Toilet Room Corridor Door in I-1 with Rescue Hardware

[100eyeballs]

Typically in I-2 hospitals a toilet room located in a corridor is allowed (required) to have emergency rescue hardware and there is no problem since corridor construction is non-rated smoke partitions, with non-rated doors.

Trying to apply the same application in a I-1 facility, with 1-hour fire rated fire partition corridor requirement and 20 minute fire-rated opening protective doors. Rescue hardware is not allowed on fire-rated doors from what I understand. Is there a way to allow these doors by code?

 

[globe trekker]

Short answer is "No!"

Rescue type hardware is not allowed on required fire rated doors!

Also, we have some great door hardware experts on here ("Doorman" &

"LGreene"), ..maybe they will chime in. Also, see this link:

I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » Rescue Hardware



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[LGreene]

Typically in I-2 hospitals a toilet room located in a corridor is allowed (required) to have emergency rescue hardware and there is no problem since corridor construction is non-rated smoke partitions, with non-rated doors.Trying to apply the same application in a I-1 facility, with 1-hour fire rated fire partition corridor requirement and 20 minute fire-rated opening protective doors. Rescue hardware is not allowed on fire-rated doors from what I understand. Is there a way to allow these doors by code?

The problem isn't so much the hardware, but the frame. Because the door has to swing in both directions, a cased opening frame must be used. This type of frame has no stops, and nothing to limit the spread of smoke/flames around the door edges. It won't pass a fire test. Can you swing the doors out of the bathroom instead? Then you won't need rescue hardware.

 

[globe trekker]

Can you swing the doors out of the bathroom instead? Then you won't need rescue hardware.

Depending upon the "required" width of the I-1 corridor, the outswinging door might swing

too much in to the "required" corridor width (RE: 2006 Edition of the IBC, Section 1005.2).

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