Checklist of Fire Safety System for Healthcare

Checklist of Fire Safety System for Healthcare building

Building Name:

Building address:

Building Floor name:

Local Fire Bridged name & Cont nos:

As per National Building Code (NBC) Hospital Buildings, Nursing Homes, Sanatoriums have been categories under Group-C “Institutional Building”.

The Institutional Buildings are having some high risk areas with special problems relates life risk of both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. It is therefore necessary to understand the types of hazards associated with the Institutional Buildings vis-à-vis life safety concept.

Life Safety from fire in Hospitals relies on a “Defined – in- Place” principle. Horizontal exits or smoke barriers are required to sub-divide each storey of a Hospital to provide an area of refuge on each floor.

In case of emergency the objectives should be “Keep the fire away from the Patient rather than more the patient away from the fire”

A. Procedure for Calling the Fire Brigade:

a) When calling the Fire Brigade give clear information.

1. Name & Address of the premises where fire has actually broke out.

2. Nearest land mark & name of the access road.

3. Character to the Building and type of occupancy.

4. Nearest water body is available.

5. Telephone No. of the caller & of the particular premises if known.

B. Procedure to be followed for Raising the Alarm:

All occupants/ employees should be aware of how to raise the alarm.

1. Once detector actuated, the on duty staffs will act according to pre-determined plan.

2. The source of alarm must be monitored regularly.

3. Whole premises should be warned through the P.A. system in such a manner that should not generate any panic amongst the occupants.

4. The system should be incorporated to disseminate the information to other emergency support services.

C. Pre-determined area should be identified for refuge or assemble of the occupants (Patient).

D. The assembly or refuge area should have the facility of medical support for patient if needed.

E. The assembly or refuge area must have the access of the emergency vehicles like ambulance or fire service vehicles.

F. Roll call should be taken to ensure that all occupants/ patients are evacuated from the danger zone and the missing person should be notified to the Fire Service and Police Authority.

G. Procedure for Fighting the Fire:

1. In the early stages of a fire it may be possible to successfully contain it or extinguish it with first aid fire fighting equipment.

2. To accomplish this, staff members should be instructed in the use of hand held extinguishers and hose reels.

3. Certain members of staff may be designated as a fire fighting team as part of the emergency procedures & their function would be to assess and "if safe to do so" tackle the fire with the available equipment until the Fire Brigade arrive.

H. Procedure for Assisting the Fire Brigade:

a) When the Fire Brigade arrives they need proper assistance and information as much as possible in order to take the best course of action. The type of information required includes:

1. Exact location of the fire;

2. Type of materials involved in fire;

3. Details of missing persons;

4. Location of nearest fire hydrants;

5. Location of all access doors to the building.

6. Location of any special risks adjoining to the fire location;

7. Keys for access into any locked areas.

RECOMMENDATION OF

MINIMUM ESSENTIAL FIRE SAFETY MEASURES IN INSTITUTIONAL

BUILDINGS

Preventive Measures

1. Good housekeeping in all area, specially stores, kitchen, electrical installation, transformer house and waste disposals etc. should be maintained.

2. No Smoking Zone (while applicable in office, store, depot etc) shall be enforced rigidly.

3. All electrical installations shall be periodically checked & tested by competent electrical

engineers, while all loose electrical wiring if any shall be replaced immediately.

4. Appropriate M.C.B. shall be installed where necessary in the electrical installation as per

Indian Electrical Rules.

5. All old electrical wiring especially in the zone of insignificant and abundant area shall

replace with the new ones.

6. The basement if any should not be used as store room / material dumping / in patient ward or any other purpose which will cause Fire / Smoke.

7. Lift shaft and stair lobby / landing shall be free from any obstacles / obstruction.

8. Use of LPG gas cylinders not more than 320 kg come into a gas bank, to be installed with separate place with barrier and precaution as per IS : 6044.

9. Trained staff in dealing with the fire fighting extinguisher / appliance / Evacuation procedure shall be engaged. Fire fighting drill and evacuation drill should be held on regular basis.

10. Building should come into a modular by making corridors horizontal & vertical exits from the origin of the fire place to a safe area easily and also by incorporating Fire & Smoke Check Door in the lobby approaching to stairways and lift.

