Fire Door Inspections: General Requirements overview
- Feb 2
- 7 min read
As explained in our previous post about fire door tags, a common problem building owners are currently facing is defective, damaged or noncompliant fire doors in existing buildings. This post provides a general overview of common defects and the standards used to inspect doors.
These defects may be due to normal wear and tear by building occupants or as a result of non-compliant alterations often related to security (replacing door hardware and/or fitting access control systems for example). This is particularly concerning, as it demonstrates a lack of information and sometimes a lack of care in how to deal with fire doors.
Fire door defects commonly found during inspections:
These are some common defects found on fire doors:
Missing door tag - See our previous post about door tags
Doors are held open - A non-compliant door latch or holder may cause misalignment and seriously compromise the safety of the building, not to mention allow passage of large volumes of smoke or even fire into critical safe paths. Magnetic hold open devices interfaced with the fire alarm system can be used to hold open fire doors and yet still comply with the NZ Building Code.
Doors are misaligned: - to be adjusted by a suitably qualified person
Clearance defects: - to be adjusted by a suitably qualified person, or may require replacement
The gap under the fire door exceeds 10mm - Some solutions are available for gaps marginally exceeding 10mm; depending on the size of the gap or they may require replacement
Insufficient clearance causes the door leaf to be stuck open
Double leaf fire door that does not meet and creates a gap
Damaged seals: - to be adjusted by a suitably qualified person, or may require replacement
Intumescent
Smoke Seal
Damaged or Non-compliant Hardware: - to be replaced by a qualified person.
Door closers
The door is too heavy to open
The door is not closing fully and latching when released
Doorlatches hardware
The door is not latching
The installation of non-compliant hardware (for example, not on the manufacturer's approved list) may lead to the door requiring replacement
Damaged doorset: - Currently, the standard practice is to replace the entire doorset. See our next post on this exact problem.
Leaf
Frame & architrave
Non-compliant installation methodology: - While in some instances it is possible to visually check the fixings, most commonly an invasive inspection is required to check installation methodology
Fixings
Non-compliant Gaps between the frame and the firewall
Fire Door Inspection requirements
Fire doors shall be evaluated in circumstances representative of their use in service and comply with NZS 4520:2010.
If not already specified on the Compliance Schedule, inspection checks shall include, as a minimum, all items specified in one of the following standards:
• NZS 4520:2010 Appendix C, or
• AS1851:2012 (table 12.4.3.1 for hinged and pivoted doors or table 12.4.3.2 floor sliding doors)
See below the Standard requirements for Fire Door Inspections:
Requirements under NZS 4520:2010 Appendix C
The requirements for annual inspection for Fire-resistant doorsets under NZS4520 are:
Door Clearances
Between the leaf and the top of any floor covering, not less than 3 mm and not more than 10 mm
Between the leaf and the top of the floor:
Not more than 10 mm where there is no combustible floor covering
Not more than 25mm where there is a combustible floor covering to be installed
Side-hung door, leaf to frame
Door leaves side-hung into rebated frames should be clear of the door frame and should have mean clearances, in the closed position, between the leaf and the head, and between the leaf and each side, of not more than 3mm
Double-acting doorsets
Clearances between the edges of the door leaf and the wall, floor, head, and frame should not be greater than that necessary for the operation of the doorset
Sliding doorsets
When closed, the door leaf of the sliding doorset should:
Overlap the clear opening by not less than 75 mm at each jamb and at the door head;
Have an average clearance between the face of the door leaf and the return of the frame or wall face within the area of required overlap at the top and sides of not more than 10 mm;
Have a maximum clearance of 15 mm at any point.
Latch handles
Where knobs are used to operate the latch bolt, the clearance between the surface of the knob and the face of the doorstop should be maintained at not less than 35 mm.
It is recommended that the latch handle be located between 900 mm and 1100 mm above the finished floor.
Travel limiting devices
Side hung or double acting fire resistant doorset should have one of the following:
buffers, or
stops, or
other travel limiting devices
Counterweighting system for sliding doors (Protection, Adjustment)
The counterweights should be at least 150 mm clear of the floor in the door-closed position.
