These are not the same doors I received the photos of.
Last week I received some photos of a pair of fire doors with fire exit hardware installed “less bottom rod” (LBR). I pointed out that the auxiliary fire pin was not installed in the door edge. The person who sent the photos responded that the door manufacturer did not require the pin for their fire door listing.
If you’re not familiar with this pin (see photos below), it is installed in the edge of one leaf of a pair of fire doors when fire exit hardware is installed without the bottom rods and latches. The pin projects only when heated to approximately 450 degrees Fahrenheit – otherwise it has no effect on the operation of the door. The other leaf of the pair has a hole to receive the pin, covered by a plastic cap. Because the pin projects during a fire at a temperature that would not be survivable, the doors are no longer required to allow egress at that time. The purpose of the pin is to hold the fire doors aligned to help compartmentalize the building and deter the spread of fire.
The hardware in the photos was manufactured by Von Duprin, so I checked with one of our compliance engineers to see whether it was acceptable to omit the pin if the door manufacturer’s listings did not require it. His answer: No. The fire exit hardware must be installed per the installation instructions, and the instructions for the LBR device show the auxiliary fire pin.
I am wondering what you are seeing out in the field. Are the pins being installed? Are AHJs allowing the pin to be omitted if the door manufacturer’s listings don’t require it?
WWYD?
Here is what the pin looks like (left) and the cap (right):
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Hi, always wondering where the auxiliary fire pin will be installed? In active leaf or inactive leaf? So i will know where the plastic cover will be installed.
Generally, both leaves will be “active” as both have fire exit hardware. I don’t think there is any reason to choose one door over the other for the installation of the pin.
– Lori
As expensive as they are you would figure they not be omitted on the install, furthermore they cannot be painted over and the install height cannot exceed 6 Inches.
my question is : do you need a field modification exemption letter from the labeler, not because its not end to end, but being that the pin receiver hole is grater than 3/4Inch, or is the plastic covering it suffice per the labeler ?
The more recent editions of NFPA 80 allow larger holes to be drilled as job-site preparations, and even the older editions allow holes up to 1-inch diameter. In my opinion, the prep for the pin would be a job-site preparation, not a field modification.
– Lori
Lori,
In a recent jail expansion project, the sliding detention doors would not meet the requirements for the needed openings rating. A pair of doors were added inside the opening to meet the rating. This pair was set to have T & B concealed vertical rod panic devices until the surface conditions of the floor made the use of the lower rod not possible to latch the lower floor cup properly.
I suggested deleting the bottom rod and adding a fire pin once the use was verified by the door manufacturer’s listing for the doors. This was also an option listed in the hardware and was the only way that I would remove the lower rod. Not following instructions and checking the door manufacturer’s listing of approved hardware uses is the cause of future problems for building owners and the safety of others.
Installers of hardware on openings that have any rating need to know the code requirements and follow the hardware installation instructions, or they have no right to claim to be a professional installer.
It sounds like you did all the right things, James!
– Lori
If the manufacturer tested their doors without the pin and passed the test, it seems that they wouldn’t need to use the pin. Isn’t that the purpose of testing and listing? Wouldn’t that be considered a listed assembly?
Neither of the leafs are required to have a pin that drops into the floor? Interesting.
Hi Jay –
No, with the LBR devices, the pin goes from one door to the other, but only during a fire.
– Lori
that comment “manufacturer did not require the pin for their fire door listing.” sounds a little dodgy!
I’ve heard it quite a few times but have not seen the listing information to prove it.
– Lori
At the hospitals i work We always install fire pins instead of bottom rods Bottom rods tend to fail
Thanks Randy! I agree that LBR is the best solution for most interior pairs of fire doors.
– Lori
I definitely see more LBR pairs without fire pins installed than with them. Installers simply don’t know what the pins are or do not want to make additional modifications to the door in the field. Maybe Von Duprin should place a visual aid on LBR devices in the box calling out the need for fire pins.
Regarding a visual aid, in each LBR/LBL device box, Von Duprin does provide the separate LBR/LBL instruction (Lori shared the link in the article). It states in large bold print “Important: Read this first!”, and it explains the purpose, requirement, and the installation details for the fire pin.
I have seen my share of doors with LBR and less panic bar hole plug and less thermal bolt. With facilities going to secondary accreditations like “Leap Frog” I expect top see more of the same!
The installers at my company always put the fire pins in when using LBR on rated openings. I have seen doors on projects where the fire pins were not installed. This is usually on supply jobs where a contractor’s laborer or carpenter is installing, maybe they don’t understand what it is and why it’s required. In these situations, we educate them. My opinion regardless of what the door manufacturer states if the hardware is not installed per the HW mfg. instructions I must assume it’s not correct. The device was tested with the fire pin not without. The wood door manufacturer I use requires I have the fire pin prepped on the active door. I have never asked why but I assume they had the doors tested that way. specific
Thanks Justin!
– Lori
Lori, It is also advised to check with the door manufacturer. I know for example that VT Industries double egress fire doors will require 2 fire pins no matter the hardware manufacturer. It cost me a decent sum when I had only allowed for one on each with Von Duprin LBR’s.
Thanks Simon – that’s great advice!
– Lori
It is also important to note that fire rated surface rod LBR devices not only require the fire pin, but they also require 499F top strikes to maintain the fire listing, per the instruction link that Lori shared. In those applications, converting a standard device to LBR is not as simple as just adding a fire pin!