Fire door inspection requirements every building owner should know

What are the fire door inspection requirements for a rolling fire door

A rolling steel fire door has to be tested when it is installed and then inspected and drop tested not less than once a year, by a trained technician, with the results written down. That is how DASMA, the trade association for door manufacturers, summarizes NFPA 80 in its Technical Data Sheet 271, which is written for facility managers.

NFPA 80 is the Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, published by the National Fire Protection Association. DASMA points out that it is a standard, not a code, and that it is enforceable where the building code requires it, which DASMA says is usually the case. Which edition applies to your building depends on what your jurisdiction has adopted, so the person to ask is your local fire marshal or building official, which NFPA 80 calls the authority having jurisdiction.

This article covers rolling steel fire doors and fire-rated counter shutters, the doors that sit coiled above an opening and close on their own in a fire. It does not cover swinging fire doors in corridors and stairwells.

How often does a fire door need to be inspected and drop tested

At least once a year, plus at installation and again after any repair. DASMA says the door shall be inspected and drop tested not less than annually as required by NFPA 80.

The yearly requirement does not depend on how much the door is used. DASMA states that it applies to all fire doors, even those that are not used and remain in the closed position. Its fire door FAQ sheet, TDS 295, adds that a door that no longer operates cannot simply be left closed and ignored. It has to be maintained or repaired as an operational door, replaced, or removed with the opening closed by approved construction.

Two other events trigger a test. After repairs are completed, the door must be tested again to confirm it operates and closes automatically. And DASMA treats field painting as maintenance work, so a rolling fire door has to be inspected and tested after it is painted.

Who is qualified to inspect and drop test a fire door

A trained rolling steel fire door systems technician. DASMA explains that as of the 2022 edition, NFPA 80 requires periodic inspection and testing of rolling steel fire doors to be performed by a technician who fits that definition.

The NFPA set out the definition in an amendment to the 2025 edition. Tentative Interim Amendment 25-1 defines a trained rolling steel fire door systems technician as a technician with documented training who is qualified through experience with the inspection, testing and maintenance of rolling steel fire doors. The same amendment says a technician should be able to produce documented evidence of training and experience when the authority having jurisdiction asks for it.

Ask whoever tests your doors what training they hold and whether that documentation is available. At B&B Garage Doors and More, Tony and Jake Bailey are both fire door certified and rolling steel certified, and they handle this work. Your local authority having jurisdiction has the final say on what it will accept.

What does a fire door inspection and drop test cover

It covers a visual inspection of the whole assembly, an operational check, a drop test and a second drop test after the door is reset. DASMA recommends that the steps be done in that order and recorded on its Rolling Steel Fire Door Drop Test Form.

The door is dropped twice on purpose. DASMA says the first drop demonstrates proper operation and full closure, and the second ensures that the reset procedure was done correctly. A door that was tested and never reset correctly can be worse off than one that was never tested, so we reset every door we test and run it again before we leave.

1. 1Secure the areaBoth sides of the door are blocked off and the doorway is cleared.
2. 2Visual inspectionThe technician checks mounting bolts, guides, slats, endlocks, the bottom bar, the hood, the labels, the fusible links and the release chain or cable.
3. 3Operational checkThe door is opened and closed in normal operation while the technician watches for abnormal movement or damaged parts. Problems found here are corrected before any drop test.
4. 4First drop testWith the door fully open, the automatic closing is triggered. The door must close completely and rest on the sill or floor. DASMA says NFPA 80 sets the average closing speed at no less than 6 inches per second and no more than 24 inches per second.
5. 5Reset and second drop testThe door is reset to the manufacturer's instructions, opened normally and dropped a second time to verify the reset. Each automatic closing option on the door is tested, including detectors and release devices.
6. 6Final reset and written recordThe door is reset again and left ready, and pass or fail is recorded for each step.

