Below are some of the most frequently asked
Because it is part of the State & Local Fire Prevention Codes and is also a requirement of AHCA, CMS plus its the LAW!
It used to be before the Fire Prevention Code was changed, making Annual Inspections the responsibility of the building operators.
It has always been the obligation of the people responsible for the operation of the building to maintain the building’s fire, smoke & egress doors in code complaint working order.
Fire Prevention Inspections by local Fire Departments have to cover so many different fire protection elements. The number of Fire-doors, alone, in many buildings, can run from just a few dozen to hundreds. In some extensive facilities, thousands are not uncommon, making FD inspecting every door virtually impossible.
Fire Prevention Inspections by local Fire Departments have to cover so many different fire protection elements. The number of Fire-doors, alone, in many buildings, can run from just a few dozen to hundreds. In some extensive facilities, thousands are not uncommon, making FD inspecting every door virtually impossible.
AHJ Stands for the Authority Having Jurisdiction… it can be a local or State Fire marshal or Code Enforcement official, ACHA, CMS, or TJC (if you’re a health care facility) or an Insurance Company representative, etc. Anyone who has the right to enforce the fire code on your facility
Official notices have been sent out by many departments (and have been ignored), and others are getting ready to send out notifications. But remember, there is an adage “that ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
In the life of the building, it only takes one time, one fire door, to fail to do its job. You need ALL your fire doors to work, and if even one doesn’t perform its function… people may die or get injured, or property is unnecessarily damaged because the fire doors failed to do their job and didn’t confine the fire or smoke, and it spread. A minor fire that a properly operating fire door could easily contain could turn into a significant inferno- it’s better to be “safe than sorry.”
Very much so. Investigations of Building Fires – especially over the years in High Rise structures, show that noncompliance with Fire Safety Doors was a major contributing factor in the loss of lives and property. In buildings with fire-compliant doors, the damage was minimal. Pressure is starting to build to enforce the Fire door Inspection code rigidly. Frankly, the public is beginning to realize that in high-rise buildings (over six stories) with only limited fire exits on each floor and no access to elevators, all Fire Smoke and Egress doors are critical. Entrance Doors to rooms and apartments leading from closed-in corridors are essential for safety exiting the building in the event of an emergency or a fire where “sheltering-in-place” is the recommended option.
Yes, keep in mind the AHJ and the Fire and Life Safety Codes require Inspectors to know about the construction of Fire, Smoke, and Egress doors. Inspectors must be familiar with fire-rated door hardware, Fire Code requirements, materials, installation, locking, and latching capabilities. In addition, inspectors have to have experience and recognize non-compliant items attached to or adjacent to doors. They also must be capable of compiling the ITM (Inspection, Testing & Maintenance) report. It takes a lot of experience and knowledge to inspect a fire door properly- that’s why most buildings let professionals like National Firedoor handle the job.
Yes! Apartment entrance doors, at the minimum, should have at least a 20 minute Fire Rating, if it doen’t have a label it must at lease be a solid core 1 3/4″ thick door.
Owners, property managers, Association board members, etc. Anyone who is responsible for operating or managing a building.
Obviously, there are a lot of factors that go into what the total cost will be. To determine the exact amount, we need to sit down with you and discuss your service needs, wants, and desires. We need to survey your property- unless you have a complete “current” door schedule including each Fire, Smoke, and Egress door’s exact location in your facility, and then we will give you a free proposal on how to get your inspections underway.
Levy fines, bring charges in court, in some severe cases order Suspension of Operations. The worst-case scenario would be a fire with or without the loss of life but with extensive property damage because uninspected fire doors failed. Insurance Companies can raise premiums, deny claims, or refuse coverage. If the State, City, or Civil lawyers charge or sue the responsible parties for neglect because they didn’t follow the fire code requiring the doors to be inspected and returned to Code compliant condition, it could get costly. And lawyers always look for someone to blame. And if there is NO ITM book, it sets the stage for the Lawyers.
A – A full-service package includes a complete survey of all the facilities Fire & Egress doors; ALL doors are ID (QR – barcoded) with a label and the start of preparing the ITM report and individual Door inspection forms.
• Priority 1 & 2 fire doors are all Inspected.
• Prepare the inspection results for inclusion in the final ITM report.
• If desired, supervise any repairs and replacements resulting from the inspections to bring each door up to full compliance.
• If some doors have unreadable “painted over” manufacturer’s labels. If the doors have been inspected and are considered compliant, they can be field relabeled. • Deliver the ITM report to the client, either printed or data format.
