If your building has rolling fire doors - and most commercial buildings and multi-unit residential complexes do - you are legally required to have them inspected and drop-tested by a qualified technician at least once a year. It is not optional, and the consequences of skipping it are not just a fine.
What the law requires
By incorporating NFPA-80, the BC Building Code requires that fire-rated rolling doors be inspected and tested at the time of installation and at least annually after. The inspection must be carried out by a "qualified person" (that is, a trained and certified technician) and written documentation must be provided to the building's Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) when requested. That record is part of your building file.
What happens during an inspection
A qualified fire door inspector will check the following:
- The door fits correctly in the frame and all guides and barrels are properly aligned.
- The fire-rated label is attached to the door and legible.
- All mechanical components operate correctly and all hinges are tight.
- The fusible link is inspected and replaced if necessary. The fusible link is a small solder-based component that holds the door open. When temperatures reach a fire threshold, the solder melts, releasing the door and allowing it to close automatically. Per NFPA 80, this link must be replaced during each annual inspection.
- There are no flammables stored near the door.
- That the door passes a drop test, then is reset and drop tested again.
The double-test is vital. The first drop confirms the door closes fully to the floor without bouncing. The second confirms the auto-close mechanism resets properly. The closing speed must be between 15 and 60 cm per second.
If either test fails, repairs must be completed and the door re-tested before the inspection can be signed off.
What you get at the end
A proper inspection includes a written report signed by the technician, confirming the inspection date, the doors inspected, the results, and any repairs made. This goes in your building file. Your strata's depreciation report preparer will ask for these records. Your insurer may ask, too.
What non-compliance looks like
A fire door that fails to close in the event of a fire can allow fire and smoke to spread to other areas of the building. The legal consequence is potentially significant: failure to comply with fire safety regulations can result in orders, fines, and in serious cases, building closure. More important: people can be harmed.
Scheduling your inspection
No time like the present! If repairs are needed, rushing the fix is never ideal. Our fire door inspections include the full drop test, a reset and re-test, a written inspection report, and any minor adjustments required on the day. If a door requires replacement parts, those parts must come from the original manufacturer. So we'll likely require some time to order them in.