Occupancy Change and Fire Door Modifications

[popalockcv]

New to the forum, and so happy I found it (a lot of great information found so far)! We have an opportunity in front of us in which an office building from the early 1990s is being converted to a faith-based Charter School. AHJ says all exits require a fire-rated panic device. In addition a sprinkler system is being installed in the entire facility. Many of the doors are 3-hr rated, and have light kits in them. They also have Corbin-Russwin 433F mortise locks with classroom mortise cylinders and a simple lever trim on each side.

Reached out to ASSA ABLOY and didn't get very far. On their site, I couldn't find anything that would be a direct replacement that we could mount an exit device to. Like all projects, the locks were the last thing anyone thought of, and they want to take occupancy asap. We've done limited fire door work, and have always used direct replacements whenever we have, so unsure of what level of modification can be done.

Any advice for what you would do? Door labels are from a company that we cannot find in existence any longer (American Door out of Nebraska), and, of course, some have been painted over!

Wood doors on the interior, steel on the exterior, most with grouted frames, so the expense of removal and installation of new doors may be a significant delay (as well as cost). Would all doors need to be re-certified?

 

[JPohling]

A plan would be great. Where are these 3 hour rated doors located? seems very odd for a B office building.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Contact Lori, here is a direct link to the forum page.

Door & Hardware forum

This is a specialty forum specific to doors and hardware requirements in the IBC. This is a great opportunity to get door-specific questions answered.

www.thebuildingcodeforum.com

Welcome to the forum

 

[classicT]

I'll second you getting in touch with Lori for assistance in finding the correct hardware. She'll be able to get you pointed in the right direction.

But just to build out the forum a bit, I'm putting in the code section that applies herein for why the panic hardware is required.

WI amended 2015 IBC - 1010.1.10 Panic and Fire Exit Hardware​

Doors serving a Group H occupancy and doors serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more in a Group A or E occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
Exceptions:

1. A main exit of a Group A occupancy shall be permitted to be locking in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.3, Item 2.
2. Doors serving a Group A or E occupancy shall be permitted to be electromagnetically locked in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.9.

An electrical room that contains equipment rated 800 amperes or more, and contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices, and contains a personnel door intended for entrance to and egress from the working space less than 25 feet from the nearest edge of the working space, the door shall be equipped with panic hardware or fire exit hardware and open in the direction of egress.

An electrical room that is over 6 feet wide and contains equipment rated 1,200 amperes or more, and contains overcurrent devices, switching devices or control devices, and contains an exit or exit access door, the door shall be equipped with panic hardware or fire exit hardware and open in the direction of egress.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Fire exit hardware shall be listed in accordance with UL 10C and UL 305.