What are the most common reasons a fire door fails inspection

Most failures come from small things that build up while the door sits open for years: stored goods in the path, paint or grime on the links, impact damage and a release that was never set back properly. The table below draws on DASMA's inspection guidelines.

What fire door inspection records do you need to keep

You need a written record of every inspection and test. DASMA's Technical Data Sheet 299 summarizes the NFPA 80 record rules this way: the acceptance test record from installation, signed by the technician, must be kept for the life of the assembly, and periodic inspection records must be kept for a minimum of three years.

The record does not have to be on paper. DASMA says paper and electronic media are both permitted. The NFPA amendment also says the door should carry an inspection mark showing when it was last inspected and tested.

DASMA's drop test form shows what a record should hold.

• The facility name and address
• Each door's location, opening size, manufacturer and serial number
• Pass or fail for the visual inspection, the operational check and each of the two drop tests
• Comments on any deficiency found
• Who tested the door, their company, signature and date
• The technician's training or certification date
• Who witnessed the test, if anyone did

Who is responsible for fire door inspections and repairs

The building owner is. DASMA states plainly that periodic inspection and testing of rolling steel fire doors is the building owner's responsibility, and that the owner is also responsible for maintenance and repairs. If a component breaks during a test, DASMA's position is that the door assembly has failed and that repair, retrofit or replacement is required without delay.

If you lease your space, read the lease to see whether those duties were passed to you, and ask your landlord for the records if they hold them. The table shows how the work usually divides up.

What should you have ready for the fire marshal or your insurer

Have the paperwork for every fire door in the building in one place, and have the doors themselves clear and labeled. Fire inspectors, insurance carriers and the authority having jurisdiction can ask to see your records, and a door that works with no paperwork can still leave you with a problem during an inspection.

• A list of every rolling fire door and fire-rated counter shutter, with its location
• The most recent inspection and drop test record for each door, and earlier years if you have them
• The acceptance test record from installation, if you have it
• Records of any repairs and the retest that followed
• The name of the company that tests your doors and the technician's training documentation
• A clear path under every door, with nothing stored in the opening
• Labels on the door that are visible and legible, and fusible links that are unpainted

Can a rolling fire door that fails be repaired

Often it can, as long as the repair keeps the rated assembly intact. When an inspection turns something up we can usually repair it on the spot or on a return visit: replacing fusible links, straightening or replacing guides, repairing the curtain, adjusting spring tension and correcting the release and closing mechanism. Our fire door inspection and repair page describes that work.

The limits come from the standard. DASMA says repair parts must be obtained from the original door manufacturer, and that if repairs cannot be made with parts specific to the original manufacturer's listed assembly, the door or the affected part has to be replaced. It also says the manufacturer should be contacted before any modification, including something as small as drilling a hole in a wall angle.

DASMA's summary of NFPA 80 is that repairs shall be made and defects that could interfere with operation corrected without delay. If a door is beyond repair we will explain your options and quote a replacement free. Most buildings with fire doors also have everyday overhead doors, and since Tony and Jake hold both certifications, the same crew handles your rolling steel doors and other commercial garage doors under one call.

Who inspects fire doors in Traverse City and Northern Michigan

B&B Garage Doors and More inspects, drop tests, repairs and services rolling fire doors and fire-rated counter shutters for businesses and public buildings across Traverse City and Northern Michigan. Our office is in the industrial park on Blue Star Drive south of Traverse City, off US-31.

In Traverse City, that covers commercial buildings from Front Street out through Garfield Township. East along M-72, Kalkaska is the county seat of Kalkaska County, sitting where US-131 and M-72 cross. North on US-31, Elk Rapids is the largest village in Antrim County. And out on Lake Michigan, Frankfort is a harbor town on Betsie Bay in Benzie County, on M-22 and M-115.

A fire door in any of those towns might be a full-size rolling door or a small counter shutter at a kitchen pass-through, a school kitchen line or a service window. They all close the same way and need the same yearly attention.