fire doors and fire exit hardware

[cheyer]

Just looking for a little confirmation....All fire doors, regardless of hourly rating, shall always use fire exit hardware (can't be dogged, listed for fire door use, etc.) and never panic hardware, correct?

The way I read it, the doors themselves should always have the label saying that the doors must

be used with fire exit hardware....honestly, I rarely ever see that label on the doors....what is the best way to make sure the whole assembly is installed as it should be?

Thanks in advance!

 

[cda]

NO, you are talking about sushi and steak

From an expert in the field ;;;;;

I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » Q&A: Panic Hardware vs. Fire Exit Hardware

I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » Decoded: New Occupant Load Requirements for Panic Hardware (May 2011)

 

[LGreene]

Fire doors need to be positive-latching, regardless of the rating (with an exception for I-2 cross-corridor doors). Panic hardware that can be dogged is not positive-latching, so fire exit hardware is required. The doors are supposed to have a label which states that fire exit hardware will be used. This indicates that the doors are properly reinforced for the fire exit hardware. Not every fire door requires panic hardware or fire exit hardware, of course (I know that's not what you meant in your question but I'm just clarifying), locksets and latchsets can be used too as long as the doors aren't serving an Assembly or Educational occupancy with 50 or more occupants (100 or more per the 2003 IBC and NFPA 101). Charles supplied the links above.

 

[cda]

Ok now I learned something

Thought fire exit hardware was only required where specified

Did not think about dogging of panic hardware, on all fire doors

Some reason I thought fire exit hardware was specified on stairwell doors

I guess, yes door shall positive latch, but just because panic hardware can be dogged, is there code to back up that it cannot be used??

 

[cda]

Interesting, now I am not sure what I was thinking about??

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/prevention/fmpublications/ccgpanic.pdf

 

[LGreene]

I guess, yes door shall positive latch, but just because panic hardware can be dogged, is there code to back up that it cannot be used??

From NFPA 80 - 2007:

6.4.4 Locks or Latches.

6.4.4.1 Only labeled locks and latches or labeled fire exit hardware (panic devices) meeting both life safety requirements and fire protection requirements shall be used.

6.4.4.2 Fire exit hardware shall be installed only on fire doors bearing the marking “Fire Door To Be Equipped with Fire Exit Hardware.”

6.4.4.2.1 Fire exit hardware shall be labeled for both fire and panic.

6.4.4.2.2 Fire exit hardware shall have a permanently attached label that bears the serial number and shows the manufacturer’s name and type of approval.

6.4.4.2.3 The label shall differentiate between panic hardware, which is not acceptable for use on fire doors, and fire exit hardware.

 

[cheyer]

Lgreene,

My point exactly, the doors are supposed to have a label saying that fire exit hardware must be used.....but in the cases it is missing..what should be done to verify it is needed? (Check with door mfg?)...also do the other options besides panic and fire exit hardware need to be listed as " fire exit hardware " as well, or is that only limited to the panic bar type?

 

[cheyer]

In regards to the section 6.4.4.2...... if the label is in fact missing...then what type of hardware should be installed?

 

[LGreene]

Fire exit hardware is panic hardware that has been successfully tested as fire exit hardware as well as for panic. If the door doesn't have the supplemental label, it should have a lockset or latchset - something that provides positive latching but is not an exit device/panic hardware. If a fire door does not have a label that states "fire door to be equipped with fire exit hardware" it should not have fire exit hardware installed on it. If it does, you can take the number off the door label and check with the manufacturer to see if it was ever equipped with the supplemental label (maybe it was removed?). But whether or not the door needs the label should not depend on the manufacturer - since NFPA 80 requires that label, all manufacturers have to comply. If the door manufacturer confirms that the difference between the door with or without the label is just the label (ie. if the door was properly reinforced for fire exit hardware but the label wasn't ordered/applied), then it's up to the AHJ whether to allow the door to remain as-is.

 

[mark handler]

We need to remember, follow the codes in your area, the NFPA and IBC, do not contain the same language.

What is required in one jurisdiction, may not be required in another jurisdiction.

IBC vs NFPA

 

[LGreene]

We need to remember, follow the codes in your area, the NFPA and IBC, do not contain the same language.What is required in one jurisdiction, may not be required in another jurisdiction. IBC vs NFPA

NFPA 80 is referenced by both the IBC and NFPA 101, so the fire door requirements are basically the same. There are differences between the IBC and 101 of course, for example, panic hardware is required by NFPA 101 for doors serving Assembly, Educational, and Day Care occupancies with a load of 100 or more, vs. the IBC (2006 and later) requires panic hardware for doors serving Assembly and Educational occupancies with a load of 50 or more. The answer to the label questions above are the same for the IBC and 101 though.

 

[cda]

still trying to fiqure out where my thinking came from, to many code books over the years!!!!!!!!!!