Facility managers have various life-saving responsibilities that they balance through the day-to-day operational duties so it’s important to ensure building occupants are educated and aware of fire safety procedures. The main priority is to keep people safe which means the more eyes you have on certain fire safety components within the building the better.
Fire doors are complex with hundreds of moving parts, which allows them to prevent fire and smoke from spreading throughout the building. Unfortunately, that means there is a higher chance for a fire door’s parts to become deficient. Fire doors are complicated devices that require a knowledgeable professional in the field to perform annual inspections per the NFPA 80 code. However, there are deficiencies that you can repair yourself to ensure your building stays in compliance.
Fire Door Deficiencies that can be Avoided:
- Kick down door holders added to door, allowing it to be kept open
- Kick down door holders is a deficiency that can easily be avoided by not installing them on the doors, at all. These devices make it too easy for a fire door to accidently be propped open. The purpose of kick down holders to leave doors in the open position, however, fire doors should never be left in the open position.
- Fire doors blocked to stay in the open position
Fire doors are to be closed at all times. Propping them open for a brief period is not acceptable as fire emergencies can break at any given moment. Fire doors that are propped open put people in danger. This can be easily avoided and monitored by facility managers and building occupants.
- Area surrounding the fire door assembly blocked by furniture, equipment and/or boxes
- There should never be any furniture, boxes or clutter blocking a fire door. Areas around fire doors should be clear and easily accessible in the event of an emergency. Building occupants can help prevent this deficiency easily as they should be fully aware of the importance and take it upon themselves to take notice of this compliance issue.
Fire Door Inspection and Repair Services
These are only a few of the deficiencies that are found in fire doors, but the easiest to prevent. It may not seem like a big deal to prop open a door to let a little air flow through the hallway or stairwell. But if a fire were to happen, those fire doors would not be able to function properly. Fire doors are only one piece in a fire protection system, yet they play a huge role in a building’s overall fire safety. They are supposed to remain in the closed position with nothing blocking their access. Therefore, removing objects that keep the door propped open or block its access will help prevent fire and smoke from spreading as well as provide a safe egress for occupants.
For all your fire life safety needs, contact our team of professionals to schedule an appointment. We are standing by to assist you in making sure your facility is in compliant and safe for all occupants. Rest assured with our certified technicians, quality work and exceptional customer service- You’re Safe with Us!