11. One senior personal preferably from administration may co-ordinate & look into.

12. On site Emergency / Evacuation plan shall have to be prepared and update at regular

interval.

13. Fire Notice, Fire order, Exit sign, Floor Nos. shall be displayed at conspicuous places as per requirements of NBC Part IV 2016.

14. Arrangement should be made for proper checking, testing and maintenance of all fire

protection and detection system to keep them in properly working condition at all the time.

15. Electrical Safety Audit should be carried out at regular interval as per Indian Electrical Rules.

Protective Measures

1. Water Reservoir exclusively for fire fighting shall be made available as prescribed in National Building Code (NBC) Part IV 2016.

2. Replenishment of the reservoir may be incorporated with deep tube well with auto facility.

3. Fire Hydrant Ring main with Yard Hydrant & Wet Riser system with landing valve shall be installed as per NBC Part IV & IS: 3844.

4. Hose Box containing two nos. 15 M long Hose & 1 No. Branch Pipe with Nozzle to be

installed near each Yard Hydrant & Landing Valve.

5. First-Aid Hose Reel 40 M long to be provided near each landing valve tapped off from the Wet Riser.

6. Sprinkler system to be provided for all the floors & other places / areas as applicable as per NBC Code.

7. Fire fighting extinguisher should be provided within the building as per IS: 2190 and person having work station in that area should be trained to use the same if required initially in case of emergency.

8. The main Fire Pump and one stand by pump of capacity minimum 2280 LPM and head of the pump will be such that 3.5 Kg/cm2 pressure is available at the furthest/highest landing valve, to be installed. Auto start facility should be incorporated in fire pump. Accordingly, Jockey Pump of Capacity 180 LPM shall also be installed.

9. The Stand by pump of equal capacity must be available on alternate sources of

supply, preferably diesel operating pump.

10. Fire Detection & Alarm System for the entire Building shall be provided as per IS: 2185

11. Public Address System with Two way communication System

12. Emergency power supply shall be provided to the following equipment and system.

A. Illumination of means of escape route.

B. Fire Alarm Panel & P.A. Console.

C. Fire Pumps

D. Fire Lift

E. Bore Well

Fire Command Structure:-

1. Chief Executive Officer or Head of the Organization will act as the commanding officer during emergency.

2. The commanding Officer has the primary responsibility to recognize hazards and prepare the fire order and fire operation plan & get them promulgated.

3. To supervise the regular training to the hospital staff (non-medical & medical) of the hospitals and keep them informed about the fire emergency evacuation plan.

4. Medical Superintendent will act as a occupant/patient evacuation supervisor and formulate the emergency evacuation plan and impart training to all the staffs (medical & non-medical) regarding the emergency evacuation procedure.

5. Floor managers/Matrons/floor supervisor will assist the evacuation supervisor in evacuation process.

6. The Chief Engineer/ Maintenance Engineer will act as a head of the fire fighting team and his responsibility to maintain all the fixed fire fighting installation system and constitute the fire fighting team. He should also impart the training about the operation and maintenance of fire fighting installation and conduct training at regular intervals.

ACTION BY SECURITY / DESIGNATED FIRE FIGHTING STAFF

A) INFORM THE FIRE BRIGADE THROUGH ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBERS:

                                    XXX XXXX XXXX

                                    YYY YYYY YYYY

B) ALERT THE OCCUPANTS BY USING PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM & GIVE THEM PROPER GUIDANCE FOR SAFE EVACUATION FROM THE BUILDING.

C) OPERATE THE GROUNDING SWITCH TO BRING FIRE ELEVATOR TO GROUND FLOOR LEVEL.

D) EVACUATE THE OCCUPANTS BY USING FIRE EXITS AND EMERGENCY EXITS ONLY AND ASSEMBLE THEM IN A SAFE PLACE.

E) SWITCH OFF THE POWER SUPPLY OF THE BUILDING EXCEPTING EMERGENCY LIGHT / FIRE LIFT / FIRE ALARM PANEL, PA & TALKBACK PANELS.

F) FIGHT THE FIRE USING NEAREST SUITABLE EXTINGUISHER OR WATER FROM NEAREST HOSE REEL / HYDRANT POINT DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF FIRE.

G) GUIDE THE FIRE FORCE, ON THEIR ARRIVAL TO THE SEAT OF FIRE.

