Fire Rated Door Inspections

Fire Rated Door Inspections 

Fire safety is a key concern for building owners, residents, facility managers and engineers and there are a lot of ways to mitigate the risk of fires. Fire doors play a vital part in fire prevention. Sprinkler Fire Safety Awareness & Welfare Foundation (SFSAWF) in India create awareness about fire safety. A 2022 study from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme revealed that a shocking 86% of fire doors were not fit for purpose in the INDIA (either because they were installed incorrectly or poorly maintained). This also suggests that increased education about fire door safety could reduce fire risks and save lives.

What is a fire door?

A fire door is a special kind of door that is designed to withstand fires. They come with features that can slow down the spread of fires while buying occupants more time to escape.

Fire doors are made from a combination of solid timber, aluminium, steel and gypsum. They usually come with a silicone-based sealant that is fire resistant, and an intumescent strip on the base of the door which will expand when exposed to heat (and prevent the spread of smoke). Some fire doors have windows made from special kinds of glass which have a higher level of heat resistance.

Designers should locate fire doors in key locations around buildings to prevent the spread of fire. There are several grades of fire doors that are designed to be resistant for longer. For example, FD30 doors offer 30 minutes of resistance, FD60 doors offer 60 minutes resistance, and so on.

What is a fire door inspection?

A fire door inspection involves a series of checks to each door to ensure that it meets standards and is installed correctly. As designers and contractors often install fire doors in busy areas such as communal spaces or corridors, they are prone to damage through overuse or incorrect use (such as wedging them open).

A fire door inspector will check for the following kinds of things:

Certification: Is the door actually a fire door and does it meet national standards?

Incorrect use: Have tenants or building users wedged the door open?

Visible damage: Has frequent use or bumping led to damages in the door frame, handle or lock mechanism?

Closing: Does the door close correctly, or does the lock mechanism rattle?

Gaps: How wide are the gaps between the door and the door frame (max 4mm at top and sides, max 10mm from the floor)

Sealant: If the door design includes sealant, is it in good condition?

Who is responsible for inspecting fire doors?

This depends on who the responsible person in a building is. A responsible person is:

In residential properties, it may be the owner, property developer or a housing association.

For commercial properties, it could be the employer, the owner, or a property management company.

In schools, hospitals or care homes it could be the Management Company, facility manager, or owner.

First, you must choose a responsible person to take responsibility for a variety of health and safety issues, including fire door inspection. This is an especially important role – if this person fails in their duties, they are likely to face prosecution.

Who Can Inspect 

It is not necessary to use a certified door inspector to perform the annual testing and inspections. Section 3.3.96 of NFPA 80 defines a qualified person for performing the tests and inspections as, “A person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, professional standing, or skill, and who, by knowledge, training, and experience, has demonstrated the ability to deal with the subject matter, the work, or the project.”   

According to the NFPA definition, no certification is required. This gives managers two options: in-house performance of the testing and inspections and outsourcing. For in-house inspections, the department might already have qualified personnel to perform the tasks. If not, managers can have personnel attend a training session that specifically targets fire door inspections. If a number of personnel need to be trained, managers can have a qualified outside person conduct the training on-site. The key is to make certain the in-house personnel performing the inspections are knowledgeable concerning doors and have been trained as to the requirements of the regulation. Sprinkler Fire Safety Awareness & Welfare Foundation (SFSAWF) in India is a NGO, Zero inspection charges any one can contact with them.

How often must you do fire door inspections?

It may seem surprising but there are currently no minimum legal requirements for the frequency of fire door inspections. However, the law makes it clear that fire-resistant doors must be adequately maintained. In general, it is best practice to:

Inspect automatic release doors weekly (these doors close whenever the fire alarm activates)

Examine regularly used doors in key communal areas every three months

Inspect all other fire doors every six months

In new builds, more frequent checks are advisable in the first year of use due to structural changes that may occur as the building settles

NFPA’s Fire Doors and Windows technical committee completed its task of updating and expanding NFPA 80 in early 2006. Changes and additions have been incorporated into the 2007 edition of NFPA 80, the “Standard for Fire Rated Doors and Other Opening Protectives.”

