Frames and code
Fire-rated doors and frames: labels, hardware and NFPA 80
By the Div08 Consulting team · Updated
A fire-rated door is an assembly, not just a door: a labeled door, a labeled frame and listed hardware, installed to NFPA 80. The door must self-close (or close automatically on alarm) and positively latch, labels must stay legible, field modifications are limited, and NFPA 80 requires the assembly to be inspected and tested every year.
A fire door is an assembly
The rating belongs to the whole opening. A 90 minute door in an unlabeled frame, or with a non-listed lock, is not a 90 minute opening. A compliant fire door assembly has:
- a labeled door and a labeled frame, each tested and listed by a recognized testing laboratory
- listed hardware: the latching hardware, hinges (steel ball-bearing hinges of the size and number NFPA 80 calls for; continuous and spring hinges must themselves be listed), closer and other items must be suitable for use on fire doors
- self-closing or automatic closing operation
- positive latching that holds the door closed under fire pressure
- installation to NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, and the manufacturer's listing
Required ratings and labels
The required door rating depends on the rating of the wall it is in and the wall's purpose, set by the building code. Common pairings in the International Building Code include:
| Wall | Typical door rating |
|---|---|
| 3 or 4 hour fire walls and fire barriers | 3 hour |
| 2 hour exit stairs and shafts | 1-1/2 hour (90 minutes) |
| 1 hour exit stairs and shafts | 1 hour |
| 1 hour fire partitions and corridor walls (where rated) | Varies by wall use: often 3/4 hour or 20 minutes; check the code table |
Always confirm the rating against the code edition your jurisdiction has adopted and the life safety plan. The door schedule should carry the rating for every opening (see door schedule).
Labels are typically on the hinge edge of the door and on the frame rabbet or hinge jamb. They must not be painted over, removed or replaced in the field without the listing laboratory's process. An illegible label is one of the most common inspection failures.
Fire rated door hardware requirements
- Positive latching: a latch bolt that engages the strike every time the door closes. Roller latches and ball catches do not count. Fail-safe electric strikes are not allowed on fire doors because they release the latch when power is cut; use fail-secure strikes or electrified locks. See electric strike vs maglock.
- Closing: a door closer, or a closer with a hold-open that releases on fire alarm or smoke detection. Wedges, kick-down stops and non-releasing hold-opens are not allowed.
- Exit hardware: on rated doors, panic hardware must be listed as fire exit hardware, which has no mechanical dogging. See exit devices.
- Pairs: may need an astragal, automatic or constant latching flush bolts and a coordinator, depending on the listing.
- Protection plates: kick plates taller than 16 in. above the bottom of the door generally need to be labeled.
- Gasketing: smoke and draft control doors need gasketing or a tested assembly that limits air leakage.
Spec tip
read every rated set in 08 71 00 as if you were the inspector. Is there a closer? Is the latch positive? Is the exit device listed as fire exit hardware? Is the electric strike fail-secure? Those four questions catch most rated opening errors before the bid.
Field modifications and clearances
NFPA 80 permits only limited field preparation of rated doors and frames, such as certain small holes for surface-applied hardware. Other changes (new lock preps, cutting in a lite, adding a louver) generally need the manufacturer or the listing laboratory to approve the work or relabel the opening. Get the hardware right on paper so the doors arrive fully prepared.
Clearances are limited too. NFPA 80 sets a maximum gap between the door and the frame (about 1/8 in. for steel doors, with a tolerance) and a maximum clearance under the door, covered in our guide to the door undercut. Check the edition your jurisdiction enforces.
NFPA 80 annual inspection
Since the 2007 edition, NFPA 80 has required swinging fire door assemblies to be inspected and tested at least annually by a knowledgeable person, with a written record kept for the authority having jurisdiction. Inspectors check labels, clearances, closing and latching, hardware condition, and any non-compliant modifications. Doors that pass at turnover can still fail later from worn closers, removed latches or added hold-opens.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fire rated door need a closer?
Yes. A fire door must be self-closing, or automatic closing with a hold-open that releases on fire alarm or smoke detection.
Can you use a fail-safe electric strike on a fire door?
No. A fail-safe strike unlatches when power is lost, so the door would not positively latch in a fire. Use a fail-secure strike or a listed electrified lock.
Can you paint over a fire door label?
No. Labels must stay legible. A painted or missing label is a common inspection failure and may require relabeling through the listing laboratory.
How often do fire doors have to be inspected?
NFPA 80 requires swinging fire door assemblies to be inspected and tested at least once a year, with written records.
General guidance only. Code requirements depend on the edition your jurisdiction has adopted and on the listing of each fire-rated assembly; confirm with the authority having jurisdiction. Published by Div08 Consulting (John Voll, owner).