What Can I Do to Comply with Fire Door Safety?
July 10, 2023
In 1991, a tragic fire occurred at Imperial Foods in Hamlet, North Carolina. There were 90 employees in the plant at the time, of whom 25 died and another 54 were injured. Many of them were trapped behind locked doors inside the building.
Egress doors in the plant had been padlocked to prevent employee theft, and when the fire occurred, many building occupants were unable to escape quickly.
Door Services Corporation wants to help raise awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property. Highlighting key compliance information and reliable fire door 
product information.
Fire door safety exists across all industries – commercial, retail, education, healthcare, government, and senior living facilities to name a few. Fire doors keep back smoke and flames for a specified period of time to allow escape and contain the fire to allow firefighters to do their job.
What Can I Do to Comply with Fire Door Safety?
Fire Door Safety Week offers Top 10 Tips on what to look out for in your workplace: a 30 second fire door check which lets you know if you need to bring in fire door safety inspectors.
- Does the door close soundly against the frame?
- Are the seals (intumescent or smoke seals) present and in good condition?
- Is the edge of the door or frame damaged?
- Does the latch engage properly?
- Are there any gaps larger than 3mm between the frame and the door?
- Can you see light through the gap at the bottom of the door?
- Are there a minimum of three hinges and do they look in good condition?
- Does the door have signage on it?
- If there is glazing in the door, does it look in good condition?
- Is the door wedged or stuck open?
Fire door inspections are the first step toward fire door compliance. Fire doors must be tested and inspected on an annual basis. A ruling of non-compliance could have tragic consequences.
In order to protect against the spread of fire and smoke within, into, or out of buildings, facility managers need to implement preventative maintenance and fire door inspection programs in accordance with local and national standards. Fire door failures in an emergency can happen due to lack of maintenance, physical damage to the door, the closure, guides, tracks, or by obstacles blocking the fire door. Each of these put employees and customers at risk in case of a fire emergency.
We are happy to share that all of our northeast, Door Services Corporation, branches strictly follow the NFPA 80 guidelines for fire doors. Our inspection experts inspect both sides of your door to assess the overall condition and assembly of each opening, recording findings for future repair and reporting. Our teams inform your facility managers about where the greatest risk of future failure are due to high frequency use or risk of damage during normal operation.
Fire Door Inspections
All fire door inspections are performed to code standards. Our team of qualified fire door inspectors are proficient in NFPA 80 and are versed in the unique conditions of healthcare facilities. Our fire door inspectors receive training on an semi-annual basis to stay up-to-date of code changes and to continue providing quality fire door inspections.
Fire Door Repairs
All fire door repairs are performed to code standards. Repairing Fire doors requires technical skills and precision. Our fire door team is highly qualified and trained to meet compliance standards.
Fire Door Labeling
Labels on fire doors, frames, or other components of a fire door assembly, are the identifying mark that the fire door or component has been tested and has passed the criteria required by test standards. Fire door labels should not be removed or made illegible while the fire door is in service.
Best in Class Fire Doors and Accessories
Won-Door
Won-Door Corporation introduced the world’s most durable acoustically rated folding partition. Fifteen years later the company pioneered the development of the first-ever accordion-type, fire-rated horizontal sliding door. Technology developed by Won-Door engineers continues to influence the building products and fire protection industry.
Won-Door products are installed in a multitude of building types around the WORLD! Architects are discovering that horizontal sliding fire door systems are an innovative solution to the code constraints that might otherwise impede the creation of iconic and unique architecture.
Learn more here.
Horton Automatics
Horton fire door swing operators give manual doors the expediency and efficiency of an automatic door, while providing the security and protection your need for your customers, clients, guest, and workers.
When a fire alarm is activated at your business, the fire door automatically closes at a rate that complies with all fire code regulations.
Fire door swing operators from Horton Automatics are expertly engineered, skillfully crafted, rigidly tested and can be installed at any entrance that uses a fire-rated swing door.
Learn more here…
All of our Door Services fire door inspectors have formal training and certifications.
Click here to let us help you with your fire door needs or call us at 800-492-2392.
Media Contact: Krista Rivers, Marketing Specialist /marketingds@overheaddoor.com
Sources: https://processsafetyintegrity.com/events/hamlet-chicken-plant-fire/
https://www.astutisinternational.com/fired-up-for-fire-door-safety-week.html
https://www.doorservicescorporation.com/automatic-door-services/fire-door-inspections