Fire Alarm Door Release - Which Doors Require it?

[designer82]

I'm working on a school project. They don't have any corridor doors or stairwell doors.

Which doors require fire alarm door release, is it only Fire Doors between fire barriers? What about the cafeteria and gym doors, would they require Door Holders that release upon fire alarm?

Thanks

 

[rnatalie]

This is NOT in the NEC but in the building/fire codes. Are you talking about the things that automatically close the fire door when the alarm goes off? The IFC mandates automatic closers for doors in areas with openings requiring fire/smoke closures.

 

[gadfly56]

This is NOT in the NEC but in the building/fire codes. Are you talking about the things that automatically close the fire door when the alarm goes off? The IFC mandates automatic closers for doors in areas with openings requiring fire/smoke closures.

^^^^^What he said. The door will have a label on the jamb indicating if it is fire or fire/smoke rated. If it doesn't have a sweep on the bottom or a gasket at the jamb or center post, it's not likely to be smoke rated. Not a guarantee, but it's something to look for when the painters have hidden the jamb label.

 

[ron]

It is more of an operations issue. Fire / smoke doors need to stay closed. For an operations or egress reason, they want to hold the door open, then you need to close it automatically during a smoke / fire condition.
Thus the door hold open magnet.

 

[designer82]

Yes thank you. In a school project, I know the corridor and stairwell entry doors are all fire barriers. Do you know if entry doors to Cafeteria and Gym would be fire doors as well?

 

[gadfly56]

Yes thank you. In a school project, I know the corridor and stairwell entry doors are all fire barriers. Do you know if entry doors to Cafeteria and Gym would be fire doors as well?

You'll have to look for the label, or if this is a pending project, check the door schedule or RFI the architect. AFAIK, there is no code requirement regarding fire doors for these two use areas.

 

[rnatalie]

We have an unsprinklered furniture mart that drops firedoors which are essentially garage doors weighted so they want to come down, too. They stay open about 24/7 otherwise. I'd hate to be underneath one when it drops.

 

[gadfly56]

We have an unsprinklered furniture mart that drops firedoors which are essentially garage doors weighted so they want to come down, too. They stay open about 24/7 otherwise. I'd hate to be underneath one when it drops.

Their drop rate is supposed to be mechanically regulated (6" - 24" per second) so you don't guillotine someone when they activate. Which is a reason for them to be drop tested once or twice a year.

 

[JoeStillman]

Yes thank you. In a school project, I know the corridor and stairwell entry doors are all fire barriers. Do you know if entry doors to Cafeteria and Gym would be fire doors as well?

Cafeterias and Gyms, in my experience, have fire walls, so any doors through those walls will be fire rated. The more important question is; Why hold those doors open? IMHO, they don't need holders because its better for them to stay shut for purposes of noise and HVAC. Talk to the Mech Dept and the Architect.