Presentation Topic:
A Constant State of Readiness: Fire Doors Have One Job!
Presented by: Keith E. Pardoe, DSC, FDAI, DAHC, CDC
Description:
Fire doors have one job: preventing a fire from
spreading! Swinging fire doors with builders hardware perform many other
daily tasks, such as providing security, privacy, and convenience, but they
exist because our building, fire, and life safety codes rely on them to contain
a fire long enough for other fire protective systems (e.g., sprinklers) and
firefighters to extinguish it. These swinging fire door assemblies are
component-based fire-protective systems requiring the highest attention to
detail at every step, and once installed, they must be kept in a constant
state of readiness.
This presentation introduces NFPA
80’s constant state of readiness concept and explains how it applies to
swinging fire doors with builders hardware. Several important changes appear in
the 2022 edition of NFPA 80, improving its usability, especially for
inspecting, testing, and maintaining swinging fire doors.
Target Audience:
Manufacturers, Sales Agents, Distributors, and Others (e.g.,
installers, contractors, architects, and building code officials)
Learning Objectives and Key Takeaways:
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Discuss key changes in NFPA 80 (2022).
- Explain the differences between NFPA 80's Acceptance Testing and Periodic Inspection and Testing requirements.
- Adapt functional testing of swinging
fire doors to specific doors (e.g., single, paired, and double-egress) and
closing operations (e.g., self-closing, automatic-closing, and power-operated).
- Describe what NFPA 80’s Constant State of
Readiness concept means for fire doors.