Minnesota businesses are required to uphold certain standards to keep their business, customers, and employees safe. While there are tons of regulations and laws surrounding business owners, one section that many may not be as familiar with is fire protection. Of course, businesses have insurance to protect them should the worst take place, but there are also national, local and even international building codes regarding fire doors.
Fire Doors for Businesses
Fire doors for business and industrial use are made to withstand the extreme heat of a fire. These doors are required for many businesses and public spaces to protect the building’s occupants, block the spread of smoke and/or flames, and prevent as much property damage as possible. Fire doors are designed to close automatically in the event of a fire, or when triggered by a panic button or other security alarm.
Fire doors are a key component in the protection and containment of a fire. They can be installed in entrances, corridors, or other sections of buildings, depending on the flow of traffic and potential threat of fire.
Fire Door Requirements
The building codes that set fire door requirements can vary from state to state, or even city by city. These guidelines are set depending on the application of the building, surrounding neighborhood, age of the building, exterior environment, and other factors. Commercial fire doors must pass a regular inspection conducted by local officials and specialized testing agencies. A passing grade is represented by the number of hours that the barrier can resist the heat and flames of a fire. For example, common passing grades range from .5 to 3 hours. The allotted time necessary to pass inspection can also vary, based on your company’s local building codes.
Certifications and Inspections
Fire doors need to be inspected at least once every year by a representative from your local fire department. During these inspections, specialists will look at a variety of the doors features and label the door based on a few criteria:
- The manufacturer
- Fire exit hardware/equipment
- A temperature rise rating
- Whether or not it is a smoke door assembly
- The length of time intended to resist fire
- The hardware and frame of a fire door must have similar labeling. When looking into the hardware and frame of a door, inspectors specifically look at the duration intended to resist a fire.
At American Door Works, our fire doors and grilles are designed and engineered to provide the utmost security and safety in public and industrial areas. For fire doors, an annual inspection includes:
- Inspecting the door and the opening it’s fastened to
- Ensuring the door travels properly
- Drop testing the fire door
- Documenting the test for personal and insurance records
Annual inspection and drop testing are required in order to meet National Fire Protection Association standards. Many insurance companies also require annual fire door drop testing. Our technicians can provide a comprehensive fire door drop test and the documentation your company needs to verify the safety of your fire door. Contact us for a qualified door for a routine safety inspection, service or repair.