Commercial Fire Door Training

COMMERCIAL FIRE DOOR TRAINING

Commercial fire door training can encompass a couple of important areas, one of which is the maintaining of the fire door assemblies’ rating.   The rating can vary depending on the hourly rating of the wall for-which the door assembly is installed in.  The door, frame and many of the hardware components will have a label attached to it describing the ratings’ requirements.  Understanding the different labels and their requirements is an area that is also important; however, this blog does not cover the understanding of the different labels.  This blog addresses the preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and information on the doors’ hardware.

Commercial Fire Door Training will identify all the many common elements to all commercial fire door assemblies; like the frame for which the door is being attached to, the door, and the hardware.  There are specific requirements relating to the doors’ latching mechanism; closing device, and how the door is attached to the frame (referred to as the hanging method).  Knowing if butt-hinges, pivots, or floor closers are used to hang the door is critical as each method has specific requirements and needs to be clearly understood to meet the assembly’s requirement.

Each hanging device, latching mechanism, and closing device along with other affected door hardware components that are applied to the fire rated door is required to have attached to it a label identifying its compliance of the doors label stated requirement or that it has been certified and is approved for the application.

Commercial fire door training should include a thorough review of the specifications associated with the different types of commercial door hardware. An example would be the latchbolts throw of the doors locking mechanism: does the latch-bolt’s throw meet the minimum requirement as indicated on the label, is there a marking on its face-plate certifying it as an approved bolt.

Commercial fire door training should also focus on topics like,

• Clearances: Proper clearances between the door(s) and its frame is critical and must not be greater than what NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 80 states, if they exceed the allowable clearance it will be a violation.
• Labels: Fire door assembly requirements for the frame, door and door hardware components can be found on the label. Therefore, the label must be legible, if not it will be a violation. Care should be taken to protect the label.
• The proper procedure as to filling open holes from missing or re-placed door hardware and making sure that there are no parts missing from any of the door’s hardware components.
• Fasteners: All fire rated door hardware components are to be installed using the manufacturer’s original fasteners.
• Specific training on the proper method of adjusting and sizing of the closing mechanism, ensuring it operates properly and provides positive latching at the closed position.
• A review of auxiliary hardware components that could interfere or prohibit the proper operation of a fire door assembly.
• Damaged or inoperable fire door assemblies.

Many of the training programs offered today focuses on the certification of a fire door inspector, upon passing an extensive final exam, a credential signifying they have been certified by a recognized underwriting association.  This is important for those individuals who wants to offer their services to a building owner as they will evaluate the buildings fire door assembly’s and provide a report to the building owner confirming that the annual inspection has been conducted and an official report has been filed.  This is to be an annual inspection.

There is also training available focusing on specific components from various manufacturers; such as hollow metal frames their doors, and wood door manufacturers.  They typically don’t include the importance of relating themselves to the specific requirements of a fire door assembly, but it does provide important training necessary for the selecting or maintaining of their product and the doors fire rating.

The important training which focuses on the entire assembly is what is mostly important, as if any one component is not in-compliance with the rating is in jeopardy and is most likely subject to a violation.

There is affordable training and technical books available for those service technicians who are not interested in obtaining a certification to become a fire door inspector but would like to learn more about installing or servicing commercial door hardware; that source is Door Hardware Simplified.

At www.doorhardwaresimplified valuable training and books are available that focus on commercial door hardware. All material is generic, not manufacturer specific.  Offered are two books and a one-of its kind on-line accredited training course featuring: Cliffs-Notes, a workbook and the answer guide to ensure correct responses to each of the exercises.

The books from Door Hardware Simplified

Step x step installation guide for commercial door hardware.

“Installing Door Hardware Simplified” shows specific steps and detailed explanations of each step necessary to install all the necessary components of each piece of door hardware.  All too often the door hardware malfunctions as the result of improper installation or accused of improper installation giving the manufacturer an opportunity to void the warranty.  Installing Door Hardware Simplified will be the perfect publication to have on file as a ready reference when a condition pops up, and the installation process must be reviewed or verified to correct it.

The ABC’s of door hardware.

“Door Hardware Simplified” is presented in four basic sections: each section designed to answer the most frequently asked questions regarding commercial door hardware, giving examples, formulas and solutions! The book helps to define what type of hardware goes where and why.  It’s a complete guide to understanding commercial door hardware, its terminology, application and helpful hints for the care and adjustment of each item.

Workbook & Study Guide Vol.#1 (mechanical)This self-paced on-line accredited course will take you through the fundamentals of commercial door hardware and required knowledge of understanding the practices of selecting door hardware items that satisfies a doors operational requirement, including proven troubleshooting techniques.

In-conclusion

Training is never-ending especially in this fast-paced and highly technical area dealing with building codes and compliance.  Combining authorized access, egress and life-safety for a building is the sole function of a door assembly, especially when it’s a fire door assembly.   Those achieving a credential of a fire door inspector must also have knowledge of door hardware, door frames and doors.  A person does not have to be certified or have a credential to service or maintain a fire door assembly, but they must have documentation that they have knowledge of the fire door assemblies’ requirements, and the ability to perform any type of work on it.

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