Fire, Life Safety & Accessibility Codes - Von Duprin

Fire Doors
One of the cardinal rules of fire-rated doors is that they must be
self-closing, but there are many ways to hold open a fire door
(see figure 7). A wall- or floor-mounted magnetic holder and a
separate mechanical closer may be used if the holder releases upon
fire alarm. A closer with an integral electronic holder may either
release upon fire alarm or may contain an integral smoke detector.
For retrofit applications, a battery-operated holder with an integral
smoke detector may be used in conjunction with a separate
mechanical closer. According to NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors
and Fire Windows, 2007 Edition:
· 6.4.1 Closing Devices
· 6.4.1.1* “Unless otherwise permitted by the AHJ, a closing device
shall be installed on every fire door.”
(Refer to Annex A for exceptions such as the inactive leaf of
pairs of doors leading to unoccupied rooms as well as
communicating doors between hotel rooms.)
· 6.4.1.3. “All components of closing devices used shall be attached
securely to doors and frames by steel screws or through-bolts.”
· 6.4.1.4. All closing mechanisms shall be adjusted to overcome
the resistance of the latch mechanism so hat positive latching
is achieved on each door operation.
· 6.4.1.5. “Where door holder/release devices are used,
they shall be labeled.”
· 6-1.4. Operation of Doors. All swinging doors shall be closed
and latched at the time of fire.
· 6.1.4.1For the purposes of 6.1.4,
the operation of doors is divided into three categories:
1. Self-closing doors
2. Automatic-closing doors
3. Power-operated fire doors
· 6.1.4.2. Self-Closing Doors.
· 6.1.4.2.1 Self-closing doors shall swing easily and
freely and shall be equipped with a closing device
to cause the door to close and latch each time it
is opened.
· 6.1.4.2.2 The closing mechanism shall not have a
hold-open feature.
· 6.1.4.3. Automatic Closing Doors. Automatic closing doors
shall be permitted to close automatically by means of the
installation of a closing device and one of the following:
1.A separate, labeled, fail-safe door holder/release device
or a hold-open mechanism that shall be permitted to be an
integral part of the basic losing device
2.An integral closing device that allows the door to swing
freely and that automatically closes the door during an
alarm condition provided the hold-open mechanisms are
released by one or a combination of automatic fire
detectors acceptable to the AHJ.
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· “6.1.4.4. Power Operated Fire Doors. Power operated fire doors
shall be equipped with a releasing device that shall automatically
disconnect the power operator at the time of fire, allowing a
self-closing or automatic device to close the door regardless
of power failure or manual operation.”
Life-Safety
The 2006 Edition of NFPA 101® The Life Safety Code®,
contains similar requirements:
· 7.2.1.8. Self-Closing Devices.
· 7.2.1.8. 1*A door normally required to be kept closed shall not be
secured in the open position at any time and shall be self-closing
or automatic-closing in accordance with 7.2.1.8.2. unless otherwise
permitted by 7.2.1.8.3.
· 7.2.1.8.2 In any building of low or ordinary hazard contents,
as defined in 6.2.2.2 and 6.2.2.3, or where approved by the
authority having jurisdiction, doors shall be permitted to be
automatic-closing, provided that the following criteria are met.
1. Upon release of the hold-open mechanism,
the door becomes self-closing.
2. The release device is designed so that the door instantly
releases manually and, upon release, becomes self-closing,
or the door can be readily closed.
3. The automatic releasing mechanism or medium is activated
by the operation of approved smoke detectors installed in
accordance with the requirements for smoke detectors for
door release service in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code.
4. Upon loss of power to the hold-open device, the hold-open
mechanism is released and the door becomes self-closing.
5. The release by means of smoke detection of one door in
a stair enclosure results in closing all doors serving that stair.
Note: Portions of some codes and standards have been reprinted here
for your reference. For complete requirements, consult the applicable
code publication.
figure 8
figure 7
Note: Fusible link hold-open
arms for door closers do not
meet the requirements of
NFPA 80 or NFPA 101 ®
because they are not
smoke-activated.
(see figure 8)
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