Fire codes.
 

Anyone familiar with them? I am going into the main office at my Apt. complex and was looking for some codes to back my belief.

Thank you.SmileWavy

A little bit, I do have access to them at work.

Looks like they're using the '97 version with a few amendments but I can't find the whole doc online. Sorry.

Here is some backstory....

Apt. is maybe two years old. Many safety upgrades including "fire doors." The doors are held open on each level (3) by magnetic stops. It's my understanding that if there were to be a fire the air rushing to supply the fire would shut the doors and the fire would be minimize. Well I noticed that in my building that the doors were held open with wood chockes. I was going to take a picture and e-mail into the local fire dp.

What would be the point of the door if it can't close? Thoughts?

The magnets are energized and when a fire alarm goes off, they release the doors. They are absolutely not supposed to be blocked or otherwise held open. Lots of people do it, but its illegal in probably every fire jurisdiction in the USA.

Thank you Hugh! That's exactly what I needed to know. I'll make sure I have this info with me and snap and time stamp the picture. I move in on Friday, and lets just say that I am...meticulous.

Now, see, I thought the wood would help more than concrete- the blocks hold the doors open long enough for folks to move their stuff out during a fire & then burn through and the doors shut . . . right?

Every place I have worked that had those magnetic hold opens, they were electromagnets, which released when the fire alarm went off (or the power went out). During the rolling blackouts a few years ago, it was fairly common for power to go out, followed by the "BANG...BANG...BANG" as the fire doors slammed shut all over the building

If they are held open with wood blocks, yeah, that kind of defeats the purpose.

You are correct in that the doors are supposed to close to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Wood chocks are illegal in this application because it prevents the doors from closing if the fire alarm system is activated as they should per code. The doors should release upon a general fire alarm and close (the doors should also have closers on them). Your local fire marshal or AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) could write them up for having the doors held open by any other means.

You can play nice and ask that they be removed, or call the authorities on them.

I'm guessing the magnets might be defective, otherwise why the wood wedges?

Toss the days paper in there as well. Time stamp can be "fixed" simply by changing the cameras date.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Tommorow I will play nice, but on Friday if it still isn't changed I'll have to play hardball. My current Apt had a fire last year so I don't like to mess around with safety. For instance, in the kitchen the fire extinguisher is not under the sink, but mounted on the wall next to the stove. Can never be too safe.

And no I am not a safety officer, lol.

Wedges are a code violation, they somtimes put them there so they don't have to go and open the doors back up in a power failure or false alarm. When we do inspections we have to check all the doors and remove them. Also check the stairwell that goes to the roof, the door leading out to the roof can not be locked needs to have panic harware.

Fire codes vary from state to state (and country) but generaly propping open a fire door is against the law everywhere.

Call your local FD and tell them whats up. They will send a inspector out and the building owners will be notified.

Several notifications (first one is usually free, second gets them a trip to a courts) and the occupancy permit can be revoked (extream measure).

Ok,

Next code please!

I have a steel roll up door that I do not use. What can I insulate the door with to stop it from heating up my warehouse? I had planned on expanded Styrofoam sheets from Home Depot. Any suggestions?

Tom, You sure its a good idea to stir the sheet before you even move in?

It all depends on what your local fire codes state.

Several factors: is it considered a fire exit? If it is, most likely you have to keep it operational. Any foam insulation should be fire protected. Why not build a "wall" out of 2 X 4's and insulate with fiberglass that will fit over the door. Plastic over the fiberglass to protect it on both sides. It can be slid out of the way if you need to use the door in the future. Attach at the top and bottom to the door rails with pipe strapping so it's stable.

Tom, I'm a State Certified Fire Inspector here in NJ. Propping those doors open is a big violation. I cant tell you the exact wording of the code( it varies from state to state). But you should be able to get it from your states Division of Fire and Safety website. It would fall under Means of Egress.

Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner.


2.7.1 Inspection of listed fire doors, smoke partition doors, fire shutters, fire windows and horizontal sliding fire/smoke doors
8. Doors, windows or shutters shall be checked to see that they are free of any obstruction that could interfere with proper operations.

Good luck getting your security deposit back now, the landlord is going to love you.

You are in the right, have no fear.

If they give you grief later call the local TV news or something public.