Survey Compliance Services

NFPA 80 requires both sides of swinging fire doors to be inspected and tested according to the following 13 items:

• (1) Labels are clearly visible and legible.
• (2) No open holes or breaks exist in the surface of either the door or frame.
• (3) Glazing, vision light frames, and glazing beads are intact and securely fastened in place, if so equipped.
• (4) The door, frame, hinges, hardware, and noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned, and in working order with no visible signs of damage.
• (5) No parts are missing or broken.
• (6) Door clearances do not exceed clearances listed in 4.8.4 and 6.3.1.7.
• (7) The self-closing device is operational; that is, the active door completely closes when operated from the fully open position.
• (8) If a coordinator is installed, the inactive leaf closes before the active leaf.
• (9) Latching hardware operates and secures the door when it is in the closed position.
• (10) Auxiliary hardware items that interfere or prohibit operation are not installed on the door or frame.
• (11) No field modifications to the door assembly have been performed that void the label.
• (12) Meeting-edge protection, gasketing, and edge seals, where required, are inspected to verify their presence and integrity.
• (13) Signage on doors covers less than 5% of door face and it not attached with mechanical fasteners. 

Field-inspection reports are required to include the following per NFPA 80, Section 5.2.2.4:

• (1) Date of inspection
• (2) Name of facility
• (3) Address of facility
• (4) Name of person(s) performing inspection and testing
• (5) Company name and address of inspecting company
• (6) Signature of inspector of record
• (7) Individual record of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
• (8) Opening identifier and location of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
• (9) Type and description of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
• (10) Verification of visual inspection and functional operation
• (11) Listing of deficiencies in accordance with sections 5.2.3, 5.3, and 5.4.

Fire door inspection reports are required to be retained in the facility for no less than 3 years, written on a medium that will survive the length of the required retention period, and made available to the authority having jurisdiction upon request.

The importance of initial fire door inspections and subsequent annual inspections cannot be overemphasized. It has been reported nationally that more than 80% of swinging fire-rated doors fail the inspection and testing required by NFPA80. The most common deficiencies are painted or missing fire labels, excessive perimeter gaps when the door is closed, kickdown door holders installed on fire-rated doors, auxiliary hardware installed that interferes with the intended door function, doors blocked in the open position, broken or missing hardware items, missing or incorrect fasteners, and bottom flush bolts that do not fully engage the strike. The adoption and execution of initial and annual fire door inspections will result in safer conditions for building occupants. 

HERE’S WHAT THE FIRE DOOR INSPECTOR IS LOOKING FOR:  Top Eleven Deficiencies 

• Holes or openings in the fire door assembly
• poor clearances or dimensions around the perimeter of the door in the closed position
• Missing or painted fire door and frame labels
• Failure of latching hardware
• Missing or incorrect  fasteners
• Improper operation of the door coordinator and self-closing devices
• Missing gasketing or silencers 
• Incorrectly sized kickplates
• Improper field modifications, auxiliary hardware that interfere with the intended function of the door (barrel bolts, dead bolts, barricade devices, etc. )