Adjustment
The counterweighting systems should be as follows:
Where it is necessary to pass through the fire-resistant doorset to reach the required exit, the force required to achieve the following should not exceed 110 N:
To move the door leaf from its closed position
To move the door leaf from its stationary position after the release mechanism has operated
To operate the door leaf through its full travel;
In other cases, the force required should be as follows:
To move the door leaf from its closed and stationary position after the release mechanism has operated not more than 180 N
To operate the door leaf through its full travel (that is, not more than 135 N)
Final checks
The fire-resistant doorset should latch satisfactorily from the fully open position and any intermediate position, and the closers should demonstrate satisfactory back-checking.
The metal label on the fire-resistant doorset should be checked to ensure it is permanently fixed and the information on the label is legible.
Requirements under AS1851:2012
The requirements for Annual inspection for hinged & pivoted fire-resistant doorsets under AS1851 are:
Location
Check the relevant documents to see if the fire doors in the building have been modified.
Metal tags
Check that door leaves and door frames are tagged in accordance with AS 1905.1.
Signage
Check that all required signage is applied and that the location of the signage is compliant. Check that no non-required signage is installed.
Clearances in the closed position
Check that the dimensions of the gaps around the door leaf are in accordance with AS 1905.1 or the relevant test report
Fittings and hardware
Check that all fittings and hardware that are installed on the fire door set are compatible with the fire door.
Opening and closing forces
Check that the doors can be easily opened and closed in normal conditions and fire mode, considering any pressurisation systems within the building.
Self-latching
Check that the door self-latches in the closed position from the fully open position and from any intermediate position, from any angle of swing, taking into account any pressurisation systems within the building.
Obstruction
Check for any signs of obstruction to the fire doors
Handle and locking devices
Check handles and locking devices to make sure the fire doors are openable as required by the BCA. Check that locking devices do not prevent fire doors from self-latching.
Orientation
Check that the fire door is installed as per the manufacturer's requirements, where the hardware fixing points, like the hinges, knobs and self-closers, are reinforced with metal plates.
Door closers
Check that the closers are in good condition and free from oil leakage.
Seals
Check that the installed door seals are approved for use on the door and not damaged.
Door leaves
Check the leaves for any visible holes, dents or significant damage.
Door frames
Check that door stop dimensions are approved for the door type and FRL. Check the frames for any visible holes, dents or significant damage.
Vision panels
Check that the glass panel is fixed and approved for the door type, in sound condition, free from cracks, and installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Fire-rated air transfer grilles/dampers
Check that the door type is approved for use with the fire-resistant air transfer grille or fire damper, and that it is installed per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Multiple-leaf doors
Check that meeting side astragals are correct for the door type, installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions, and in good condition.
Automatic closing doors
Test automatic-closing doors to ensure they close satisfactorily upon power failure or detector activation.
The requirements for the annual inspection for horizontal sliding fire-resistant doorsets under AS1851 are:
Automatic closing
Test automatic sliding doors to ensure the door closes satisfactorily upon power failure or detector activation.
Location
Check the relevant documents to see if the fire doors in the building have been modified.
Metal tags
Check that door leaves and door frames are tagged in accordance with AS 1905.1.
Signage
Check that all required signage is installed and that its location is compliant. Check that no non-required signage is installed. Check that the arrows indicating the opening direction are fixed to each side of the door leaves.
Clearances in the closed position
Check that the dimensions of the gaps around the door leaf comply with AS 1905.1 or the relevant test report.
Opening force
Check that the doors can be easily opened and closed in normal conditions and in fire mode.
Fittings and hardware
Check that all fittings and hardware that are installed on the fire door set are compatible with the fire door. Check that cables of the counterweight system are free from kinks and corrosion.
Door leaf
Check the leaves for any visible holes, dents or significant damage.
Door frame
Check the farmers for any visible holes, dents or significant damage.
Multiple-leaf doors
Check that the door leaves at the meeting sides are properly aligned and comply with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Wicket/personnel access doors
Check that wicket or personnel access doors operate satisfactorily in accordance with the side-hung door requirements, and in accordance with the manufacturer’s test approval.
Nelligan Consulting Engineers has a great Fire Engineering team, including an in-house Chartered Passive fire protection consultant with expertise in Fire Doors and knowledge to assist you with your project at various stages to ensure the installation is appropriately specified, compliant, cost-effective, and with minimal delays.
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