Fire door assembly

[Sifu]

I have a proposal to replace a single leaf 1-hr fire door assembly with a 1-hr double leaf door. My first reaction is to provide the testing and labeling requirements per 2018 IBC 716.2.1.1, as an assembly. The spec for the door replacement indicates separate components for the frame, door, hinges, and hardware. Each of the components is listed as either "fire rated" or "60-min.".

Researching the individual components it looks like they are taking a 1-hr metal frame, inserting a pair of 1-hr solid oak doors with 1-hr vision panels. Smoke seals, sweeps and closers (but only 1), and 2 manual flushbolts (for installation on a metal door) are also listed. Not sure (yet) where in the building this is located, what the occupant load it serves is, or use of the spaces, but it is a church, so fair bet it has an A component to it. There is a line item for 3 "60-min. fire labels". I'm not sure if any of this works or not. Is it acceptable if each component is labeled? No astragal or coordinator is listed, so I am thinking this would need to be tested as an assembly, but I am a little stumped by this. I don't think the manual flush bolts would be permitted but I don't have all the information yet, same for the hardware.

 

[steveray]

I have a proposal to replace a single leaf 1-hr fire door assembly with a 1-hr double leaf door. My first reaction is to provide the testing and labeling requirements per 2018 IBC 716.2.1.1, as an assembly. The spec for the door replacement indicates separate components for the frame, door, hinges, and hardware. Each of the components is listed as either "fire rated" or "60-min.".

Researching the individual components it looks like they are taking a 1-hr metal frame, inserting a pair of 1-hr solid oak doors with 1-hr vision panels. Smoke seals, sweeps and closers (but only 1), and 2 manual flushbolts (for installation on a metal door) are also listed. Not sure (yet) where in the building this is located, what the occupant load it serves is, or use of the spaces, but it is a church, so fair bet it has an A component to it. There is a line item for 3 "60-min. fire labels". I'm not sure if any of this works or not. Is it acceptable if each component is labeled? No astragal or coordinator is listed, so I am thinking this would need to be tested as an assembly, but I am a little stumped by this. I don't think the manual flush bolts would be permitted but I don't have all the information yet, same for the hardware.

You have access to NFPA 80?

 

[Sifu]

I do if I can remember my credentials, been awhile since I logged in.

 

[steveray]

They are usually different pieces, not sure on the manual flush bolts for a rating...

 

[LR419]

I don't think the manual flush bolts would be permitted but I don't have all the information yet, same for the hardware.

Does the application meet one of the exceptions in 2018 IBC 1010.1.9.5 to allow manual bolts? If so, one manual flush bolt and one automatic flush bolt (to allow the leaf to latch when it closes) may be acceptable.

 

[Sifu]

I don't know the answer to that yet. My only comment on this review is that I don't have enough information. This is what I got for plans. (gotta love it!).


But changing to a solid oak door, with vision lites, in a rated wall makes me believe this is more than a storage room or an office area in the church. I am just doing research for their possible responses.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Following on a previous post, if NPFA 80 is empowered by Code, then everything has to be NFPA-80 compliant. This would mean that each door as well as the frame would have to have NFPA-compliant ratings (labels or - as caught me on one build, embossed declarations.)

 

[steveray]

 

[LGreene]

Manual flush bolts are only permitted on fire door assemblies if the door is serving a space that is not normally occupied by people, and it requires AHJ approval. NFPA 80 also allows the closer on the inactive leaf to be omitted in this situation, again with AHJ approval. So if these doors are serving a storage room, for example, you might be ok with it. But if the doors are serving any room that has people in it, they will need automatic or possibly constant latching flush bolts with a coordinator, and door closers on both leaves. Each of the components will be listed/labeled separately, and they may or may not not need an astragal, depending on the door manufacturer's listings. If the door is serving an assembly occupancy, the doors will need fire exit hardware instead of the flush bolts and lever.

I'll try to watch this thread in case you get more info or have follow-up questions.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I'm pretty certain that manual bolts are not allowed on fire doors. IBC 1010.1.9.5 applies to "means of egress" doors, which includes both exit doors and exit access doors. Fire doors (both leaves, in the case of pairs) must be self-latching. Fire doors need automatic bolts (surface or flush), and coordinators to ensure that the inactive leaf closes and latches first.

