The 2010 Florida Fire Prevention Code, effective December 31, 2011, requires fire doors to be maintained in accordance with NFPA 80 and references the 2007 edition of that standard in Chapter 2 – Referenced Publications.  The 2007 edition of NFPA 80 requires fire door assemblies to be inspected annually as part of the maintenance requirements, and the requirements for annual inspections of fire doors are specifically indicated in the 2010 Florida Fire Prevention Code (see 12.4 below).  Fire door assemblies in new and existing facilities are to be inspected annually per the 11 criteria listed below, and a written record kept for review by the AHJ.  Any deficiencies must be corrected “without delay.”  (Click here for FDAI FAQs.)

The code also addresses inspection requirements for egress doors in certain occupancies.  Section 7.2.1.15 details the requirements for the inspection of door openings, and paragraph 7.2.1.15.1 states, “Where required by Chapters 11 through 43, door assemblies for which the door leaf is required to swing in the direction of egress travel shall be inspected and tested not less than annually in accordance with 7.2.1.15.2 through 7.2.1.15.8.”  The occupancy chapters which include this requirement are 12 & 13 – Assembly, 14 & 15 – Educational, 16 & 17 –Day Care, and 32 & 33 – Residential Board and Care (there are requirements for monthly inspections in Chapters 22 & 23 – Detention and Correctional, but this section does not refer to the inspection criteria in Chapter 7).  Chapter 7 includes 11 inspection criteria (different from the fire door inspection criteria), for these annual inspections.

Here are some excerpts from the 2010 Florida Fire Prevention Code:

Annual Fire Door Inspection
(refer to the code for more information)

12.4 Fire Doors and Windows

12.4.1* The installation and maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect openings in walls, floors, and ceilings against the spread of fire and smoke within, into, and out of buildings shall comply with Section 12.4 and NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives [80:1.1].

12.4.6.6 Inspections

12.4.6.6.1 Fire door assemblies shall be inspected and tested not less than annually, and a written record of the inspection shall be signed and kept for inspection by the AHJ [80:5.2.1].

12.4.6.9 As a minimum, the following items shall be verified:

(1) No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces of either the door or frame.
(2) Glazing, vision light frames, and glazing beads are intact and securely fastened in place, if so equipped.
(3) The door, frame, hinges, hardware, and noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned, and in working order with no visible signs of damage.
(4) No parts are missing or broken.
(5) 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.
(6) The self-closing device is operational, that is, the active door completely closes when operated from the full open position.
(7) If a coordinator is installed, the inactive leaf closes before active leaf.
(8) Latching hardware operates and secures the door when it is in the closed position.
(9) Auxiliary hardware items that interfere or prohibit operation are not installed on the door or frame.
(10) No field modifications to the door assembly have been performed that void the label.
(11) Gasketing and edge seals, where required, are inspected to verify their presence and integrity.

Annual Egress Door Inspection
(refer to the code for more information)

7.2.1.15 Inspection of Door Openings.

7.2.1.15.1 Where required by Chapters 11 through 43, door assemblies for which the door leaf is required to swing in the direction of egress travel shall be inspected and tested not less than annually in accordance with 7.2.1.15.2 through 7.2.1.15.8.

7.2.1.15.2 Fire-rated door assemblies shall be inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.

7.2.1.15.3 The inspection and testing interval for fire-rated and nonrated door assemblies shall be permitted to exceed 12 months under a written performance-based program in accordance with 5.2.2 of NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.

7.2.1.15.4 A written record of the inspections and testing shall be signed and kept for inspection by the authority having jurisdiction.

7.2.1.15.5 Functional testing of door assemblies shall be performed by individuals who can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the operating components of the type of door being subjected to testing.

7.2.1.15.6 Door assemblies shall be visually inspected from both sides of the opening to assess the overall condition of the assembly.

7.2.1.15.7 As a minimum, the following items shall be verified:

(1) Floor space on both sides of the openings is clear of obstructions, and door leaves open fully and close freely.
(2) Forces required to set door leaves in motion and move to the fully open position do not exceed the requirements in 7.2.1.4.5.
(3) Latching and locking devices comply with 7.2.1.5.
(4) Releasing hardware devices are installed in accordance with 7.2.1.5.9.1.
(5) Door leaves of paired openings are installed in accordance with 7.2.1.5.10.
(6) Door closers are adjusted properly to control the closing speed of door leaves in accordance with accessibility requirements.
(7) Projection of door leaves into the path of egress does not exceed the encroachment permitted by 7.2.1.4.3.
(8) Powered door openings operate in accordance with 7.2.1.9.
(9) Signage required by 7.2.1.4.1(3), 7.2.1.5.4, 7.2.1.6, and 7.2.1.9 is intact and legible.
(10) Door openings with special locking arrangements function in accordance with 7.2.1.6.
(11) Security devices that impede egress are not installed on openings, as required by 7.2.1.5.11.

7.2.1.15.8 Door openings not in proper operating condition shall be repaired or replaced without delay.

This paragraph is found in the following chapters of NFPA 101:
Assembly Occupancies: 12.7.1.3 & 13.7.1.3
Educational Occupancies: 14.7.3.3 & 15.7.3.3
Day Care Occupancies: 16.7.3.4 & 17.7.3.4
Inspection of Door Openings. Door openings shall be inspected in accordance with 7.2.1.15. (means of egress)

This paragraph is found in the following chapters of NFPA 101:
Detention & Correctional Occupancies: 22.7.7 & 23.7.7
Door Inspection. Doors and door hardware in means of egress shall be inspected monthly by an appropriately trained person. The inspection shall be documented.

This paragraph is found in the following chapters of NFPA 101:
Residential Board & Care Occupancies: 32.7.7 & 33.7.7
Inspection of Door Openings. Door assemblies for which the door leaf is required to swing in the direction
of egress travel shall be inspected and tested not less than annually in accordance with 7.2.1.15.

If you know of a jurisdiction within the state of Florida that is enforcing fire door inspections, or if your state has adopted NFPA 1-2009, NFPA 101-2009, or the International Fire Code-2009, please leave a comment.

For more information about fire door assembly inspection, visit the FDAI page of this site.

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