In recent years, the inspection requirements for fire-rated doors have undergone significant changes. Until a few years ago, these inspections were part of the annual fire prevention review conducted by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). However, this is no longer the case. Recognizing that building owners and managers are responsible for maintaining their properties in a safe and hazard-free manner, a major change was made to the Fire Code in 2011. This change shifted the responsibility of annual fire door inspections and testing to facilities’ management, subject to verification by an AHJ.
According to the updated Fire Code, every building’s fire-rated doors must be inspected and tested at least once a year. Additionally, a written record of inspection results, along with any repairs or modifications made, must be maintained in an Inspection, Testing & Maintenance (ITM) log book kept on-site for AHJ oversight at any time.
Building managers have two options: they can either use their qualified personnel who are knowledgeable about fire door assemblies to conduct these inspections and maintain the ITM log book or hire a qualified independent company to perform the annual fire door inspection in compliance with the Fire Code.
The rationale behind this shift was that many facilities have too many doors for AHJs to inspect effectively during their annual visits. Requiring building managers to take on this responsibility ensures that every fire door is appropriately inspected and significantly improves a building’s overall fire protection and life safety profile. While this compliance may add some burden or cost initially, it ultimately enhances safety for occupants and could potentially lower insurance costs—besides being a legal requirement.
It is crucial for building managers to remember that complying with this law is not just about fulfilling an obligation; it’s about ensuring safety within their buildings.