The model building codes reference NFPA 80 as the standard for the installation and maintenance of fire-rated door assemblies. Additional codes of equal importance are the ICC’s International Fire Code (IFC), NFPA’s Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1) and NFPA 101, The Life Safety Code. The code language is very specific. For example, the IFC, section 703.2 specifies that “Opening Protectives” shall be maintained in an operative condition in accordance with NFPA 80.

Why is Annual Inspection of Fire-Rated Door Assemblies Required?

NFPA 80 has required the frequent inspection of fire-rated doors, and their immediate repair, for many years. The challenge has been that it is nearly impossible to define what “frequent” means. NFPA 80 has helped to define the frequency of inspections as annually – once a year.

What is Inspected on Fire-Rated Openings?

Former editions of NFPA 80 have established guidelines for the installation and maintenance of fire-rated doors. There are certain baseline elements, which are common to all swinging doors with builders hardware no matter when they were installed. The 2007 edition of NFPA 80 simply requires these baseline elements to be inspected on an annual basis (yearly).

Inspection Steps

Chapter 5, Section 5-2 Inspections, Paragraph 5-2.4 Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware lists the elements that are required to be inspected. It requires, “fire door assemblies to be visually inspected from both sides to assess the condition of the assembly.” Swinging doors with builders hardware will be inspected to verify the following:

• No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces of either the door or frame.

• Glazing, vision light frames, and glazing beads are intact and securely fastened in place, if so equipped.

• The door, frame, hinges, hardware and noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned, and in working order with no visible signs of damage.

• No parts are missing or broken.

• Door clearances at the door edge to the frame, on the pull side of the door, do not exceed clearances listed in 4.8.4 and 6.3.1.

• The self-closing device is operating by verifying that the active door will completely close when operated from the full open position.

• If a coordinator is installed, the inactive leaf closes before the active leaf.

• Latching hardware operates and secures the door when it is in the closed position.

• Auxiliary hardware items, which interfere or prohibit operation, are not installed on the door and frame.

• No field modifications to the door assembly have been performed that void the label.

• Gasketing and edge seals, where required, are inspected to verify their presence and integrity.

Individually, these items seem like small problems, but in the context of a fire emergency their importance becomes readily apparent. If the door assembly doesn’t function as designed at the time of the fire, it simply cannot protect the occupants as intended. In multi-family residential construction, this is important as residents are expecting the fire resistance of the door and wall to protect them in the corridors as they egress in an emergency.

Performance-Based Inspection Cycle for Large Buildings

The NFPA 80 committee was concerned with how large buildings, institutions and campuses would be able to inspect each fire-rated door assembly every year.

These situations are provided for in the language of paragraph 5-2.2 Performance-Based Option. Under the Performance-Based Option, a facility may have an extended inspection cycle provided it is approved by the AHJ. The full description of the Performance-Based Option is described in Annex J, NFPA 80.

The foundation, partnering with members of the Door and Hardware Institute, continues to offer halfday training sessions for AHJs. These half-day sessions provide fire and building code officials with a better understanding of what to approve when they are asked to verify the inspection of a fire-rated opening. The Door and Hardware Institute offers instructional classes with several prerequisites to educate inspectors of fire resistance rated doors and builders hardware.

Not Sure What a Fire Door Looks Like?

This may sound unusual, but it is very common for employees and building occupants to have no idea which doors are fire doors. Look for these key indicators that a door is a fire door.

1. Self-closing
2. Ball-bearing hinges
3. Wire-mesh glass
4. A label on the edge of the door between the top and center hinges

Please feel free to ask any questions you may not be sure of, but I’d also enjoy hearing what you liked about the article. 

It’s over to you now …

What is CE Marking

 What is CE Marking

CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). The letters “CE” stand for “Conformité Européene” which means “European Conformity.” The CE mark is required for certain products sold within the EEA and is a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets all the legal requirements for CE marking. The CE mark also allows manufacturers to freely circulate their products within the EEA without undergoing further product modification. In this article, we will learn about the meaning, full form, notification bodies, steps, and applications of CE marking.

