Many years ago, I worked with an architectural firm that always had me write the hardware specifications for their projects. On one small job they had a tight deadline, so they edited some hardware sets from another spec. During bidding, there were questions and issues with every set, except one.
Months later, the architect called me to say that there was a problem with the one remaining hardware set. She asked, “Did you know that non-labeled kick plates on fire doors can’t be more than 16 inches high?” Of course I knew that! I’m pretty sure they never tried to write their own hardware specs again.
Protection plates, gasketing and thresholds, and other products used to protect doors are an important and often complex part of the assembly. You can learn more about these components in the video below.
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about hardware. Feel free to share this post with anyone in your organization who could benefit from this introductory training.
Links to the entire Allegion 101 series can be found here.
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Lori,
Does that pertain to hospital doors as well?
Thanks!
Hi Rob –
If the door is a fire door assembly, the protection plate needs to be labeled if it extends more than 16 inches above the bottom of the fire door. There was a time when plates installed at the factory or an authorized shop could extend above 16 inches without being labeled, but field-installed plates could not. That has been changed in NFPA 80 so the label is required whether the armor plate is factory-installed or field-installed. Here is the NFPA 80 section:
6.4.5 Protection Plates.
6.4.5.1 Factory-installed protection plates shall be labeled and
installed in accordance with the listing of the door.
6.4.5.2 Field-installed protection plates shall be labeled and
installed in accordance with their listing.
6.4.5.3 Labeling shall not be required where the top of the
protection plate is not more than 16 in. (406 mm) above the
bottom of the door.
With that said, there are locations in health care facilities where larger plates are common, and the doors are typically not required to be fire rated, or the plates are labeled.
– Lori
Hi Lori,
Thank you for clarifying!