Fire, Smoke, or Egress Doors & Windows

Using NFPA® 1/72/80/101/105

Translation for NFPA references: NFPA # :Chapter.sub-chapter.etc./another reference for the same specification.



Fire doors/Windows shall be annually inspected.

1:12.7.6.5.1/101:8.3.3.3.5.1
1:12.7.6.3.1/101:8.3.3.3.1
1:12.4.6.8.4.1/80:5.2.4.1
1:12.4.6.8.1/80:5.2.1/80:5.2.4

Egress Doors, and doors with fire/panic hardware shall be inspected annually.

1:14.5.11.1(101:11-101:43)/1:14.5.11.2-1:14.5.11.7 & 1:14.5.3.4 & 1:14.5.3.3
Healthcare is not listed within NFPA 101 2013, but is listed within CMS 2014 adopted by the state of Florida
CFR Chapter 69A-53, Uniform Fire Safety Standards for Hospitals and Nursing Homes 201

Fire doors/Shutters/Windows shall be operable at all times.

1:12.4.6.3.1/80:5.1.2.1

Operation of Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware. (check bottom for more description)

80:6.1.3

Cannot block or hold open door.

1:12.4.6.3.2/80:5.1.2.2
1:12.4.6.3.3.1/80:5.1.2.3.2
1:12.4.6.3.3.3/80:5.1.2.3.3

All fire doors, fire shutters, and fire window assemblies shall be inspected and tested to check for proper operation and full closure.

80:5.2.3.7.1

Unless otherwise permitted by the AHJ, a closing devices shall be installed on every fire door.

80:6.4.1.1.1

Must have written records for the AHJ. 3 years for inspections, life of assembly for acceptance tests.


1:12.4.6.8.2/80:5.2.2
1:12.4.6.8.2.1/80:5.2.2.1
1:12.4.6.8.2.2/80:5.2.2.2
1:12.4.6.8.2.3/72:14.6.2.3
14.5.11.3/101:7.2.1.15.3

Inspections must be performed by a qualified and knowledgeable person.


1:12.4.6.8.3.1/80:5.2.3.1 & 80:14.5.11.4/101:7.2.1.15.4

A record of all inspections and testing shall be provided that includes, but is not limited to, the following information:


  1. Date of inspection
  2. Name of Facility
  3. Address of Facility
  4. Name of Person(s) performing inspections 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 of description of each inspected and tested fire door assembly
  10. Verification of visual inspection and functional operation

Listing of deficiencies (in accordance with 80:12.4.6.8.3, 80:12.4.6.9, & 80:12.4.6.10)

1:12.4.6.8.2.4

Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware, or Fire Door Hardware(80:12.4.6.8.3)


As a minimum, the following items shall be verified:

  1. Labels are clearly visible and legible.

  2. No open holes or breaks exist in surfaces of either the door or frame.

  3. Glazing, vision lights 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 80:4.8.4 & 80:6.3.1.
    Table 6.4.3.1

  7. The self-closing devise is operational; that is, the active door completely closes when operated from full open position.

  8. If coordinator is installed, the inactive leaf closes before the active leaf.

  9. Latching hardware operates and secures the door when it is in the 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 affixed to a door meets the requirements listed in 80:4.1.4.
    14. 80:12.4.6.8.3.5.2
    80:5.2.3.5.2

Door opening inspections and operating requirements:


  1. Floor space on both sides of the openings is clear of obstructions, and door leaves open fully and close freely.
  2. Forces required to set door leaves in motion and move to the fully open position do not exceed the requirements in 1:14.5.1.5.
  3. Latching and locking devices comply with 1:14.5.2
  4. Releasing hardware devices are installed in accordance with 1:14.5.2.10.1
  5. Door leaves of paired openings are installed in accordance with 1:14.5.2.11
  6. Door closers are adjusted properly to control the closing speed of door leaves in accordance with accessibility requirements.
  7. Projection of door leaves into the path of egress does not exceed the encroachment permitted by 1:14.5.1.3
  8. Powered door openings operate in accordance with 1:14.5.5
  9. Signage required by 1:14.5.1.1(3), 1:14.5.2.5, 1:14.5.3 and 1:14.5.5 is intact and legible.
  10. Door openings with special locking arrangements function in accordance with 1:14.5.3.
  11. Security devices that impede egress are not installed on openings as required by 1:14.5.2.12.
  12. Where required by 101:7.2.2.5.5.7 door hardware marking is present and intact.
  13. Emergency lighting on sensor-release of electrical locking systems and doors equipped with delayed-egress electrical locking systems is present in accordance with section 1:14.3.1/101:7.2.1.15.6

1:14.5.11.6

All hardware on Fire Doors shall be Labeled Fire Door Hardware.


80:7.4.3

Only labeled fire door hardware shall be used.


80:7.4.3.1.1

Components. Fire door hardware shall include hinge brackets, hinges, latches, latch keepers, and operating handle mechanisms, and hardware for inactive door or pairs of doors shall include top and bottom bolts and keepers.


80:7.4.3.2

Panic Hardware and Fire Exit Hardware

Only approved fire exit hardware shall be used on fire protection-rated door assemblies. New panic hardware and new fire exit hardware shall comply with ANSI/UL 305 and ANSI/BHMA A156.3.


80:14.5.3.4.2/101:7.2.1.7.2

Must repair any defects, deficiencies, or inoperative parts without delay.