H) INCASE OF CAUSALITIES, CALL AMBULANCE OR MOBILE TRAUMA CARE UNIT.

I) ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY CONSTRAINED, UNCONSCIOUS, DISABLE AND WOMAN ARE EVACUATED.

Weekly Fire Checklist:

Escape routes			Notes / action needed
1	Are escape routes clear?	Yes/No
2	Is there any combustible waste or storage in corridors, lobbies, stairways and chute rooms?	Yes/No
3	Are there any signs of damage to fire-resisting walls, doors and glazing between units and the common parts?	Yes/No
4	Are external routes clear and safe? And if needed well lit?	Yes/No
5	Have any vents required for smoke control been tampered with, forced open and damaged (e.g. by residents seeking to air stuffy atmospheres or to remove the smell from illicit smoking) or blocked up to prevent draughts?	Yes/No
6	Are fire exit signs or fire action notices missing or defaced?	Yes/No
7	Where required are there spare batteries for emergency escape lights & torches.	Yes/No
8	Have emergency lights been inspected – tell-tale lights illuminated	Yes/No
9	Where fitted is emergency lighting and sign lighting working correctly?	Yes/No
Fire doors
1	Can all fire exits be opened immediately and easily?	Yes/No
2	Are fire doors clear of obstructions?	Yes/No
3	Are fire door smoke seals in good condition (not painted over / damaged)?	Yes/No
4	Do all self-closing fire doors work correctly?	Yes/No
5	Do fire doors fit closely with a maximum of 5mm gaps?	Yes/No
6	Do all emergency fastening devices to fire exits (e.g. push bars) work correctly?	Yes/No
7	Are front doors and other entrance and exit doors closing properly?	Yes/No
8	All enclosed staircases shall have access through self closing doors of at least two hour fire resistance – these shall be swing doors opening in the direction of escape. The door shall be fitted with check action door closers.	Yes/No
Fire Detection & Alarm System
1	Is the indicator panel showing ‘normal’?	Yes/No
2	Where provided, are fire detectors, MCP, CM, MM still in place and/or damaged, covered over or interfered with in anyway?	Yes/No
3	Where provided, are fire detectors, MCP, CM, MM indication LED are blinking?	Yes/No
4	Where provided, are 70% fire detectors, MCP, Strobe, Battery are tested?	Yes/No
5	Where applicable has the fire alarm been tested on a weekly basis?	Yes/No
6	Is an ongoing periodical maintenance contract in place?	Yes/No
7	Automatic fire dampers shall be provided at the inlet of the fresh air and return air duct of each compartment on every floor.	Yes/No
8	Fire alarm system should be intercommunicate with BMS	Yes/No
9	Fire alarm system should be intercommunicate with Access Control	Yes/No
10	PA System speaker must be placed so that the information is clearly audible in all areas	Yes/No
Firefighting equipment
1	Are all fire extinguishers in place?	Yes/No
2	Are fire extinguishers discharged or damaged?	Yes/No
3	Are fire extinguishers clearly visible and accessible?	Yes/No
4	Gross weight of Cylinder when inspected in Kgs?	Yes/No
5	Are fire extinguishers Safety Pin damaged?	Yes/No
6	Are vehicles blocking fire hydrants or access to them?	Yes/No
7	Are all Sprinklers shall cover the entire area?	Yes/No
8	Are all Sprinklers line is energized?	Yes/No
9	Are last Sprinklers properly tested?	Yes/No
10	Distance between two hydrants or extinguisher stations must not be more than 30 m, and very clearly marked	Yes/No
11	A Diesel fire pump should be required and provide diesel exhaust pipe from the diesel engine and terminate to atmosphere in a location acceptable to the local Authority / Architect.	Yes/No
12	An additional static water storage tank to be provided at roof / terrace level with capacity specified by the local fire authority with arrangements of replenishment by main or alternate source of supply, which can be used in the eventuality of failure of other system under gravity flow.	Yes/No
13	All valves must be open, accessible and unobstructed	Yes/No
14	All the fire pumps to have direct access from the ground level.	Yes/No
15	What is the capacity of Under Ground / Terrace Static Storage Tank? (in ltr)	Yes/No
16	Whether the fire pump room is separated by fire walls all around and provided with fire doors.	Yes/No
17	Whether an undertaking from LPG piping installation agency and client stating that proposed gas bank , supply lines and other fitting associated with it is as per NBC of India -2016, Part-IV	Yes/No
18	Whether an affidavit / Confirmation is produced by the Applicant and Licensed contractor stating that all the proposed lightning protection installations for building is as per NBC of India -2016; Part-IV?	Yes/No
19	Whether an affidavit / Confirmation is produced by the applicant and HVAC Consultant be stating that all the proposed Air Conditioning, Smoke Management, Ventilation and Staircase Pressurisation Systems for the building is as per NBC of India -2016; Part-IV?	Yes/No
20	Whether an affidavit / Confirmation from the Applicant and the Electrical Consultant produced along with plan stating that all the proposed Electrical Installations and power supply for the proposed building is as per NBC of India -2016 Part 1V and necessary emergency power distribution system for fire and life safety systems also proposed in the building as per NBC 2016 Part IV 3.4.6.2 ?	Yes/No

