QQ: Push Plates and Door Pulls
A post from last month has raised another Quick Question: Why would a push plate or door pull require a UL 10C listing, when fire doors need to having latching hardware?
WW: Invisible Latch
Imagine walking up to a pair of fire doors that are not closing and latching properly. You climb the ladder to check the closer, look down into the latch case cover and see...nothing.
QQ: Door Guards and Privacy Latches
Today's Quick Question is a common one related to entry doors serving hotel rooms and apartments: Is a UL listing required for auxiliary items mounted on a 20-minute-rated fire door?
Decoded: Separate Deadbolts on Classroom Doors
This month's Decoded article answers a common question: Is it acceptable by code to install a separate dead bolt along with a lockset or latchset on a classroom door?
Fire Door Inspections: What NFPA 80 Requires (video)
In this video from NFPA, Shawn Mahoney, P.E., Senior Technical Services Engineer at NFPA, provides a detailed overview of inspecting swinging fire doors with builders hardware.
Decoded: Smoke Door Requirements of the International Building Code
By request, I have updated this article on smoke doors to include the requirements of the 2024 IBC. When you have a question about a smoke door, just decide which of the 5 types it is and refer to the section for that type.
TGP: Eric Hamber Secondary School
I was recently reading a case study from TGP about a new secondary school project in Vancouver, BC, and it got me thinking about the buildings where I attended junior high and high school.
WW: That’s one way to handle it.
While today's Wordless Wednesday modification solved a fire door issue, it created a tripping hazard. I would have specified this a little differently...how about you?
FDAI: Fire Door Assembly Inspection
Today's post is the final wrap-up for our series on the fire door assembly inspection criteria. If you missed any posts or you want to learn more, here's where you'll find that info!
Decoded: Signage Limitations on Fire Door Assemblies
In today’s Decoded article and 13th fire door inspection criteria post, I addressed some recent changes to the NFPA 80 requirements applicable to signage mounted on fire door assemblies.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 12
In today's post in the series on fire door assembly inspection criteria, I addressed a product that's very simple, but still causes confusion - meeting stile and perimeter gasketing.
DOIT: Upcoming Training
DOIT - The Door Opening Industry Training Group has announced the return of Webinar Wednesday in 2026! Check out the upcoming sessions on fire doors, presented live next Wednesday!
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 11
In this guest post, Marilyn Latham of Allegion discusses the process for performing a job site preparation or field modification on a fire door assembly.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 10
In this guest post, Allison Messer and Bill Lawliss of Allegion discuss specifying the right hardware from the beginning, to avoid non-code-compliant retrofits.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 9
In this guest post, Sarah Finley Gilman of Allegion shares some important considerations for the hardware that provides positive latching for fire door assemblies.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 8
This guest post by Ian Heckman of Allegion covers the basics of coordinators - the function, available types, and other considerations for pairs of fire doors.
Decoded: Fusible Links and Smoke-Activated Hold-Opens
I've updated this Decoded article with the current code references from NFPA 80, the International Building Code (IBC), NFPA 101, and NFPA 72.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 7
This guest post by Adam Fisk of Allegion helps to sort through some of the available options for LCN products that may be installed on fire door assemblies.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 6
Are you aware of the current clearance requirements of NFPA 80, which allow up to 3/16-inch clearances on 20-minute fire doors in hollow metal frames?
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 5
In today's guest blog post, Tim Murfin, Manager, Commercial Product Support for Allegion, discusses how our tech support team can help keep fire doors code-compliant.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 4
In today's guest blog post, Jason Allen, product support representative for Allegion, discusses the importance of maintaining fire doors in proper working order.
FF: Fire Exit Hardware
John Danes of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo...I'm sure someone thought they were solving a problem with this "fix", but they've created a big problem!
In-Person Code Updates – Next Week!
I'll be heading to DHI ConNextions in Fort Worth next week, where Mark Kuhn and I will be conducting two training sessions with some help from our Allegion teammates.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 3
In today's guest blog post, Devin Bowman, General Manager of Technical Glass Products (TGP) and AD Systems, shares information about glazing in fire door assemblies.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 2
In today's guest blog post, Marilyn Latham, senior engineer for hollow metal at Steelcraft and Republic, shares information about how to address holes in fire door assemblies.