1:12.4.6.8.4.6/80:5.2.4.6 & 1:12.4.6.11.1/80:5.5.1

If you cannot repair the door, frame, assembly, or any part of its appurtenances with labeled or parts from original manufacturer or retrofitted, it must be completely replaced.


1:12.4.6.11.5/80:5.5.5 & 1:12.4.6.11.6/80:5.5.6/Retrofit:80:5.3

Door openings not in proper operating conditions shall be repaired/replaced without delay.


14.5.11.7/101:7.2.1.15.7

All fire door/windows assemblies shall be labeled, and legible.


Fire doors: 80:12.7.6.3.2/101:8.3.3.3.2 & 80:12.7.6.3.3/101:8.3.3.3.3
Windows: 80:12.7.6.5.1/101:8.3.3.3.1 & 80:12.7.6.5.2/101:8.3.3.3.2

All openings in a fire barrier shall be protected to limit spread of fire and restrict movement of smoke from one to side another.


1:12.7.7.1/101:8.3.4.1

Clearances.


80:6.3.1.7

The clearances between the top and vertical edges of the door and the frame, and the meeting edges of doors swinging in pairs, shall be 1/8 in. ± 1/16 in. (3.18mm ± 1.59mm) for steel doors and shall not exceed 1/8 in. (3.18mm) for wood doors.


80:6.3.1.7.1

Clearances shall be measured from the pull face of the door(s).


80:6.3.1.7.2

Frames for Lights or Panels. Where a frame assembly consists of both solid panels and glazed lights, the fire protection rating shall be based on the glazed area.


80:6.3.2

Removal of door or window requires fixing opening to required rating.


80:5.1.5

Acceptance testing for fire doors/windows assemblies shall include:


Acceptance testing of fire door and window assemblies shall be performed by a qualified person with knowledge and understanding of the operating components of the type of assembly being subject to testing.

80:5.2.3.1

Acceptance testing shall include the closing of the door by all means of activation.

80:5.2.3.3

A record of these inspections and testing shall be made in accordance with 5.2.2.

80:5.2.3.4

Before testing a visual inspection shall be performed to identify any damage or missing parts that can create a hazard during testing or affect operation or resetting.


80:5.2.3.2

Periodic Inspection and Testing on Rolling Doors


80:5.2.4

Periodic inspections and testing shall be performed not less than annually.


80:5.2.4.1

As a minimum, the provisions of 80:5.2.3 shall be included in the periodic inspection and testing procedure.


80:5.2.4.2

Inspection shall include an operational test for automatic-closing doors and windows to verify that the assembly will close under fire conditions.


80:5.2.4.3

Hardware shall be examined, and inoperative hardware, parts, or other defective items shall be replaced without delay.


80:5.2.4.6

Maintenance on Rolling Doors, is the same as Fire Doors/Smoke Doors/Egress Doors.

Repairs shall be made, and defects that could interfere with operation shall be corrected without delay.


80:5.5.1

Any breaks in the face covering of doors shall be repaired without delay.


80:5.5.4

Where a fire door, frame, or any part of its appurtenances is damaged to the extent that it could impair the door’s proper emergency function, the following actions shall be performed:


  1. The fire door, frame, door assembly, or any part of its appurtenances shall be repaired with labeled parts, or parts obtained from the original manufacturer.
  2. The door shall be tested to ensure emergency operation and closing upon completion of the repairs.
80:5.5.5

If repairs cannot be made with labeled components or parts obtained from the original manufacturer or retrofitted in accordance with Section 5.3, the fire door frame, fire door assembly, or appurtenances shall be replaced.


80:5.5.6

When holes are left in a door or frame due to change or removal of hardware or plant-ons, the holes shall be repaired by the following methods:


  1. Install steel fasteners that completely fill the holes

  2. Fill the screw or bolt holes with the same material as the door or frame.

    3. 80:5.5.7

Fusible links, release devices and any other moveable parts shall not be painted or coated with other materials that could interfere with the operation of the assembly.


80:5.2.3.8

For the purposes of 80:6.1.3, the operation of doors shall be divided into the following categories:


  • Self-closing doors

  • Automatic-closing doors

  • Power-operated fire doors

80:6.1.3.1


Self-Closing Doors.


80:6.1.3.2

Self-Closing doors shall swing easily and freely and shall be equipped with a closing device to cause the door to close and latch each time it is opened.


80:6.1.3.2.1

The closing mechanism shall not have a hold-open feature.


80:6.1.3.2.2

Automatic-Closing Doors. Automatic-closing doors shall be permitted to close automatically by means of the installation of a closing device and one of the following:


  1. A separate, labeled, fail-safe door holder/release device or a hold-open mechanism that shall be permitted to be an integral part of the basic closing device.
  2. An integral closing device that allows the door to swing freely and that automatically closes the door during an alarm condition, provided the hold-open mechanisms are released by one of a combination of automatic fire detectors acceptable to the AHJ.

80:6.1.3.3

The fire door shall latch upon closure.


80:6.1.3.3.1

Power-operated Fire Doors. Power-operated fire doors shall be equipped with a releasing device that shall automatically disconnect the power operator at the time of fire, allowing a self-closing or automatic device to close and latch the door regardless of power failure or manual operation.


80:6.1.3.4



These are only the main points of Fire/Smoke/Egress Doors and Fire Windows.
Refer below for NFPA® publications to find more detailed information

NFPA® 1 Fire Code

NFPA® 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

NFPA® 80 Fire Doors

NFPA® 101 Life Safety Code

NFPA® 105 Smoke Doors Code