Spotlight On…

Fire-Alarm Controlled

Gerry Atkin, AHC

Fire-Alarm Controlled

Door Hardware

Doors do more than just open & close...they provide safety, security, and

accessibility.

Codes

NFPA 80 Fire Rated Doorsand Windows

NFPA 101 Life Safety

Barrier Free NBC / OBCOntarians withDisabilities Act 2006

NFPA 80 2007 EditionFire Door Inspection

Requirements

NFPA 80 (2007) – NEW SECTION

5.2 - Inspection

5.2.1 Fire door assemblies shall be inspectedand tested not less that annually, and a writtenand tested not less that annually, and a writtenreport shall be signed and kept for inspection bythe AHJ

A basic electric circuit has 4components.

1-Power Supply

4-Load

2-Switch 3-Conductor

14

2

34

Power Supplies

Power Supplies

Power Supplies

Hardware for Fire Doors

Problem• Fire doors must close with closer

• Cross corridor doors are fire rated

• Owner wants doors to be held open

Solutions

• wall or floor magnet with closer

• electro-magnetic hold-open closer

• battery-operated detector holder with closer• battery-operated detector holder with closer

• non-detector holders must be wired into thefire alarm system

• stairwells - all doors must closesimultaneously

Acceptable Ways to Hold Open aFire Door

• wall or floor magnet with closer

Acceptable Ways to Hold Open aFire Door

Fire-rated openings require a

closing device to ensure the

door is kept closed

fire rated, non-petroleum, hydraulic

fluid may be required

Closing Device

fluid may be required

Fire-rated openings can be held

open only with listed closing

devices, provided they:

Release upon signal from alarm system

Integral to closer / fail safe door holder

Acceptable Ways to Hold Open aFire Door

• Electro-Magnetic Hold-Open Closer

• Single Point Hold-Open (SE)

• Multi-Point Hold-Open (ME)• Multi-Point Hold-Open (ME)

Un-Acceptable Ways to Hold Opena Fire Door

Problem• Fire doors must close with closer

• Owner wants doors to be held open

Other locations may include:Theatre exit doorsStorage room doorsStorage room doorsShipping / Receiving areasElevator LobbiesOffice Suite entry

Problem• Fire doors must have positive latching

• Owner wants free “access” during fire

Buildings over a certain number of floorsmust provide re-entry every 5th floorallowing access to second stairwell. Officeallowing access to second stairwell. Officebuildings pose additional security issues.

Solutions

• Electrically controlled access from stair side

• Must be fail un-locked

• Controlled by security system• Controlled by security system

• Un-locked by the fire alarm system

Electric Locks

• Electrically controlled trim

• Two options:

Solutions

• Two options:

Electrically LOCKED

Electrically UN-LOCKED

Electric exit device trim

• Electrically controlled trim

• Two options:

Solutions

• Two options:

Electrically LOCKED

Electrically UN-LOCKED

Fail Safe vs. Fail Secure

• Fail Safe - When power fails, the door isun-locked or un-latchedun-locked or un-latched

• Fail Secure - When power fails, the doorremains locked or secure

Electric Strikes

• Replaces standard strikefor lockset or exitdevice.

• Keeper secures and• Keeper secures andreleases latchbolt.

Problem• Fire doors must have positive latching

• Owner wants a “push-pull” operation

In certain locations such as theatres andbanquet halls exit doors make a lot ofnoise and would function better if theynoise and would function better if theycould just be PUSH and PULL

Electric exit device withlatch retraction

• Electrically controlled

Solutions

• Electrically controlled

latch

• Two options:

EL - Solenoid

QEL – Motorized

EL devices can be used to hold the latches retracted onfire doors if they are connected to the fire alarm system.

EL devices can be used to hold the latches retracted onfire doors if they are connected to the fire alarm system.

LIFE SAFETY

Problem• Exit door are required due to occupancy loads

• Owner does not want people to use exits

In certain locations such as art galleries orpublic libraries require several exits – butthey are for “emergency” only... Or therethey are for “emergency” only... Or thereare security requirements that needauthorized egress

Delayed Egress Locks

• Designed to delay egress to prevent theft.

• Must allow egress for life safety.• Must allow egress for life safety.

• Typically a delayed egress exit device(Chexit) or magnetic lock with delayedegress controller.

Delayed Egress Exits

• 15-second delay(30 seconds IF approved by AHJ)

• 30-second relock per BOCA, manual relock per NFPA 101

• No delay when fire alarm sounds or upon loss of power

• Audible local alarm

• Signage - “Push until alarm sounds. Door can be opened in 15seconds.”

• One delay maximum per means of egress.

• Not allowed in all occupancies.

Controlled Egress Doors• Sensor on egress side to unlock when approached by an

occupant

• Unlocked by loss of power to sensor or lock.

• Manual release device (push button) on egress side withsignage. Remains unlocked for 30 seconds min.

• Unlocked by fire alarm or sprinkler system until system is• Unlocked by fire alarm or sprinkler system until system isreset.

• Prohibited on entrance doors in Use Groups A, B, E, or Mwhile open to the public.

Exit device with delay egress

Solutions

• Electric Latch Retraction

• Electric Dogging (push-pull function)

• Electrically Operated Trim

• Exit Alarm or Request to Exit

• Delay Exit (where codes permit)

Controlled Egress Doors(restricted egress)

Controlled Exit Doors

Problem• Doors are card access with “inter-lock”

• Must be fail locked (ingress) and fail safe egress

Bio-Hazard, Forensic Lab, Drug-Labs etc.,Bank sorting centers, Museums or Artgalleries may have doors that can only begalleries may have doors that can only beopened one at time creating inter-lockdoors or man-traps

Electro-magnetic Locks

Solutions

Mag-Locks can be used (where codes permit) to

control ingress and/or egress, or to enable

a inter-locks doors

Mag-Locks for inter-locking doors

Solutions

Controlled Egress Doors

• Used to control and monitor ingress &egress.

• Must also provide life safety.

• Typically an electro-magnetic lock and cardreader or keypad.reader or keypad.

Electromagnetic Locks

• Always Fail

safe

• Direct Hold

(surface(surfacemounted)

• Shear Locks

(concealed)

Questions & Answers