QQ: Gasketing Requirements of NFPA 101
Which door openings are required to have gasketing, according to NFPA 101 - The Life Safety Code? The answer is not easy, but you can follow the bread crumbs.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 1
Continuing the FDAI series, Marilyn Latham, senior engineer for hollow metal at Steelcraft and Republic, shares information about fire door assembly labels in today's guest blog post.
Fire Door Latching
In order for a fire door assembly to perform as designed and tested, it's critical for the door to be closed and latched if/when a fire occurs. Today's post looks at latching considerations for fire doors.
NFPA: Charge Into Fire Safety!
To mark Fire Prevention Week, I've updated Allegion's fire door inspection checklist, a laminated card that includes important information from NFPA 80. The request link is in today's post.
Decoded: Electric Strikes on Fire Doors
I'm working on updating some past Decoded articles for a project that I'm working on...this one addresses the requirements for electric strikes installed on fire door assemblies.
Enforcement of Fire Door Inspections
I'm working on a presentation for an upcoming conference, and I'd like to get a feel for what's happening in the field regarding the enforcement of fire door inspections. I'm hoping that some of you can help.
WW: “Can I fix this fire door?”
I can't count how many times I've heard this question about whether a particular fire door could be repaired. In this case the answer is a definite NO! Time for a new door!
PASS: Compartmentalization for Life Safety
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released a new whitepaper written by Laura Frye Weaver and Mark Williams, addressing the role of fire doors and other life safety features.
WW: Fire Door Louver
I'm sure the person who installed the louvers in the ice machine room doors in this hotel thought they were solving a problem, but they created a new one and voided the label.
BHMA Challenge: Built for Safety
BHMA is currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of the organization, and one of the events is a 5-week challenge for BHMA members. I figured...why not share the information here as well?
Escape Room Safety (video)
I feel so grateful to be able to positively affect the safety of escape rooms worldwide, and to help AHJs who have escape rooms in their jurisdictions. Learn more in today's post!
WW: College Dorm Fire Doors
I took today's Wordless Wednesday photos on Move-In Day at college, where two of my kids live in the dorms. The corridor fire doors stopped me in my tracks!
Code Update: Escape Rooms
Over the weekend I had the privilege of presenting on egress, fire protection, and accessibility for escape rooms, and during my preparation I noticed an important code change.
CCPIA Podcast: Building Your Business
Rob Claus of the Certified Commercial Property Inspectors Association (CCPIA) has just released episode 24 of his podcast, Building Your Business, and I was his guest!
I need some help. (And you could win!)
What are the options when a fire door assembly is too difficult for an assisted living resident to open? I'd love to hear your ideas, but I'm also looking for some help with one particular application.
FS65-24: Fire Doors Without Closers
When I wrote a post about fire doors without closers last year, I really didn't think that the code change proposal would be approved. Unfortunately, a new exception will be included in the 2027 IBC.
NFPA 80 on Fire Exit Hardware
I recently wrote a post about a change to NFPA 80 related to field-installed glazing in wood fire doors, and Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions pointed out another change to the standard.
FF: Another Hotel Fix
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo shows an epic(ly terrible) "fix" on a fire door assembly in a hotel corridor - at least I'm assuming it's rated based on the fire exit hardware and what looks like the outline of a label.
QQ: Glazing in Wood Fire Doors
This Quick Question just came up yesterday and I did a little research: Can glazing be field-installed in wood fire doors, or does NFPA 80 require the glass to be installed at the factory?
FF: NOOOOO!!!
Robert Lucius of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, taken in a high school. My heart sank when I saw this "fix." Think it's a fire door? WWYD?
WWYD? Shades on Fire Doors
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. What are you seeing in the field?
WW: Oh dear.
I had the hardest time deciding whether this should be a Wordless Wednesday or Fixed-it Friday post...what do you think? Thank you to Steven James Rone for sharing this classic!
TGP: More on Scaife Hall
When Jonathan Edly was asked about a recent project that was memorable to him, he talked about Scaife Hall. As a former specwriter who still has a mental list of favorite projects, I can relate!
Fire Doors – Everything you always wanted to know (but were afraid to ask)
I'm in the process of archiving some older articles and updating the ones that are still applicable...this one was due for an update - it's an oldie but a goodie!
WW: Two halves make a whole.
An AHJ sent me this photo from a fire door in a health care facility, and as you can see, a portion of the fire door label is missing. Check out what makes this a great Wordless Wednesday example...