This Quick Question has come up a few times lately:
In an existing fire door, can a vision panel be added or enlarged in the field, assuming that the correct glazing is installed?
As I mentioned in a recent article published in Locksmith Ledger, there are two types of fire door alterations referenced in NFPA 80 – Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives:
- Job Site Preparations: These are changes made in the field that are specifically allowed by NFPA 80 – Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.
- Field Modifications: This work must be approved in advance by the listing laboratory (for example, Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek) and can then be done without requiring the door or frame to be relabeled.
The types of alterations addressed as job site preparations typically include round holes for hardware, undercutting of wood and composite doors, and installation of protection plates – refer to NFPA 80 for the complete list and limitations. Adding or enlarging a vision panel would not be allowed as a job site preparation.
It’s possible that a listing lab could allow a modification to a vision panel as a field modification, but approval would have to be requested in advance through the door manufacturer. If the alteration can not be performed as a field modification, another possibility is to have the door relabeled after the work is completed, but that should be coordinated before work begins. Adding or enlarging the vision panel in an approved shop is another option, although provisions must be made for fire safety in the building for the period of time that the door will not be in place to perform as part of the fire door assembly.
Have you had experience with this type of modification on an existing fire door? How was the work performed?
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This begs the question – WHY?
Why is it okay for an approved shop to make modifications in their shop but it’s not okay for the same crew, using the same tools and following the same procedures to make modifications in the field? What is the reasoning behind this?
EXACTLY!!!! And why can an approved shop install fire labels on the frame/door if it is at their shop but once it is onsite it is a no go? Meanwhile, it may even have an embossment stating that it is rated but that is not acceptable to the AHJ!?!…..
We have only had it done by the the manufacturer of the door. Same day work remove in morning and reinstall in afternoon.
Any none local manufactured doors we replace the complete door if a lite is added.
Thanks for sharing your insight, Derrick!
– Lori
We are a distributor/installation door contractor.
We are licensed to work on specific door and frame manufacturers. This includes alterations, modifications (only in our shop) on fire doors including re-labeling of doors and frames.
We are licensed through Intertek, which performs periodic site-monitoring of our shop conditions and fire labeling logs.
Should any modifications be performed outside of the controlled shop environment we would risk losing our licensing through Intertek. This would greatly affect our business and damage to our long established reputation.
A uneducated (or unscrupulous) installation team with a good set of tools, could easily perform some of this work (outside of a license shop) in the field and perhaps less costly.
It is the intent of these codes to provide standards for proper installation based on testing criteria and to ultimately ensure life safety.
Thanks for sharing your insight!
– Lori
We start by finding out if the bigger VL is allowed on that type and rating the of door. Cut the vl onsite following manufacturer’s procedure and schedule Intertek to go onsite and verify the work and relabel the door. Second option is to take door to our licensed shop and cutting/installing there and relabeling the door by our shop.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Luis!
– Lori
Can’t tell you the number of times I have seen alterations done to these types of doors in the field . Often asked to perform the same but refuse and then notify the AHJ that this location is looking to alter a know Fire door or separation. Then sit back and watch the sparks fly ( pun intended)
Every door manufacturer has a procedure manual from UL, Intertek, etc. that shows what can be done to the door based on the applicable rating. The kit can be enlarged or added in the field if it is in the door manufacturers procedure manual to do that in the field. If it is not in the procedure manual to do that in the field and it gets done the label is void. That’s pretty much what bullet point two states.
Thanks Brett!
– Lori