• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Door assembly rating

Robert

REGISTERED
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
348
Location
Pinole, CA
I am working on a TI in the upstairs portion of a 1970's 2 story unsprinklered building in CA. Type VB, multiple tenants with doors going into a common corridor which leads to exit stairs. As far as I can tell, there is no rated fire assemblies required (less than 9000 sq. ft. total bldg. area, no mixed occupancies). Table 716.5 calls for rated doors in corridor walls, but is that only if the corridor walls are also fire rated (which I don't believe these are required to be)? I noticed all of the doors going into the corridor have wire glass. Thanks.
 
Thanks, I did not see that table. I will have to estimate an occupancy count of the spaces on that floor. It's difficult without as-built drawings but it looks close to 30 and that appears to be the cutoff for a rated corridor.
 
Plus if you are not touching the corrior walls or say just working on one out of say ten suites, you normally do not have to bring the entire corridor to present code.
 
Thanks, I did not see that table. I will have to estimate an occupancy count of the spaces on that floor. It's difficult without as-built drawings but it looks close to 30 and that appears to be the cutoff for a rated corridor.

B occupancy? 100sqft per person, not that hard....Per CDA, is there corridor work going on?
 
IBC 34
3401.2 Maintenance.
Buildings and structures, and parts thereof, shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. Devices or safeguards which are required by this code shall be maintained in conformance with the code edition under which installed. The owner or the owner’s designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of buildings and structures. To determine compliance with this subsection, the building official shall have the authority to require a building or structure to be reinspected. The requirements of this chapter shall not provide the basis for removal or abrogation of fire protection and safety systems and devices in existing structures.

This means if it was required to have rated corridors and opening protection at the time it was built they have to be maintained. My 1982 UBC required a one-hour rated corridor with 20 minute doors if the corridor served more than 30 occupants. As Steveray pointed out it is not hard to figure.

Does CA have anything similar to this that is in the IEBC


805.5 Openings in corridor walls.
Openings in corridor walls in any work area shall comply with Sections 805.5.1 through 805.5.4.

Exception: Openings in corridors where such corridors are not required to be rated in accordance with the International Building Code.

805.5.1 Corridor doors.
Corridor doors in the work area shall not be constructed of hollow core wood and shall not contain louvers. All dwelling unit or sleeping unit corridor doors in work areas in buildings of Groups R-1, R-2, and I-1 shall be at least 13/8-inch (35 mm) solid core wood or approved equivalent and shall not have any glass panels, other than approved wired glass or other approved glazing material in metal frames. All dwelling unit or sleeping unit corridor doors in work areas in buildings of Groups R-1, R-2, and I-1 shall be equipped with approved door closers. All replacement doors shall be 13/4-inch (45 mm) solid bonded wood core or approved equivalent, unless the existing frame will accommodate only a 13/8-inch (35 mm) door.

Exceptions:

1. Corridor doors within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.

2. Existing doors meeting the requirements of Guidelines on Fire Ratings of Archaic Materials and Assemblies (IEBC Resource A) for a rating of 15 minutes or more shall be accepted as meeting the provisions of this requirement.

3. Existing doors in buildings protected throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be required only to resist smoke, be reasonably tight fitting, and shall not contain louvers.

4. In group homes with a maximum of 15 occupants and that are protected with an approved automatic detection system, closing devices may be omitted.

5. Door assemblies having a fire protection rating of at least 20 minutes.

805.5.2 Transoms.
In all buildings of Group I-1, R-1 and R-2 occupancy, all transoms in corridor walls in work areas shall either be glazed with 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) wired glass set in metal frames or other glazing assemblies having a fire protection rating as required for the door and permanently secured in the closed position or sealed with materials consistent with the corridor construction.

805.5.3 Other corridor openings.
In any work area, any other sash, grille, or opening in a corridor and any window in a corridor not opening to the outside air shall be sealed with materials consistent with the corridor construction.

805.5.3.1 Supplemental requirements for other corridor opening.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, Section 805.5.3 shall be applicable to all corridor windows, grills, sashes, and other openings on the floor.

Exception: Means of egress within or serving only a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.

805.5.4 Supplemental requirements for corridor openings.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, the requirements of Sections 805.5.1 through 805.5.3 shall apply throughout the floor.
 
Thanks for all the info. We will not be remodeling the corridor but I will be replacing the egress door from the space leading to the corridor. The existing door does not appear to have a closer. Do I need one for the new door? Occupant load of my space is 15.
 
Back
Top