I recently received a question from a wood door manufacturer, about whether it was acceptable for end users to install shades to cover vision lights on fire doors.  Shades and other methods of covering vision lights have become an important part of school security.  During a lockdown, the shades are used to prevent an intruder from looking into the classroom and potentially targeting occupants.  But during normal operation of a school building, the vision lights or sidelights are often required by the Board of Education requirements.

Although most classroom doors are not required by current codes to be fire door assemblies, there are situations where school administrators want to install shades on fire doors.  One example is illustrated by this photo from Joe Phillips of Allegion – both the sidelight and vision light have shades at the top (click here to see the original post about a major safety issue with this door opening).

So the lights are required, a method to cover the lights during a lockdown is necessary, and in some cases the openings are fire door assemblies.  I asked one of our hollow metal engineers for her take on this question, and she contacted UL and Intertek for an official answer.  Both lab representatives responded that as a component of a fire door assembly, the shade (or other method) would have to be listed to UL 10C, with a duration equal to or greater than the required rating of the assembly (20 minutes, 90 minutes, etc.).

While there are a few products that have been tested and listed – for example, these integrated louvers or these privacy screens – the VAST majority of the methods used in schools are not compliant with the listing requirements.  While an AHJ could approve the use of a non-listed product, the concern is that during a fire, the material on the non-fire side of the door could be ignited via thermal transfer through the door leaf or glass.

I’m wondering what you are seeing out in the field…are AHJs permitting non-listed shades on fire door assemblies?  Are there limitations on size, material, etc.?

WWYD?

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