Door gap solutions help hospitals and other facilities reduce the gap between fire doors and their frames and prevent fire inspection code violations. The recent code compliance updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to NFPA 80 mean thatCompliance with fire doorsViolations can result in CMS being denied funding, which can have serious financial implications for many hospitals. Additionally, fire door replacements in healthcare facilities often cost thousands of dollars if the doors are not within the correct tolerances, making over-door opening kits a much more cost-effective solution.
If you are a facility manager looking to remedy excessive fire door spacing or are unsure of the clearances specified in NFPA 80, we will guide you through fire door compliance with precise assignments for bottom, top, and perimeter spaces . .
What are the excess space solutions?
One solution to excessive door clearance is a door extender, which reduces the gap between the door and the doorframe or between the bottom of the door and the floor.
There are three types of door opening extenders, including bottom, top and wraparound opening extenders. The third solution is attached to the frame, extending the height of the frame at the edge of the door.
The door opening is the space between a fire door and the frame or floor. This can be dangerous when fire and smoke pass through the door, which is why fire inspectors have started to inspect rooms more closely in recent years.
Also known as fire door opening stops, door opening seals, fire rated door extensions or door bottoms, these extensions are usually made of stainless steel, although Pemko also sells a door opening shoe. aluminum for easy on-site modification.
What are fire door sets used for?
Many buildings, including hospitals and other healthcare facilities, incorporate fire doors where such an assessment is required by building codes. These doors must pass an annual fire test, which ensures that door openings that could cause fire and smoke to spread are within specified limits.
Many hospital facility managers, fire safety consultants, and engineers have found that gaps in their doors are much larger than specified by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). You can find this code atNFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protective Devices.
When facilities receive fire inspections, an inspector may determine that the gap between the frame and the door is too large. This will trigger an alert to fix the problem within a certain amount of time. Sometimes the door is crooked, has given way over time, or new flooring has been installed to create this space. Unfortunately, there isn't always an easy way to close the gap. Because of this, overhang kits have become invaluable in solving these problems.
If your installation has hundreds of fire doors with very large openings, repairing them by replacing the doors can be very expensive, especially as replacing one door can cost thousands of dollars.
A Pemko door opener kit covers the gaps and meets fire regulations (through third-party testing) and costs a fraction of what it would cost to replace the entire door. These solutions also ensure that by promptly resolving fire door breaches, your installation is unlikely to be denied CMS funding.
What clearance is allowed for fire doors?
Even if your facility has had the same door as offenders for the past 20 years, CMS requires all healthcare facilities to follow the 2012 edition of NFPA1010, Life Safety Code. The maximum free space allocation has changed from the previous acceptable 2000 edition.
These are the current maximum allowable port clearances:
Door space below:
¾" max clearance
Between the door and the frame gap (side or top):
Maximum spacing of ⅛"
Space for adjacent edges of side doors:
Maximum spacing of ⅛"
Types of Pemko fire door solutions
The recent focus on periodic inspections of fire doors required by NFPA 80 has created a greater need to ensure fire doors meet standards in healthcare facilities, but any facility that needs to have fire doors will likely need to.Solutions for excessive door gapsat some point in the life of the building.
Pemko Excess Door Gap kits include aluminum and stainless steel types with all hardware included. Aluminum is a new option on the market that has also been certified to help a fire door pass fire inspection. Aluminum has some significant advantages, being easier to cut, trim and modify in the field, making it a great choice for installers.
Features of Pemko Excess Door Opener Kits:
Seal voids to gaps specified by NFPA 80
UL listed for 90 minute fire rated doors
Upgrade fire doors without replacing the entire door
Solve fire inspection issues quickly and easily
Quick installation for almost all types of doors
Best suited for steel, hollow metal, wood or plastic composite core doors
Our products cover the following door openings:
door below opening
Reduces the distance between the bottom of the door and the floor.
door height
Reduces the distance between the top of the door and the frame.
Perimeterbruch
Reduces the distance between the side of the door and the frame.
A Look at Pemko's Solutions to Excessive Door Clearance
Our door base and threshold kits offer a variety of options, including different materials and finishes to match the finish of your door or frame.
Drilling kits for Pemko aluminum doors
These door base sets are made of aluminum metal and PemkoPrene gaskets. These cover gaps up to 1½ inches and can be trimmed in place. Pemko offers an end plate kit and multiple finish options, including Polished finish, Black Suede Powder Coat, Satin Bronze Powder Coat, and White Suede Powder Coat.
