National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, is referenced by the International Building Code ( IBC), International Fire Code ( IFC), NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, and other codes and standards. Where can I find the code requirements for fire doors? The best way to find the answers is through asking the right questions.
This article addresses some of the basic code requirements pertaining to fire doors, in hopes of making them a little less mysterious. Occasionally, an assembly will be made of components that have been tested together and must be used to maintain the rating. These components are not typically required to be supplied by the same manufacturer-in most cases, they can be separate products which are listed, labeled, or classified for use in a fire door assembly. Simply put, an opening protective in a fire or smoke barrier is required to be a fire door assembly, which includes the door, frame, hardware, and glazing. Still, the requirements remain a mystery for many architects and specifiers. Photos courtesy Ingersoll Rand Security Technologiesįire doors are an important part of a building’s passive fire protection system, and doors in a means of egress provide life safety by allowing people to exit quickly when necessary.