All Fire Stations / Cabinets, for installing or keeping First Aid Fire Protection Equipment such as fire hose reel, hydrant valve, fire hose, branch pipe, etc should be provided in strategic locations of all floors, @ one station for every 1000M2 of plinth area.

Fire safety in under construction site a short note

Fire safety in under construction site a short note

General Fire

What you need to do

Although the construction industry’s performance has improved over the past decade, the rates of death, serious injury and ill health for construction site workers are still too high. When construction activities are not adequately controlled, children and other members of the public can also be killed or injured, and property adjacent to construction sites be put at risk – for example, from a site fire large enough to spread off-site. The responsible person will usually be the main or principal contractor in control of the site.

You should identify sources of fuel and ignition and establish general fire precautions including, means of escape, warning and fighting fire, based on your fire risk assessment.

In occupied buildings such as offices, make sure the work does not interfere with existing escape routes from the building, or any fire separation, alarms, dry risers, or sprinkler systems.

Key issues are:

·        Risk assessment

·        Means of escape

·        Means of giving warning

·        Means of fighting fire

Construction of timber frame buildings will require significant additional measures – please refer to the specific guidance listed.

What you need to know

Each year there a number of serious fires on construction sites and buildings undergoing refurbishment.

Risk assessment

In most cases, conducting a risk assessment will be a relatively straightforward and simple task that may be carried out by the responsible person, or a person they nominate, such as a consultant.

There are five steps in carrying out a fire risk assessment:

1.     Identify hazards: consider how a fire could start and what could burn;

2.     People at risk: employees, contractors, visitors and anyone who is vulnerable, eg disabled;

3.     Evaluation and action: consider the hazards and people identified in 1 and 2 and act to remove and reduce risk to protect people and premises;

4.     Record, plan and train: keep a record of the risks and action taken. Make a clear plan for fire safety and ensure that people understand what they need to do in the event of a fire; and

5.     Review: your assessment regularly and check it takes account of any changes on site.

Means of escape

Key aspects to providing safe means of escape on construction sites include:

·        Routes: your risk assessment should determine the escape routes required, which must be kept available and unobstructed;

·        Alternatives:well-separated alternative ways to ground level should be provided where possible;

·        Protection: routes can be protected by installing permanent fire separation and fire doors as soon as possible;

·        Assembly: make sure escape routes give access to a safe place where people can assemble and be accounted for. On a small site the pavement outside may be adequate; and

·        Signs: will be needed if people are not familiar with the escape routes. Lighting should be provided for enclosed escape routes and emergency lighting may be required.

Means of giving warning

Set up a system to alert people on site. This may be temporary or permanent mains operated fire alarm (tested regularly), a klaxon, an air horn or a whistle, depending on the size and complexity of the site.

The warning needs to be distinctive, audible above other noise and recognizable by everyone.

Means of fighting fire

Fire extinguishers should be located at identified fire points around the site. The extinguishers should be appropriate to the nature of the potential fire:

·        wood, paper and cloth – water extinguisher;

·        flammable liquids – dry powder or foam extinguisher;

·        electrical – carbon dioxide (C02) extinguisher.

·        Nominated people should be trained in how to use extinguishers.

Process fire risks

What you need to do

The fire risk from site activities must be assessed and precautions taken to control:

·    Combustible material – the quantity of combustible materials on site should be kept to the minimum and all such materials safely stored and used.

