
INSPECTION CRITERIA FOR SWINGING DOORSWITH BUILDERS OR FIRE DOOR HARDWARE:
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- No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces of either the door or frame.
- Glazing, vision light frames and glazing beads are intact and securely fastened in place, if so equipped.
- The door, frame, hinges, hardware and noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned and in working order with no visible signs of damage.
- No parts are missing or broken.
- Door clearances do not exceed three-quarters inch under the bottom of the door (as provided in Section 4.8.4) and one-eighth inch at the top, hinge and latch edges of the door (as provided in Section 6.3.1.7).
- 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 the 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.
- Gasketing and edge seals, where required, are inspected to verify their presence and integrity.
- Labels are clearly visible and legible.
- Signage affixed to a door meets the requirements listed in 4.1.4.
Similarly, paragraph 5.2.1 of NFPA 105 outlines the following visual inspection criteria for smoke doors:
- Doors shall be operated to confirm full closure.
- Hardware and gaskets shall be inspected, and any parts found to be damaged or inoperative shall be replaced.
Further requirements in NFPA 101 Section 8.5.4 limit the clearances for smoke barrier doors as provided above for fire-rated doors