Fire Exit Door Hardware Requirements

The use of panic hardware and or fire exit hardware is required by the international building code ibc and nfpa 101 the life safety code depending on which code and which edition of the code is being referenced.

Fire exit door hardware requirements.

An opening into an exit must be protected by a self closing fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency upon the sounding of a fire alarm or employee alarm system. There are specific requirements for electronically controlled egress doors. While these nfpa. If there is a fire in the area where occupants are they are already being exposed to smoke fire and heat.

Deadbolts do not constitute a latch since they do not automatically engage the strike. Fire door standards and legislative requirements. The ibc 2006 and 2009 editions requires panic hardware and or fire exit hardware on egress doors with an occupant load of 50 people or more in the following. This rule also applies to the rear doors of stores and offices as a person may be trapped between the fire and the front door and thus the need to exit from the rear door.

Fire doors are inside buildings residential and commercial and are internal doors that need to be kept closed in order to stop the spread of fire between different areas of a building. 6 fire door frames fire doors frames are not affected by the exposure ratings and opening classifications that apply to doors. When using a deadbolt in a fire rated exit that is a means of egress the deadbolt must be an interconnected type or a. Each fire door including its frame and hardware must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Contrary to what some might believe there is a difference between fire doors and fire exit doors. 6 a fire door must be free of any obstructions which could prevent the door from operating properly i e wedge door stops chains hook backs etc. Whenever the building is occupied a person shall be able to walk to any exit door and easily without a special knowledge or effort open the door and exit to a public way. 7 only listed fire door hardware shall be used.

8 a fire door must have steel bearing type hinges. An applied force not to exceed 15 pounds will cause the door latch to release. The nfpa emergency exit door requirements code states there is a maximum travel distance allowed to find an exit. This access to exit requirements seeks to minimize occupants exposure to these and other hazards.

Automatic latching mechanisms can include door knobs lever handles and push bar exit devices as long as the hardware is fire listed. Panic hardware is an exit device which is tested for use on a door that is required to have panic hardware but cannot be used on a fire door. Panic hardware typically has the dogging feature which allows. Non bearing plain steel hinges may be used if they are part of a listed assembly.

There are no hourly rat ings for a basic fire door frame unless the labeling on the frame specifically states that the frame is rated for something less than 3 hours.