Fire Doors and Fire Testing
Unfortunately there is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to fire door testing. Fire doors are designed to slow the progress of a fire. They may also be regularly used as security doors or they may only be in place in case of a fire.
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All of the following statements are misconceptions we have heard. None of these statements are correct. The reality is that if you have fire doors in your building they must be tested annually according to the National Fire Protection Association which is also adopted by Minnesota Fire Code.
There are many reasons why Fire Doors fail--we regularly test doors that do not close properly. In fact it is not unusual for us to find that over half of doors we test fail. The good news is that fixing the problem is usually straight forward maintenance.
Common misunderstandings about fire doors and fire door testing
Misunderstanding: If the fire door closes it works
Reality: Fire doors must be tested to close to the manufacturers specifications in order to properly function in a fire, not to your requirements.
Misunderstanding: Fire doors are also security doors or pass through doors
Reality: Fire doors may also serve as security doors but some fire doors are activated only by a fire.
Misunderstanding: Testing the fire alarm system or the fire suppression system is all that is required
Reality: One of the most important parts of a fire door test is to actually drop the door and verify that is closes properly.
Misunderstanding: Testing of fire doors is only required when the doors are first installed
Reality: All relevant codes, including NFPA-80 and the Minnesota Fire code require that they are tested annually.
Misunderstanding: Only frequently used doors must be tested
Reality: No distinction is made by how often the door is used
Misunderstanding: A variation of the comment above is: We didn't’t even know the door was there why do we have to test it?
Reality: The fire doors are strategically placed to slow the progress of a fire so even if they are not regularly used they need to be tested.