This sign was not compliant with NFPA 80 prior to the 2022 edition. Do you know what changed? Photo: Brendan Daley
Although it is not uncommon to see signage attached to a fire door – sometimes numerous signs – there are limitations regarding the size of the sign, the method of attachment to the door, and restrictions regarding the type of glazing that a sign may be attached to. During a fire door inspection, one of the inspection criteria is to check the signage for compliance with these requirements.
The codes and standards require some signage used on doors to have specific wording – for example, “PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 SECONDS.” in locations where delayed egress locks are used. Signage must also comply with the visual character requirements of the accessibility standards, to ensure that the signs can be read by building occupants with varying levels of vision. Although the character size, stroke width, spacing, and contrast are often addressed by the manufacturer of the signage, it’s important to be aware of the mounting height requirements so the sign is installed properly.
For more detailed information about signage installed on fire doors, read this Decoded article and then proceed to the review questions below.
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Review Questions
1. What is the maximum size (nominal) for plastic signage mounted on one side of a fire door that is 3 feet wide and 7 feet high?
- 1 square foot
- 6 square inches
- 1.5 square feet
- Signage is not allowed to be attached to a fire door
2. According to the 2019 edition of NFPA 80, which of the following may be used to attach signage to a fire door?
- Screws
- Nails
- Adhesive
- All of the above
3. According to the 2019 edition of NFPA 80, which type(s) of glazing in a fire door assembly may have signage attached to it, if acceptable per the glazing manufacturer’s listings?
- Fire-protection-rated glazing
- Fire-resistance-rated glazing
- Traditional wired glass
- None of the above
Answers: 1 – A, 2 – C, 3 – B