Locate an FDAI Professional

Inspections must be performed by individuals knowledgeable about the operating components of doors subject to testing. Locate an FDAI professional who is certified to perform these inspections.

Fire Door Inspection

In 2006, NFPA's Fire Doors and Windows (FDW-AAA) technical committee completed its task of updating and expanding NFPA 80. Changes and additions have been incorporated into the 2007 edition, and NFPA 80's title has been changed to "Standard for Fire Rated Doors and Other Opening Protectives" to reflect the expanded content of the new document. The most significant change is the requirement for all fire-rated door assemblies to be inspected annually. Read more...

Performing these steps does not replace the training that is available to become a knowledgeable fire door inspector as required by NFPA 80. These steps are provided as one way to consistently perform a fire door inspection. The Authority Having Jurisdiction determines what is an acceptable level of knowledge to perform these inspections.

11 Steps for Inspecting Doors:

1. No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces of either door or frame.
2. Glazing, vision light frames and glazing beads are intact.
3. Door, frame, hinges, hardware and non-combustible threshold are secured. Read more...

Fire Door Assemblies – Top Ten Deficiencies and Eight Inspection Steps

The most commonly observed deficiencies found on swinging fire doors with builders hardware and tips for performing visual inspections of fire doors assemblies. Read more...

View images of what to look for during these inspections.

Purchase Guides: Annul Safety Inspectional Guides

FAQs

Q: What model building code does New York State (NYS) currently adopt?  Will this change in December 2010?
A: Our current code is Building Code of New York State 2007. Our Building Code of New York State is derived from the IBC and has New York State modifications. The Building Code of New York State 2010 will be effective 1/1/11. It, too, is based on the IBC, but with New York State modifications. The Building Code of New York State lists, in Chapter 35, the reference standards used in the Code. NFPA 80-2007 is listed as a reference standard in the Building Code of New York State 2010.  

Q: Do New York codes reference NFPA 80?
A: Building Code of NYS 2010 references NFPA80-2007 eight times in the following sections of the Building Code:

  

• Mixed Use and Occupancy, Construction: 508.2.2.1 “…Doors shall not have air transfer openings and shall not be undercut in excess of the clearances permitted in accordance with NFPA 80.”
• Opening Protectives 715.4: “...Fire Door assemblies and shutters shall be installed in accordance the provisions of this section and NFPA80”.
• Labeled Protective Assemblies 715.4.5: “Fire door assemblies shall be labeled by an approved agency. The labels shall comply with NFPA 80, and shall be permanently affixed to the door or frame.”
• Glazing Material, Size Limitations 715.4.6.1: “ “Wired glass used in fire doors shall comply with Table 715.5.3/ Other fire –protection-rated glazing shall comply with the size limitations of NFPA 80”.
• Door Closing,  Automatic-closing Fire Door Assemblies 715.4.7.2: “Automatic –closing fire door assemblies shall be self-closing in accordance with NFPA 80”.
• Fire-Protection-Rated Glazing 715.5: “…Fire-rated protection glazing shall also comply with NFPA 80”.
• Non-wired Glass 715.5.4: “Glazing other than wired glass in fire window assemblies shall be fire-protection-rated glazing installed in accordance with and complying with the size limitations set forth in NFPA 80. 
• Horizontal Sliding Doors 1008.1.3.3:”…Horizontal sliding doors shall be installed in accordance with NFPA80 and shall comply with (NYS Building Code) section 715.
   

Q: Does the Building Code of NYS mandate annual inspections? Does the NYS Building Code reference only “installation” and not “maintenance”?
A: The Building Code of New York State 2010, as quoted above in Opening Protectives 715.4, speaks to the installation of fire door assemblies.
The Building Code of New York State 2010 does not speak to the maintenance nor inspection of fire door assemblies.  

Q: Understanding that the fire code and building code are different, what does the Fire Code of NYS reference.
A: The Fire Code of New York State 2010, which is derived from the IFC, references NFPA 80 twice in the following chapters:

• Opening Protectives 703.2: “Opening protectives shall be maintained in an operative condition in accordance with NFPA 80…”
• Horizontal Sliding Doors 1008.1.3.3:”…Horizontal sliding doors…shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 80 and shall comply with (NYS Building Code) Section 715.
  

Q: Any insight into how New York City & Long Island are handling this?
A: Typically, in NYC, either the city code or the Building Code of NYS is enforced according to which is the most stringent. Long Island would be subject to the Building Code of New York State.

SUMMARY:

My overall sense, supported by NYS’s Office of General Services, Division of Design code officials, is that fire door inspections are required according to The Fire Code of New Your State, Opening Protectives section 703.2:  “Opening protectives shall be maintained in an operative condition in accordance with NFPA 80…..”  NFPA 80 requires inspections so that deficiencies in fire door assemblies are identified, and remedied, assuring the fire door assembly is operable. The inspection is required as part of the NFPA 80 maintenance procedure to maintain the fire door assemblies in an operable condition.

Bear in mind, codes are trumped by law. In this case NYSCRR Title 19 requires fire inspections. Arguably, this is not in conflict with either the Building Code nor the Fire Code.