·        Ignition sources – action is needed to eliminate, reduce and control ignition sources on site.

Construction of timber frame buildings will require significant additional measures to those outlined here. You should refer to the specific guidance listed in Resources, below.

What you need to know

Each year there are a number of serious fires on construction sites and buildings undergoing refurbishment. Many could be avoided by careful planning and control of work activities.

Any outbreak of fire threatens the safety of those on site and will be costly in damage and delay. It can also be a hazard to people in surrounding properties.

Fire can be a particular hazard in refurbishment work when there is a lot of dry timber and at the later stages of building jobs where flammable materials such as adhesives, insulating materials and soft furnishings are present

Combustible material

Many solids, liquids and gases can catch fire and burn. It only takes a source of ignition, which may be a small flame or an electrical spark, together with air. Preventive actions that can be taken include:

1.     Quantity: fire risk can be reduced by controlling the amount of combustible material in the work area until it is needed;

2.     Flammability: it may be possible to specify materials that are less combustible. Remember that when worked on, materials may become more easily ignited eg solids turned to dust or crumb;

3.     Storage: combustible materials should ideally be stored outside buildings under construction, especially volatile materials eg LPG. Internal storage must be planned and located where it will not put workers at risk;

4.     Rubbish: good housekeeping and site tidiness are important to prevent fire and to ensure that emergency routes do not become obstructed;

5.     Volatile flammable materials: extra precautions are needed for flammable liquids, gases and oxygen cylinders especially when internally stored;

6.     Coverings and sheeting: protective coverings and scaffold sheeting may add to fire risk. This can be reduced by use of flame retardant materials;

7.     LPG: liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is widely used in construction eg in connection with bitumen boilers and site accommodation. LPG has been involved in many serious fires and explosions, particularly where there have been leaks in confined areas. Strict precautions are required where LPG is stored and used; and

8.     Tanks and services: demolition projects can involve an increased risk of fire and explosion. Dismantling of tank structures may cause ignition of flammable residues or disruption and ignition of buried gas services.

Ignition sources

It is important that you take action to control ignition sources including:

Hot work: all hot work generating heat, sparks or flame can cause a fire. Precautions include:

·        clearing the area of combustible materials;

·        suitable fire extinguishers; and

·        maintaining a careful watch throughout the work.

·        a permit to work (PTW) system can help manage the risk on larger projects.

Plant and equipment: select electrical and engine driven plant of suitable capacity to prevent overheating. Fasten lamps to a solid backing and, if mounted on tripods, make sure the tripod is stable. Electrical equipment in flammable atmospheres must be suitable for the nature and extent of the flammable atmosphere;

Smoking: bring the rules on smoking to the attention of all workers and visitors to the site and enforce them;

Electrical installations: should be of sufficient capacity for the intended use and designed, installed, inspected and maintained by competent people;

Bonfires: should not normally be allowed on site. There should be alternative arrangements for the proper disposal of rubbish and waste;

Arson: measures should be in place to prevent unauthorised site access. Sites with high fire loading or a history of vandalism and arson may need additional measures eg lighting, out-of-hours security or CCTV.

Thanks for reading, and as always, stay safe.

Fire doors rating

Fire doors rating

Definition of a Fire Door - a door assembly, which is designed to hold back fire and smoke for a designated period and has been tested under conditions for door assemblies described in British Standard 476 Part 22; Fire Door Guidance -British Standard 8214-2008 (Code of Practice for Fire Door Assemblies).

Fire doors are made up of various components. The door itself is usually made from a solid timber frame, but they can sometimes be covered again in fire-resistant glass.

When I’m asked, “What is the required rating for a door in a particular wall?” nine times out of 10 my answer is, “It depends.” (This is the standard answer for nearly everything code-related.) In the Life Safety Code, required ratings for doors and other opening protective (e.g., windows) depend on the required hourly, fire-resistance rating of the barrier in which the opening is located and the function the barrier is serving.