Meaning of CE marking

CE marking means that a product has been assessed and meets the requirements of relevant European Union (EU) product safety legislation. It is a symbol that the manufacturer or importer of a product has declared that the product complies with all the legal requirements in the EU for that type of product. When a product bears the CE mark, it means that it has been independently tested and certified as meeting EU safety, health, and environmental standards. CE marking also indicates that the product can be legally placed on the market in any country in the EU and EEA. In summary, CE marking is a certification that a product meets EU standards for safety, health, and environmental protection, and allows the free movement of the product within the EU and EEA market.

Full form of CE marking

The full form of CE marking is “Conformité Européene” which means “European Conformity” in English.
It is a certification mark that indicates that a product has been assessed and meets the requirements of relevant European Union (EU) product safety legislation. The CE mark is a requirement for certain products to be legally placed on the market within the European Economic Area (EEA). When a product bears the CE mark, it means that it has been independently tested and certified as meeting EU safety, health, and environmental standards. It also indicates that the product can be legally placed on the market in any country in the EEA and EU.

Requirements for CE marking

CE marking is required for certain products that are subject to specific EU legislation, such as construction products, medical devices, machinery, electrical equipment, personal protective equipment, and toys, to name a few examples. The CE mark is a requirement for these products to be legally placed on the market in any country within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EU has set up a system of harmonized standards for many products, and manufacturers must comply with these standards and perform the necessary conformity assessments to demonstrate that their products meet the required safety, health, and environmental performance levels. CE marking is not only a legal requirement but also a commercial requirement for many products. In some cases, it is also a requirement for access to certain public procurement tenders.

When is CE marking not required?

CE marking is not required for all products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). Some products are excluded from the scope of the EU Directives that require CE marking, and therefore, manufacturers do not have to CE mark these products.

Examples of products that are excluded from the requirement for CE marking include:

·        Products that are not covered by any EU Directive or Regulation that requires CE marking.

·        Products that are considered to be custom-made and not intended for commercial distribution

·        Products that are intended for export only and are not placed on the EU market.

·        Products that are considered to be serviced and not tangible goods.

·        Products that are considered to be part of a larger assembly and only play a subsidiary role.

·        Additionally, it’s important to note that some products are exempt from certain aspects of the relevant EU Directives, in this case, the manufacturer may still be required to CE mark the product, but only for the parts of the product that fall within the scope of the Directive.

It’s important to consult the EU Directives and Regulations that apply to the specific product to determine whether CE marking is required or not.

List of Notified bodies for CE marking

Notified bodies are independent organizations that are designated by the European Union (EU) to assess and certify products for CE marking. They are authorized to perform conformity assessments on behalf of the EU and issue the necessary certificates or test reports to enable manufacturers to CE mark their products.

Some examples of notified bodies for CE marking include:

·        TÜV SÜD

·        Bureau Veritas

·        UL (Underwriters Laboratories)

·        SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance)

·        Intertek

·        Lloyd’s Register

·        DEKRA

·        BSI (British Standards Institution)

·        TÜV Rheinland

It’s important to note that not all notified bodies can assess and certify all types of products for CE marking, as the scope of accreditation for each notified body is defined by the EU and varies depending on the product and the EU Directive or Regulation that applies to it.

Manufacturers should always check the list of notified bodies on the EU website, and select a notified body that is accredited for the specific product and directive they need. Also, they should take into account the location of the notified body, as some manufacturers prefer to work with a notified body that is located in the same country or region as their manufacturing facility.

Steps for CE marking

The steps for getting CE marking for a product can vary depending on the specific EU Directive or Regulation that applies to the product, but generally, the process involves the following steps:

·        Determine the EU Directives and Regulations that apply to the product: The first step is to determine which EU Directives or Regulations apply to the product, as each Directive or Regulation has its own set of requirements that must be met.

