Fire Door Testing

At Hobbs Dock and Doors, safety is our top priority. As a supplier and distributor of commercial doors and docks, we take safety very seriously. We understand that our products are used in critical applications and the safety of those using our products is paramount. That’s why we do everything possible to ensure our products are safe and meet all applicable safety standards.

Commercial doors are essential for any warehouse, manufacturing plant or distribution center. They provide a critical access point for moving goods and materials in and out of the facility. 

They also pose a significant fire risk. In a fire, the materials and goods stored inside can ignite and spread rapidly, causing significant damage to the building and putting people’s lives at risk. As a result, it is crucial to ensure that commercial doors are fire-resistant and operating properly and one way to do this is through fire door drop testing.

To achieve this goal, we perform rigorous testing on our products, including fire drop testing, to ensure they meet all relevant safety standards. Our Manufacturers work with independent testing laboratories to conduct these tests and use high-quality materials in their process.  They source all materials from reputable suppliers and ensure they meet all required safety standards.

We have a team of experienced engineers and technicians who specialize in designing and manufacturing commercial doors. They are knowledgeable about the latest safety standards and regulations and use this expertise to ensure that our products are safe and meet all applicable safety requirements.

Safety is Our Commitment

At Hobbs Dock and Doors, we are committed to continuous improvement in all aspects of our business, including safety. We regularly review our manufacturing processes and safety protocols to identify areas for improvement and implement changes as needed. This way, we can always ensure our products are safe and reliable.

Education is also key to safety. That’s why we provide our customers with information about our products, including safety features and how to use them correctly. We also offer training to our customers to help them operate their doors and docks safely and efficiently.

Hobbs Dock and Doors is committed to ensuring all our products’ safety and reliability, including fire-rated automatic doors. As a leading supplier in the industry, we recognize the importance of fire safety in commercial settings and adhere to strict codes and certifications to ensure that our products meet or exceed industry standards.

In particular, our manufacturers comply with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification for fire-rated doors. UL is an independent testing and certification organization that evaluates and tests products to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. Our fire-rated doors undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they can withstand the impact of falling debris during a fire and resist the spread of flames and smoke.

We also adhere to building codes set by various organizations, such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Code Council (ICC). These codes outline the minimum requirements for fire-rated doors in commercial buildings, including acceptable materials and construction methods.

At Hobbs Dock and Doors, we take fire safety seriously and strive to provide our customers with the highest quality products that meet or exceed all relevant codes and certifications. Whether you need fire-rated automatic doors for your commercial building or other types of doors, you can trust that our products are designed and manufactured with safety and reliability.

What is a Fire Rated Door?

A fire-rated door is designed and tested to withstand the spread of fire and smoke for a certain period. These doors are typically made with fire-resistant materials and have a fire rating based on their ability to withstand fire and smoke for a specified time, such as 90 minutes or longer depending on the needs of the application and specific building codes..

Fire-rated doors are commonly used in commercial and industrial buildings and residential buildings where building codes require them to be installed in certain areas, such as between the garage and living spaces or in multi-family buildings. They are also used in areas where the spread of fire and smoke needs to be contained, such as stairways and corridors.

Fire-rated doors are designed to resist fire and smoke by preventing flames and smoke from passing through the door and into other building areas. They are made with materials that have been tested and certified to withstand high temperatures and prevent the spread of flames and smoke. Fire-rated doors also have special seals and gaskets around the door’s perimeter to prevent the passage of smoke and flames.

In addition to fire resistance, fire-rated doors offer other benefits, such as improved insulation, sound reduction and security. They come in various styles and finishes to match the decor of the building and can be made with various materials, such as wood, steel and fiberglass.

Overall, fire-rated doors are important to building safety and are designed to protect occupants and property from the spread of fire and smoke.

What is Fire Door Drop Testing?

Rolling Steel Fire Doors: Drop Testing and Annual Follow-Up 

General 

This Technical Data Sheet provides facility managers with guidelines for evaluation of rolling fire doors designed and tested to provide the automatic closing fire protection indicated on the fire door label. The automatic closing of the door must be tested at the time the door is installed, and the door shall be inspected and tested not less than annually as required by NFPA 80. This requirement applies to all fire doors – even those that are not used and remain in the closed position. The doors must be checked regularly for conditions that may affect the operation of the door. DASMA recommends that the following procedures be observed: 

Inspection 

• Inspect fire doors for damage to guides, curtain and endlocks, bottom bar, hood and operating mechanism. • Refer to DASMA Technical Data Sheet #270 (“Recommended Rolling Door Maintenance Practice”) • Refer to NFPA 80 (Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives) • Ensure that the door’s operating mechanisms, fuse links and release chain/cable are not painted, coated with dust or grease, and/or covered with debris. • Open and close the door to inspect for any indications of damaged parts. • Remove flammable substances on each side of the firewall opening near the fire door. 

Drop Test 

• Have a trained door systems technician perform an inspection and drop test of all fire door automatic closing features. • Establish a contract with the door service provider regarding the cost of the inspection and drop test. Fire door deficiencies identified during the pre-drop test inspection should be corrected before the drop test. The drop test contract should acknowledge the fact that components may fail during the drop test that are not the fault of the service provider and are not included in the cost of the drop test. • Document the drop test with the Hobbs Drop Test Form. • When subjected to drop testing, the door must close completely and rest on the sill. NFPA 80 states that the average closing speed must not exceed 24 inches per second and must be at least 6 inches per second. • The door must be drop tested twice – once to verify proper operation and full closure, and a second time to verify that the automatic closing device was properly reset.

The drop tests, reset, repairs and/or maintenance should be performed by a trained door system technician with complete knowledge of this type of fire door and the manufacturer’s instructions. Repair parts must be obtained from the original door manufacturer. After repairs are completed, the door must be tested to assure proper door operation and automatic closing capability. The fire door must be in the fully open position before the drop test. Reset the door following the drop test and test again.

Benefits of Fire Drop Testing for Commercial Doors

Fire drop testing provides several benefits for commercial docks and doors, including:

1. Improved safety: Fire-resistant docks and doors can help prevent the spread of fire and minimize the risk of injury or death to employees and other building occupants.
2. Compliance with regulations: Building codes and other safety regulations often require fire drop testing. Ensuring commercial docks and doors pass these tests can help facilities comply with these regulations.
3. Cost savings: A fire-resistant commercial dock or door can help minimize damage and reduce the cost of repairs and replacements in the event of a fire.

Hobbs Dock and Doors is dedicated to providing safe and reliable products for all of our customers. We understand the importance of fire safety in commercial settings and ensure that our fire-rated automatic doors meet or exceed the industry standards and certifications required for fire safety such as the Certification Label on the door and Proper record keeping on file.

Our commitment to adhering to codes and certifications, such as the UL certification for fire-rated doors and building codes set by organizations like the NFPA and ICC, ensures that our products are of the highest quality and reliability. When you choose Hobbs Dock and Doors for your commercial door and dock equipment needs, you can trust that you are getting products that are designed and manufactured with safety as our top priority.

If you need a Fire Door Drop Test performed, please contact us immediately.