Not all fire barriers are created equal. A door in an exit enclosure fire barrier will probably require a different rating than a door in a similarly rated corridor or hazardous area enclosure. Or a smoke barrier. Or a smoke partition. Or a shaft enclosure. (You get the idea.) At first glance it may seem convoluted, but the code does a good job of consolidating the opening protective rating requirements in one location. In the 2018 edition, you’ll find the required door rating in Table 8.3.3.2.2 (what I’ll refer to as “the table”). In the 2015 and earlier editions, the required ratings were located in Table 8.3.4.2. Prior to the 2003 edition, there was no handy consolidated table. If you’re using the 2000 or earlier edition, you’ll have to sort through a series of requirements and exceptions to determine the required door rating. (If you’re using the 2000 or earlier edition, you’re using a code that’s some 20 years out of date, and it might be time to join the rest of us in the 21^st century. But I digress.)

To use the table, you’ll first need to establish the fire barrier’s purpose as required by the code. The table lists the purpose under the heading “Component.” Components include:

• ·        Elevator hoistways
• ·        Elevator lobbies
• ·        Vertical shafts
• ·        Horizontal exits
• ·        Exit access corridors
• ·        Other fire barriers
• ·        Smoke barriers
• ·        Smoke partitions

This is where the table has, at times, caused some confusion. Some have misinterpreted it as prescribing minimum fire-resistance ratings for various fire barriers. For example, the bottom row addresses smoke partitions. The second column specifies fire-resistance ratings for smoke partitions (half hour and one hour). Some have been led to believe that based on the table, all smoke partitions must have a minimum fire resistance rating of a half hour. This is not the case for smoke partitions or any of the other components listed in the table.

How can I find out more about an existing fire door?

Each fire door is labeled with a permanent label that must remain legible. Fire-rated frames may have a label or embossment from a listing agency. The door and frame labels contain a wealth of information, including the manufacturer, length of time the component is designed to resist fire, whether the opening is to be equipped with fire exit hardware, and whether the door carries a temperature rise rating or is a smoke door assembly.

Fire door labels usually include a number allowing manufacturers to access more information about the door’s original construction. Frame labels may state a fire resistance duration longer than that of the door. In this case, the assembly’s rating will be the lower of the two. Some hardware, such as fire exit hardware, will also be labeled, but the information on the label is typically less detailed.

The requirements for smoke partitions are located in Section 8.4; you’ll find no fire-resistance rating requirement there. Smoke partitions require a rating only where required by another section of the code. An example would be corridor walls in new, large, residential board-and-care occupancies, which require a half-hour rating (32.3.3.6.2). Once it’s determined that the smoke partition requires a fire-resistance rating, then refer to the table to determine the required fire-protection rating of any doors. In the case of a half-hour rated smoke partition, doors must have a one-third hour, or 20 minute, fire-protection rating. In short, use the table to determine the required opening protective rating when a barrier is required by another section of the code to have a fire-resistance rating.

Fire barriers having a one-hour rating might require one-hour doors, three-quarter-hour doors, or one-third-hour doors. Again, it depends on the barrier’s application. Fire barriers having a two-hour rating generally require one-and-a-half hour doors. Fire barriers with a rating exceeding two hours are rarely required by the code, except for a few occupancy separation fire barriers involving relatively hazardous occupancies.

I sometimes get the question, “Why does the code allow a 20-minute door in a one-hour barrier? Why not just require a one-hour door?” This would certainly make life easier when applying the code, but it also might require a more expensive door than is actually needed for life safety. Where the code requires 20-minute doors, it’s usually in a barrier that the committees primarily wanted to be smoke resistant. Before the days of smoke partitions, which first appeared in the 2000 edition, when a committee wanted a smoke resistant barrier (e.g., a corridor wall), it was simpler to mandate a one-hour barrier than to come up with criteria to evaluate smoke resistance. Since they really wanted a nominal degree of fire resistance, rather than mandating a substantial one-hour door, they were comfortable with a 20-minute door, which would inherently resist the passage of smoke.

Other reasons for the difference in fire barrier ratings and door ratings are the tests used to establish the ratings. You might have noticed I refer to the fire-resistance rating of a fire barrier, whereas a door has a fire-protection rating. Fire barrier assemblies are tested at a lab using a standard like ASTM E119, Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, which yields a fire-resistance rating. Fire doors are tested using a standard like NFPA 252, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, which yields a fire-protection rating. Comparing the ratings from the different tests is not an apples-to-apples comparison. An hour’s worth of fire resistance (fire barrier) is not necessarily equivalent to an hour’s worth of fire protection (fire door).

