This is a great question and I have to admit, I had to do some digging to make sure I got it right…
Are steel, ball-bearing, butt hinges for fire door assemblies required to be UL listed?
I know that NFPA 80 does not require “items of a generic nature, such as hinges” to have a label on each individual item, but do hinges need to be listed?
I double-checked NFPA 80, and it states: “Hinges, spring hinges, continuous hinges, and pivots shall be as specified in individual door and hardware manufacturer’s published listings OR Table 6.4.3.1.”
NFPA 80 goes on to specify the required quantity of hinges/spring hinges, and the type of fasteners and shims that may be used. The standard states that hinges must be ball-bearing type or may employ other bearing surfaces if they meet the requirements of ANSI BHMA A156.1 – Standard for Butts and Hinges, and includes additional information specific to pivots and continuous hinges. NFPA 80 specifically requires spring hinges to be labeled, but does not say the same about standard butt hinges.
Table 6.4.3.1 specifies the hinge size and thickness depending on the door size, thickness, and fire rating, and the hinge type. For example, for a 1 3/4-inch thick door, with a rating of up to 3 hours and a door size up to 4 feet wide and 8 feet high, Table 6.4.3.1 allows a mortised or surface-mounted steel hinge, 4 1/2 inches high, and 0.134-inch thick (standard weight).
After talking with our compliance engineers, NFPA, and UL, the consensus is that if a hinge meets the requirements of NFPA 80 (including Table 6.4.3.1), the hinge does not need to be labeled OR listed in order to be used as part of a fire door assembly.
Do you agree?
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Lori,
I will be following this one closely. I asked a very similar question regarding closures. I can’t find anything in 80 that states they have to be labeled or listed. Any insight on this one while we are looking into the hinges?
Paul
Hi Paul –
I just looked into this today. NFPA 80 defines a door closer as “a labeled device…” and a fire door assembly is made of listed/labeled components. Unless NFPA 80 specifically states that a component does not require a listing/label (like a kickplate within the bottom 16 inches of the door height), the intent is for the component to have a listing/label. I think closers are supposed to be labeled.
– Lori
Agree. The wording is unambiguous- no label or listing required.
Hinge manufacturer website states in reference to materials:
“Both steel and stainless steel hinges may be used on listed
fire rated or labeled door openings. Brass material may not
be used on fire rated or labeled openings because of the low
melting point.”
I go with the “age old” Steel Ball Bearing hinges are for use on swinging doors with closers.(limited to topic of conversation here, “fire rated doors”).
It was back in the day we had to choose for fire rated assemblies ferrous or non ferrous hinges.
Lol
Also can a assembly be rated with only two hinges ? Metal door/metal frame?
This will always be topic of discussion all the time
Hi Tom –
According to NFPA 80, if a fire door is more than 60 inches tall it requires at least 3 hinges. Just for fun I went back to the oldest edition of NFPA 80 that I have (1968) and it was a requirement then: “Doors up to 60 inches in height shall be provided with 2 hinges and an additional hinge for each additional 30 inches of height or fraction thereof.”
– Lori
Hi Lori
I knew you are an expert in the ironmongery. I would like to ask the spring hinge requirement for UL10c fire door/access panel. Regarding to NFPA80, Spring hinges shall be labeled and shall meet the
requirements of ANSI/BHMA A156.17, Standard for Self Closing Hinges & Pivots, Grade 1. What is the meaning of “Should be labeled”? “Labeled” means it is tested under UL10c? or the spring hinge tested ANSI/BHMA A156.17 in UL. And follow the Table 6.4.3.1 to use the spring hinge for the UL10c fire door? As I concern my spring hinge that was tested ANSI/BHMA A156.17 in UL but without UL10c test. Can it use in my UL10c fire door if we will follow Table 6.4.3.1 to select the spring hinge quantity and size for my UL10c fire door?
Hi Terry –
Most components of a fire door assembly are required to be labeled. The term “labeled” is defined by NFPA 80 as: Equipment or materials to which has been attached a label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of labeled equipment or materials, and by whose labeling the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate standards or performance in a
specified manner.
Many types of hinges are not required to be labeled because they are considered generic, but spring hinges do need to be labeled as defined above. You mentioned spring hinges that are tested to the BHMA standard but not to UL 10C – those would not be compliant with the requirements of NFPA 80.
– Lori