 

[Sifu]

Manual flush bolts are only permitted on fire door assemblies if the door is serving a space that is not normally occupied by people, and it requires AHJ approval. NFPA 80 also allows the closer on the inactive leaf to be omitted in this situation, again with AHJ approval. So if these doors are serving a storage room, for example, you might be ok with it. But if the doors are serving any room that has people in it, they will need automatic or possibly constant latching flush bolts with a coordinator, and door closers on both leaves. Each of the components will be listed/labeled separately, and they may or may not not need an astragal, depending on the door manufacturer's listings. If the door is serving an assembly occupancy, the doors will need fire exit hardware instead of the flush bolts and lever.

I'll try to watch this thread in case you get more info or have follow-up questions.

Until I get more, my assumption is it serves an A occupancy, no manual flush bolts permitted. If no flushbolts, then I don't know how it stays in place. The spec does say they are on hold-opens tied to the fire alarm. The stuff I want to make sure of most is the individual components put together to make the assembly, and that the ratings will hold when put together. For some reason I was thinking it had to be tested as a unit, but there may be some exception to that...I just don't know where I came up with it.

To be frank, churches are some of the worst offenders in my experience. The proposal seems kind of hodgepodged together, but at least the plans were awesome!

Once I get past the information needed to start a review I will update.

 

[LGreene]

I'm pretty certain that manual bolts are not allowed on fire doors. IBC 1010.1.9.5 applies to "means of egress" doors, which includes both exit doors and exit access doors. Fire doors (both leaves, in the case of pairs) must be self-latching. Fire doors need automatic bolts (surface or flush), and coordinators to ensure that the inactive leaf closes and latches first.

Here's where I got my answer (above) from NFPA 80, about using manual flush bolts where the doors are serving rooms not normally occupied by people:

6.4.4.5.1* Manually operated, labeled, top and bottom flush-mounted or surface-mounted bolts on the inactive leaf of a pair of doors shall be permitted to be used where acceptable to the AHJ, provided they do not pose a hazard to safety to life.
A.6.4.4.5.1 This provision limits their use to rooms not normally occupied by humans (e.g., transformer vaults and storage rooms).

 

[LGreene]

Until I get more, my assumption is it serves an A occupancy, no manual flush bolts permitted. If no flushbolts, then I don't know how it stays in place. The spec does say they are on hold-opens tied to the fire alarm. The stuff I want to make sure of most is the individual components put together to make the assembly, and that the ratings will hold when put together. For some reason I was thinking it had to be tested as a unit, but there may be some exception to that...I just don't know where I came up with it.

To be frank, churches are some of the worst offenders in my experience. The proposal seems kind of hodgepodged together, but at least the plans were awesome!

Once I get past the information needed to start a review I will update.

If the doors are serving an A occupancy with a load of 50+ (if you're using the IBC), the doors will need fire exit hardware. On the topic of the individual components vs. assembly, it is uncommon these days to see everything tested as an assembly. You can have a rated frame from one manufacturer, a rated door from another, and rated hardware from a variety of manufacturers. The listings can also be from different listing labs - like some from UL and some from Intertek.

NFPA 80 is not super-specific but here's what it says:
4.2.7 Components.
4.2.7.1 A fire door assembly shall consist of components that
are separate products incorporated into the assembly and are
allowed to have their own subcomponents.
4.2.7.2* Except where restricted by individual published list‐
ings, a fire door assembly shall be permitted to consist of the
labeled, listed, or classified components of different organiza‐
tions that are acceptable to the AHJ.

 

[Sifu]

If the doors are serving an A occupancy with a load of 50+ (if you're using the IBC), the doors will need fire exit hardware. On the topic of the individual components vs. assembly, it is uncommon these days to see everything tested as an assembly. You can have a rated frame from one manufacturer, a rated door from another, and rated hardware from a variety of manufacturers. The listings can also be from different listing labs - like some from UL and some from Intertek.

NFPA 80 is not super-specific but here's what it says:
4.2.7 Components.
4.2.7.1 A fire door assembly shall consist of components that
are separate products incorporated into the assembly and are
allowed to have their own subcomponents.
4.2.7.2* Except where restricted by individual published list‐
ings, a fire door assembly shall be permitted to consist of the
labeled, listed, or classified components of different organiza‐
tions that are acceptable to the AHJ.

Thank you. I read the same thing in NFPA 80, so I think that part is OK. Now I just need the information from the applicant to apply the correct code sections.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Until I get more, my assumption is it serves an A occupancy, no manual flush bolts permitted. If no flushbolts, then I don't know how it stays in place.

Automatic flush bolts. Pretty standard stuff, actually. It doesn't matter if the doors are on hold-opens. If they are fire doors, they have to latch automatically when they close.

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