I just r
eceived this Wordless Wednesday photo from Allison Berejka of Allegion, and I’m beyond wordless.
This is a stairwell fire door in a New York City apartment building. NYC Rule 401-06 requires a “Close the Door” notice to be posted on each stairwell fire door, and you can see that this door does have the mandated signage. It shouldn’t be mounted on the glass, but that’s not the biggest problem here.
According to the FDNY, an open stairwell door contributed to the spread of smoke during a January apartment fire in the Bronx, which killed 17 people including 8 children. Last month, the NYC mayor signed an executive order aimed to improve enforcement of fire door safety requirements. New legislation was also announced that would increase fines for non-compliant fire doors. I even received an email response from the mayor’s office last week, with a link to file a compliant about a non-compliant residential fire door, and the FDNY web page on fire and life safety.
We have the codes, the laws, the enforcement, the signage, education, and awareness, and many lessons learned from dozens of apartment fires with non-compliant fire doors…yet we still have fire doors propped open and unable to do their job if a fire occurs. According to the NFPA, there were 86,000 apartment fires in 2020 – that’s an average of 236 apartment fires per day. When and where will the next fire occur? Who knows?? That’s why fire door assemblies have to be code-compliant, ready to help prevent the spread of smoke and flames when the time comes.
You can read more on this topic here: Decoded: The importance of fire doors in residential occupancies.
Do you have a Wordless Wednesday or Fixed-it Friday photo for me? Use the Photo Submission Form – you can find it on the Tools menu.
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It is either
1. Self closing, that is what the sign says,,, “” in a fire close door behind you””” ??? B
Or
2. They are painting over the rating label, and do not want people to get paint on their clothes???
3. Or that is five minute rated release rope??
I would doubt if the modification of the latch set is even rated . Looks like an early mortice latch and spindle knob unit, converted to a cylindrical type of knob set. Door looks like its at least 25 years plus . Long past its due date .
I have seen this more times than i can count. I often recommend propping these doors a CPTED recommendation. but doing it legally. This will occur again and again unless they add the mag holder.
I’m sure that the string the same color as the door and will will fool the inspectors right? So very sad.
The “close the door” sign is about as viable as a “protection from abuse” order.
In this case, if a resident dies from smoke, as a result of this door being deliberately held open by wire, the building owner should be sued for millions and tried for murder.
We see it often, I see it so much I don’t even say anything any more. I live in Virginia Beach, and every fire door in all of the courthouses have either kick down or rubber stops under them. They are never closed…
Fusible link string! Color matched too!
Yes, the building Owner should be held responsible for this fire door violation. It should be a Felony for allowing the propping open of fire doors, and a murder conviction in the case of loss of life resulting from this neglect.
Most landlords escape any type of penalty as there is always the doubt factor as to who or whom propped the door open . I have witnessed first hand tenants doing this to prevent the door from slamming into the frame