·        Identify the appropriate conformity assessment route: Depending on the product and the Directive or Regulation that applies to it, there may be several conformity assessment routes available. The manufacturer must choose the appropriate route based on the product and its intended use.

·        Conduct a conformity assessment: Once the appropriate conformity assessment route has been identified, the manufacturer must conduct the necessary assessments to demonstrate that the product meets the relevant safety, health, and environmental performance levels. This may involve testing, inspections, or both.

·        Prepare the technical documentation: The manufacturer must prepare a technical file or documentation that contains all the information necessary to demonstrate that the product meets the relevant requirements. This file should include test reports, declarations of conformity, and instructions for use, among other documents.

·        Obtain a CE marking certificate: Once the conformity assessment and technical documentation are complete, the manufacturer must obtain a CE marking certificate from a notified body, which is an independent organization designated by the EU to assess and certify products for CE marking.

·        Affix the CE marking: Once the manufacturer has obtained the CE marking certificate, they can affix the CE mark to the product and its packaging, as well as include it in the user manual or other documentation.

·        Keep records and be ready for market surveillance: The manufacturer must keep records of the conformity assessment and technical documentation for at least 10 years. They should also be ready for market surveillance by the EU, as it is the manufacturer’s legal responsibility to ensure that the product complies with the applicable EU Directives and Regulations.

It’s important to note that the above steps are general and can vary depending on the specific product and the Directive or Regulation that applies to it, so manufacturers should consult the specific EU Directive or Regulation that applies to their product for more detailed information.

CE marking for medical devices

CE marking is required for medical devices that are placed on the market within the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). Medical devices are subject to specific EU legislation, the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In-Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR) which requires manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements of safety and performance before placing their devices on the EU market.

The CE marking process for medical devices involves conformity assessment by a notified body, which is an independent organization designated by the EU to assess and certify products for CE marking. The manufacturer must also prepare a technical file or documentation that contains all the information necessary to demonstrate that the device meets the relevant requirements.

The conformity assessment process for medical devices can vary depending on the class of the device, the level of risk it poses, and the intended use of the device. For example, Class I devices have the lowest risk and typically require self-declaration of compliance by the manufacturer, whereas Class III and implantable devices have the highest risk and require the most rigorous conformity assessment and ongoing post-market surveillance by the manufacturer.

It’s important to note that the EU’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In-Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR) are recently implemented in May 2020 and 2022 respectively and will replace the previous Medical Device Directive (MDD) and In-Vitro Diagnostics Directive (IVDD) respectively, and as such new rules and regulations apply.

Applications of CE marking

CE marking applies to a wide range of products that are placed on the market within the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). The main application of CE marking is to indicate that a product has been independently assessed and meets the requirements of relevant EU product safety legislation. Some of the main applications of CE marking include:

·        Construction products: CE marking is required for construction products that are subject to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). This includes products such as concrete, steel, and timber, as well as insulation, roofing, and flooring products.

·        Machinery: CE marking is required for machinery that is subject to the Machinery Directive. This includes equipment such as cranes, lifts, and conveyors, as well as power tools and other hand-held machinery.

·        Medical Devices: CE marking is required for medical devices that are subject to the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In-Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR). This includes products such as surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, and implantable devices.

·        Electrical Equipment: CE marking is required for electrical equipment that is subject to the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC). This includes products such as lighting, appliances, and IT equipment.

·        Personal Protective Equipment: CE marking is required for personal protective equipment (PPE) that is subject to the PPE Regulation. This includes products such as safety helmets, goggles, and respirators.

·        Toys: CE marking is required for toys that are subject to the Toy Safety Directive. This includes products such as dolls, action figures, and games.

·        Recreational Craft: CE marking is required for recreational crafts that are subject to the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)

·        Gas Appliances: CE marking is required for gas appliances that are subject to the Gas Appliances Directive (GAD)

It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there are other products that also require CE markings, such as pressure equipment, explosives for civil use, and many others. It’s always advisable to consult the EU Directives and Regulations that apply to the specific product to determine whether CE marking is required or not.