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This article continues with Chapter 6, Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware found in the NFPA 80 Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives 2007 edition. This information is in Chapter 2 of the 1999 edition. We will cover some of the highlights of hinges.

Requirements for hinge thickness and sizes are found in Table 6.4.3.1. Included in the table is the minimum hinge sizes and thickness for doors 1 3/4 inches thick and 1 3/8 inch thick with hourly ratings. The information in the table is the same as presented in the 1999 edition. The 1999 edition listed some additional notes below the table and the 2007 edition incorporates those same notes into the body of the standard. The information is the same.

This standard is where we get the number of hinges required for a rated door. 6.4.3.1.1 Indicates doors up to 60 inches in height shall be provided with two hinges and an additional hinge for each additional 30 inches of door height or fraction thereof. 6.4.3.1.1.2 tells us where spring hinges are used, at least two shall be provided. Spring hinges shall be labeled and meet the requirements of the American National Standards Institute/Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association ANSI/BHMA A156.17, Standard for Self Closing Hinges and Pivots. BHMA standards are available from BHMA or the Door and Hardware Institute.

Except for spring hinges, all hinges or pivots shall be of the ball bearing type. Other antifriction bearing surfaces shall be permitted if they meet the requirements of ANSI/BHMA A156.1, Standard for Butts and Hinges.

Hinges 4 1/2 inches high and 0.180 inches thick are permitted for use on wide and heavy doors or doors that are subjected to heavy use or unusual stress.

Looking at attaching hinges to doors, it begins with a statement that hinges are to be secured in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. In addition to that general statement, it goes into further detail. Mortise hinges shall be secured to reinforcements in the doors with steel machine screws. Hinges must also be secured to the frame with steel screws. The screws for frames can vary depending on the material used for the manufacture of the labeled door frames. The manufacturer's instructions and published listings for labeled door frames shall be referenced for specific screw requirements.

Attaching mortise hinges to wood and plastic covered composite doors or wood core doors requires pilot holes of 5/32 inches diameter to be drilled prior to screw installation and the use of No. 12 x 1 1/4 inch flat, threaded-to-the-head steel wood screws.

6.4.3.4 permits shimming of hinges to meet required clearances with steel shims.

Locks or latches is the next subject covered in this chapter. It begins with two important requirements:

6.4.4.1 The first states, Only labeled locks and latches or labeled fire exit hardware (panic devices) meeting both life safety requirements and fire protection requirements shall be used.

6.4.4.2 The second, Fire exit hardware shall be installed only on fire doors bearing the mark "Fire Door to be equipped with Fire Exit Hardware."

Further reading reveals additional requirements for exit devices.

Fire exit hardware shall be labeled for both fire and panic.

Fire exit hardware shall have a permanently attached label that bears the serial number and shows the manufacturer's name and type of approval.

The label shall differentiate between panic hardware, which is not acceptable for use on fire doors, and fire exit hardware.

All single doors and active leaves of pairs of doors shall be provided with an active latch bolt that cannot be held in a retracted position as specified in the individual manufacturer's published listings.

Latching arrangements that do not provide positive latching in the normal mode shall be permitted to be used provided that, in afire emergency, the door becomes positively latched by means of an automatic fail-safe device that is activated by an automatic fire detector.

Where both leaves are required for exit purposes, they shall be provided with labeled fire exit hardware.

Where permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, AHJ, pairs of doors not provided with an astragal shall be permitted to have labeled fire exit hardware and an open back strike installed on the inactive leaf, and either labeled fire exit hardware or any labeled latch capable of being opened by one obvious operation from the egress side installed on the active leaf.

The information presented in this article is highlights from the standard. You must consult the standard for further information that may not be included but may be relevant to your project.

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