Pemko stainless steel door hole sets
These are brushed stainless steel door bottom sweep products. This hardware covers gaps up to 1 ½ inches under the door. They also come in a variety of finishes, similar to the aluminum door kit.
Municipal Government of Türkopf-Trennsatz
If you have a gap at the top of the door, these stainless steel metal kits will be installed in the door to fill the gap. These seal gaps of up to 1/2 inch, allowing you to regain compliance with your rated door during subsequent fire inspections. Headboard solutions are available in finishes such as #4 Brushed Stainless Steel, Black Suede Powder Coating, White Suede Powder Coating, and Satin Bronze Powder Coating.
Pemko edging kits for headboards and/or door frames
Pemko perimeter kits seal up to a ⅜" gap along the door header or along the jamb and contain a high performance intumescent with additional adhesive gaskets and a stop extension.
Top 3 problems of excessive door play
For hospitals and healthcare facilities, oversized fire doors create safety, financial and funding potential issues. However, excess clearance kits can also be installed in any building that requires fire doors. These include hotels, large offices, stairwells and schools.
Excessive door openings are particularly dangerous for several reasons, but here are some reasons why it's best to start installing excessive opening solutions before your next fire inspection:
1. Fire and smoke spread through door gaps
If gaps are larger than allowed, heat, fire and smoke can penetrate under and around the door. This can cause the latches to break, especially if you have a pair of swinging doors, as the heat from the fire can bend and bend them, causing further damage. In addition, occupant safety can be compromised if noxious vapors penetrate a bulkhead or fire barrier at higher than allowable rates.
2. Low fire ratings and failed fire inspections
Excessive door clearances are one of the main reasons facilities fail fire inspections. Facility managers should verify that all door clearances meet standard specifications. While most facilities have 60 days to resolve these issues, fines and penalties can also be imposed depending on code violations.
3. Loss of Financing
Depending on the severity of the fire safety breach, hospitals could face a loss of funding from CMS, including a refusal to pay any individual Medicare or Medicaid. Other sanctions may include government surveillance, relocation of residents and termination of agreements.
Prepare for fire inspections with solutions to excessive door clearances
It is important to protect your assets and avoid fire hazards. This not only protects your facility from failing a fire inspection, but is essential for saving lives if a fire does occur. With Pemko door opening solutions, you can ensure compliance and save thousands of dollars by not having to replace doors or fix floor issues.
Need help with clearance products to maintain a door's NFPA 80 fire rating?Contact Pemko support
For more information on fire door compliance and Pemko products, visit our product page here:https://www.assaabloydooraccessories.us/en/accessories-solutions/fire-door-compliance1/
FAQs
Why is my door not closing tight against weather stripping? ›
The screws or bolts that secure the strike plate should be checked periodically to make sure they are tight. If they are loose, the strike plate will not be able to properly receive the bolt, and the door will not close securely.
How do I block the gap at the top of my door? ›A small gap above the door can be filled by weatherstripping, which is flexible and will conform to the gap, filling the space up and preventing air from entering and exiting. Different types of weatherstripping are made from rubber, felt and foam.
Can you double up weather stripping? ›You can use more than one type of weatherstripping to seal an irregularly shaped space.
How do you fix a door with too much gap? ›You can fix this issue by tightening the hinges. If tightening the hinges still doesn't correct the gap around the top and sides of the front door, you can remove the screws and adjust the alignment.
Is rubber or foam weather stripping better? ›Rubber vs.
Rubber weatherstripping is more effective, easier to clean and more durable, than felt weatherstripping. It is also more expensive and harder to install. Felt is renewable and manufacturing it is less damaging to the environment. If you are looking for a green option, felt is a good choice.
If you can see light and gaps around your outside door, it is a good indication that your weatherstripping needs to be replaced. These gaps could be costing you extra on your energy bill by allowing heated and conditioned air to escape your home.
How thick should door weather Stripping be? ›Select a foam that is the same width as the thickness of the door stop — typically 1/2 inch — and that is thick enough to close the gap between the door and the stop. Simply cut the foam to length with a pair of scissors, peel off the backing paper, and press it firmly against the door stop.
How do you set a gap in a door? ›If the gap on the hinge side is too tight, simply unscrew the hinges and put some thin cardboard behind to pack them out and make the hinge side gap larger. This will in turn move the handle side of the door closer to the frame.