And although it’s not a very scientific reason, this is the way the code has done it for many years and it seems to work. To this point, there has been no compelling reason to change the approach. If it’s not broken, there’s no need to fix it.

Remember Fire resisting glass can withstand exposure to the heat condition in a fire test for at least 60 minutes before it reaches a temperature high enough to soften it. This is mainly because, with clear FR glazing, nearly 50 per cent of the incident heat is transmitted through the glass by radiation.

Where can I find the code requirements for fire doors?

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, is referenced by the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, and other codes and standards. NFPA 105, Standard for the Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, addresses smoke doors and is also referenced in these publications.

Some fire door requirements are included within the applicable building or fire code, but NFPA 80 and 105 are referenced for many of the detailed requirements. For product-specific issues, the manufacturer’s listings must be referenced. For example, to find out the maximum fire door size available from a particular manufacturer,

The increased use of sprinklers has resulted in reduced requirements for temperature-rise doors. The 2012 IBC requires doors in interior exit stairways/ramps and exit passageways to have a maximum transmitted rise in temperature of 232 C (450 F) above ambient at the end of 30 minutes of exposure, but also includes an exception stating temperature-rise doors are not required in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.

For the convenience of building occupants, how can fire doors be held open in a code-compliant manner?

Fire doors must be closed during a fire to compartmentalize the building and prevent the spread of smoke and flames. The intent is to protect the means of egress and allow building occupants time to evacuate safely. If fire doors are blocked or wedged open, they will not be able to do their job and protect the building and its occupants.

What is positive-latching, and is it required for all fire doors?

Hardware on fire door assemblies has to have an active latchbolt to prevent the pressure caused by a fire from pushing the door open and allowing smoke and flames to spread. A springlatch found in a standard lockset or latchset is considered an active latchbolt; some fire door configurations require a specific ‘latch throw’ (i.e. dimension of latch projection).

A deadbolt is not an active latchbolt, because it can be held retracted. An electromagnetic lock does not provide a positive latch, because there is no latching mechanism and the locking is accomplished when the electromagnet bonds to the steel armature. Electric strikes used on fire doors must be fail-secure—that is, when power is cut, the latch is securely captured behind the strike keeper. A fail-safe electric strike could allow the door to become unlatched, so such strikes may not be used on fire doors.

How is fire exit hardware different from panic hardware?

When panic hardware is used on fire doors, it must be fire exit hardware, which bears labels for both panic and fire resistance. A door with fire exit hardware will also have an additional label, indicating it is equipped with fire exit hardware. Fire exit hardware does not incorporate a mechanical dogging feature—the means to hold the latch retracted using a key, thumbturn, or Allen wrench. For fire doors where a ‘push/pull’ condition is desired, fire exit hardware with electric latch retraction may be used, as long as the latch projects automatically upon fire alarm, to secure the door.

Some vertical rod fire exit hardware for pairs of doors can be installed ‘less bottom rod’ (LBR). These devices use the top rod and latch only, with no bottom rod or latch. The advantage is there is no floor-mounted strike, and no bottom rod or latch to become damaged by carts or traffic. This configuration can sometimes cause a reduction in security, because it may be more easily defeated with only one latching point at the top of the door. In most cases, doors with LBR devices are required to have an auxiliary fire pin, which mounts in the edge of one door and projects into a hole in the edge of the other door if there is a fire.

Do fire doors need smoke gasketing? Are smoke doors also fire doors?

NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 do not specifically state fire doors and smoke doors require smoke gasketing. The key is to check the applicable code or standard, such as the International Building Code, for a limitation on air infiltration, typically a reference to UL 1784, Air Leakage Tests of Door Assemblies, as the test standard.

For fire doors and smoke doors in certain locations, the limit for air infiltration is 0.02 m3/(s • m2) or less as tested at a pressure of 0.02 kPa (3 cfm per square foot or less as tested at a pressure of 0.10 inch of water)—for most door sizes, this cannot be achieved without smoke gasketing. The requirements for smoke doors and fire doors depend on where they are used. For example, smoke barriers, smoke partitions, exit enclosures, and corridors all have varying requirements for smoke and fire resistance, and the applicable code sections must be consulted to see if a limit on air infiltration is established.

Thanks for reading, and as always, stay safe.