Fire Rated Door Opening Force

The best way to measure door opening force is by using a door force gauge also called a door pressure gauge.

Fire rated door opening force.

It is an offence to prop open or otherwise interfere with the automatic closing action of a fire door. Cbc 1005 1 3 door opening force. Standard for fire doors and other opening protectives nfpa 101. The force for pushing or pulling open a door or gate.

Fire doors must only be fitted with door hardware fire rated in accordance with as1905 1. Fire door locks must be self latching and are not permitted to have a hold open feature. Push until the door opens all the way. Latching and locking doors that are hand activated and which are in a path of travel shall be operable with a single effort by lever type hardware by panic bars push pull activating bars or other hardware designed to provide passage.

The force for pushing or pulling open doors other than fire doors shall be as follows. The door shall be set in motion when subjected to a 30 pound force. The force for pushing or pulling open interior swinging egress doors other than fire doors shall not exceed 5 pounds 22 n these forces do not apply to the force required to retract latch bolts or disengage other devices that hold the door in a closed position. Sliding or folding door.

To do this first unlatch the door and then press the gauge against the door. 2 hand activated door opening hardware shall be centered between 30 inches and 44 inches above the floor. Door opening force fire doors shall have a minimum opening force allowable by the appropriate administrative authority. Life safety code the international building code ibc and the international fire code ifc.

This standard regulates the installation and maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect openings in walls floors and ceilings against the spread of fire and smoke within into or out of buildings. The readout on the gauge shows you the force required to open the door. Fire rated door assemblies must meet the requirements of the applicable building or life safety code such as the national fire protection association nfpa 80. I did a post on opening force for accessibility a while back but it s important to note that fire rated doors are not required to open with 5 pounds of force.

Fire doors must also be fitted with a fire rated automatic non. 5 0 pounds 22 2 n maximum 2. For other swinging doors as well as sliding and folding doors the door latch shall release when subjected to a i5 pound force. The force for pushing or pulling open interior swinging egress doors other than fire doors shall not exceed 5 pounds.

A 1 1 see annex k for general information about fire doors. I got an email today about a fire rated door that would not reliably close with the closer adjusted to provide 5 pounds of opening force. Fire doors shall have the minimum opening force allowable by the appropriate administrative authority. 5 0 pounds 22 2 n maximum.

Spring hinges door spring hinges shall be adjusted so that from the open position of 70 degrees the door shall move to the closed position in 1 5 seconds minimum.