Why does my door not fully close? ›The most likely cause is that the latch isn't engaging properly with the strike plate – the two crucial parts that need to interact in order for the door to stay closed. You'll generally be able to tell by the absence of any clicks or snaps when you push the door closed.
What to do if door doesn t close? ›Step 1: In most cases, hinges are the main culprits behind doors failing to close properly. You'll need a screwdriver to tighten the hinges of your interior door. Step 2: Close the door to look for the gap between the frame and door along with the door latch.
Why is my door suddenly hard to close? ›
There are several reasons a door may stick in the doorframe, including loose hardware, a sagging frame, or seized hinges. Humidity is another common cause of sticking doors: The high level of moisture in the air can seep into wood, resulting in a swollen door that does not open or close properly.
What are the different types of door seals? ›- Door Brush. Door brushes are among the most commonly used door seals in domestic and commercial circumstances. ...
- Felt Weatherstripping. ...
- Reinforced Foam. ...
- Rolled Vinyl. ...
- Tubular Rubber Strip.
Today, there are three main types of weatherstripping: tubular, metal-leaf, and kerf-in. Most are easy to install and require few special tools. Prehung exterior doors typically come with weatherstripping attached, which can be easily removed before installing the unit so you can better see the 1⁄8-in.
What is the best weather stripping for old doors? ›Rolled vinyl weatherstripping with an aluminum channel backing is durable and easy to install, but is visible when the door is closed. Spring metal weatherstripping is extremely durable, easy to install, and invisible when the door is closed, making it the best choice for the sides of the door.
What should I do if I see through my front door? ›- Privacy Curtains. Curtains are a no-brainer when it comes to adding a layer of privacy to your entry door and windows. ...
- Privacy Blinds. ...
- Obscured Glass. ...
- Privacy Film. ...
- Stained Glass. ...
- Glass Paint. ...
- Glass Etching Cream.
In front door symbology, black is synonymous with authority, power, and strength. A person owning a black door communicates that the home is a serious place and that they're a person of substance and sophistication.
What does it mean when you see doors? ›In general, people interpret them as a symbol of transition. Dreaming about a door suggests you are in need of change, or that you are currently in a transition from one stage of life to another. Doors can lead to adventure, secrets, opportunities and new beginnings.
Does weather stripping go on the door or the door frame? ›The weather stripping is generally adhered to the doorframe, so that when the door is closed, light and air are unable to leak through the opening. The materials are strategically sized and placed in order to eliminate any gaps that would otherwise be present when your door is closed.
How much of a difference does weather stripping make? ›Weather stripping fills the cracks and gaps around doors and windows, reducing the amount of air leaks and eliminating drafts or cold spots. Homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by weather stripping their homes and adding insulation.
How do you seal a 2 inch gap under a door? ›- Screw on a door sweep. This is done from inside the home on an exterior door, and the sweep will effectively block the gap under the door. ...
- Add-on a slide-on or wrap-around type of door sweep. ...
- Put in a door threshold.
How do you fill the gap at the bottom of a door trim? ›
It almost sounds too simple, but you can fill gaps with color-matched caulking. Modern caulking will last for years to fill the gap with almost no noticeable presence. Choose one that is durable and matches the color of the wood. You can buy it in small tubes, and it's affordable.
How do I make my exterior door close tighter? ›Tighten the screws securing the upper hinge to the door frame opening with a Phillips screwdriver. If the screws will not tighten, remove them and use new screws that are the same diameter as the old ones and at least 1 inch longer. This extra length gives the screws new wood to bite into when tightening.
How do you make a door air tight? ›Air seal the rough opening around the door with foam backer rod, non-expanding spray foam, and/or caulk. Flash around the exterior of the door frame with adhesive or liquid-applied waterproof flashing. Install a tight-fitting door sweep along the bottom of the door.
Why wont my door close all the way? ›The most likely cause is that the latch isn't engaging properly with the strike plate – the two crucial parts that need to interact in order for the door to stay closed. You'll generally be able to tell by the absence of any clicks or snaps when you push the door closed.
How do I seal the air in my door? ›For the trim around doors and windows, caulk or non-expanding foam sealant spray is a cheap and easy way to seal air leaks. Use caulk for any gaps a quarter inch or less.
How do I stop air from coming around my door? ›Foam tape is an effective way to secure these gaps. You can pick up a pack of foam tape from any hardware store for just a few dollars. Simply stick strips of it in the holes between the door and the wall and you'll create a much snugger fit.