Spotlight On

Fire-Alarm Controlled
Door Hardware

Gerry Atkin, AHC

Doors do more than just open & close...
they provide safety, security, and
accessibility.
 Codes
NFPA 80 Fire Rated Doors
and Windows

NFPA 101 Life Safety

Barrier Free NBC / OBC

Ontarians with
Disabilities Act 2006
NFPA 80 2007 Edition
Fire Door Inspection
Requirements
 NFPA 80 (2007) NEW SECTION

5.2 - Inspection

5.2.1 Fire door assemblies shall be inspected

and tested not less that annually, and a written
report shall be signed and kept for inspection by
the AHJ
 A basic electric circuit has 4
components.
1-Power Supply

2-Switch 3-Conductor

4-Load
2 1
4
3
Power Supplies
Power Supplies
Power Supplies
Hardware for Fire Doors
 Problem
Fire doors must close with closer
Cross corridor doors are fire rated
Owner wants doors to be held open
 Solutions

wall or floor magnet with closer

electro-magnetic hold-open closer
battery-operated detector holder with closer
non-detector holders must be wired into the
fire alarm system
stairwells - all doors must close
simultaneously
Acceptable Ways to Hold Open a
Fire Door
wall or floor magnet with closer
Acceptable Ways to Hold Open a
Fire Door
 Closing Device
Fire-rated openings require a
closing device to ensure the
door is kept closed
fire rated, non-petroleum, hydraulic
fluid may be required

Fire-rated openings can be held

open only with listed closing
devices, provided they:
Release upon signal from alarm system
Integral to closer / fail safe door holder
Acceptable Ways to Hold Open a
Fire Door
Electro-Magnetic Hold-Open Closer
Single Point Hold-Open (SE)
Multi-Point Hold-Open (ME)
Un-Acceptable Ways to Hold Open
a Fire Door
 Problem
Fire doors must close with closer
Owner wants doors to be held open

Other locations may include:

Theatre exit doors
Storage room doors
Shipping / Receiving areas
Elevator Lobbies
Office Suite entry
 Problem
Fire doors must have positive latching
Owner wants free access during fire

Buildings over a certain number of floors

must provide re-entry every 5th floor
allowing access to second stairwell. Office
buildings pose additional security issues.
 Solutions

Electrically controlled access from stair side

Must be fail un-locked
Controlled by security system
Un-locked by the fire alarm system
 Solutions

Electric Locks
Electrically controlled trim
Two options:
Electrically LOCKED
Electrically UN-LOCKED
 Solutions

Electric exit device trim

Electrically controlled trim
Two options:
Electrically LOCKED
Electrically UN-LOCKED
 Fail Safe vs. Fail Secure

Fail Safe - When power fails, the door is

un-locked or un-latched

Fail Secure - When power fails, the door

remains locked or secure
Electric Strikes
Replaces standard strike
for lockset or exit
device.
Keeper secures and
releases latchbolt.
 Problem
Fire doors must have positive latching
Owner wants a push-pull operation

In certain locations such as theatres and

banquet halls exit doors make a lot of
noise and would function better if they
could just be PUSH and PULL
 Solutions
Electric exit device with
latch retraction
Electrically controlled
latch
Two options:
EL - Solenoid
QEL Motorized
EL devices can be used to hold the latches retracted on
fire doors if they are connected to the fire alarm system.
EL devices can be used to hold the latches retracted on
fire doors if they are connected to the fire alarm system.
LIFE SAFETY
 Problem
Exit door are required due to occupancy loads
Owner does not want people to use exits

In certain locations such as art galleries or

public libraries require several exits but
they are for emergency only... Or there
are security requirements that need
authorized egress
 Delayed Egress Locks
Designed to delay egress to prevent theft.
Must allow egress for life safety.
Typically a delayed egress exit device
(Chexit) or magnetic lock with delayed
egress controller.
 Delayed Egress Exits
15-second delay(30 seconds IF approved by AHJ)
30-second relock per BOCA, manual relock per NFPA 101
No delay when fire alarm sounds or upon loss of power
Audible local alarm
Signage - Push until alarm sounds. Door can be opened in 15
seconds.
One delay maximum per means of egress.
Not allowed in all occupancies.
 Controlled Egress Doors
Sensor on egress side to unlock when approached by an
occupant
Unlocked by loss of power to sensor or lock.
Manual release device (push button) on egress side with
signage. Remains unlocked for 30 seconds min.
Unlocked by fire alarm or sprinkler system until system is
reset.
Prohibited on entrance doors in Use Groups A, B, E, or M
while open to the public.
 Solutions

Exit device with delay egress

Electric Latch Retraction
Electric Dogging (push-pull function)
Electrically Operated Trim
Exit Alarm or Request to Exit
Delay Exit (where codes permit)
Controlled Egress Doors
(restricted egress)
Controlled Exit Doors
 Problem
Doors are card access with inter-lock
Must be fail locked (ingress) and fail safe egress

Bio-Hazard, Forensic Lab, Drug-Labs etc.,

Bank sorting centers, Museums or Art
galleries may have doors that can only be
opened one at time creating inter-lock
doors or man-traps
 Solutions
Electro-magnetic Locks
Mag-Locks can be used (where codes permit) to
control ingress and/or egress, or to enable
a inter-locks doors
 Solutions
Mag-Locks for inter-locking doors
 Controlled Egress Doors
Used to control and monitor ingress &
egress.
Must also provide life safety.
Typically an electro-magnetic lock and card
reader or keypad.
 Electromagnetic Locks
Always Fail
safe
Direct Hold
(surface
mounted)
Shear Locks
(concealed)
Questions & Answers