20 Minute Burn Door? HELP!

[Jeepguy]

Long Story short... i am playing contractor for my sister, who's first contractor took the money and ran.... i had an inspecter come in to tell her what they needed done to get an occupancy permit. there is a new furnace in the garage that needs a wall with a 20 minute burn door. i have never heard of that and asked the local lowes rep if that was just a solid panel door, his answer was no and that a 20 min burn door is a special order of more than $250 for a prehung? wow. the guy couldnt really tell me what was special about that door either.

My question is... will it still be to code if we would just use a standard solid (no window) metal exterior door for this, considering we already have one sitting around collecting dust? anyone that has any knowledge of fire saftey please let me know. we are in PA if that helps any.

P.S. the old contractor is a story for another day......total A-hole

 

[Firetacoma]

It's been a LONG time since I took my fire codes class and I'm also not in your region... but a garage door should be rated at 4 hours. It seems to me your standard solid door should be good for 20 minutes... does it have a sticker? Can you call the manufacturer?

 

[checkthisout]

The door must close on it's own and close within a certain number of seconds and the door itself must also be built as to withstand a certain number of hours of burning without failure.

Home Depot has them for like $200.00 bucks for a 36" door in stock.

 

[Torque1st]

All the fire rated doors have a sticker on them with their rating. The inspector is looking for that sticker so do not remove it before he has signed off on the whole job.

A 20 minute fire door is used in a 1-hour rated wall and should be easy to find at your local home box store. They are the lowest rated fire door. There is no automatic closure requirement on residential doors that I am aware of.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_door
http://www.steeldoor.org/res/118.pdf

 

[Jeepguy]

thanks guys. i can build stuff but im not much for codes and saftey, and this isnt my house so ill do it they way the guy wants it done. ill check out the depot for that door.


No opinion on using the metal exterior door that we already have? i would assume that it has a better fire rating than any wooden door...right?

 

[Falcon67]

In my experience, here's how that works: No sticker or certification - no fire rating. Period. If there is ever a chance of re-inspection, do not remove the sticker as it should remain on the door. If the manufacturer of the door you'd like to use will issue a certification or rating sticker, then you could use it. If the door is used and been in service a while, I doubt that any mfg would issue such a cert because they would have long lost control of material condition or any way to verify it still conformed to as-built specifications.

 

[allapanoo]

The steel exterior doors that lowes and home depot sell all will have a twenty minute fire rating.They can usually be had from about $100 on up depending on style.I have used them on several houses that I have built and never had a problem.They do not have a rating sticker on them but the information should be available from the manufacturer if your inspector requires some sort of proof.

 

[redsky49]

A tested and certified 20 minute rated door will have a label, typically on the upper inside (hinge side) edge stating the classification and the testing agency, etc. If it is not labeled, it will not satisfy the code requirement.

There are no requirements for auto-closing for residential garages.

Rated doors may be constructed from any material, not just metal, though a metal door will likely be the least expensive option.

As always, offered only as opinion

 

[e-tek]

I just went through this - but i'm in SK, Canada.....needed self-closing (arm or hinges) and solid wood core. The original solid door was cut and rehung (no sticker) and passed inspection.

 

[Torque1st]

I just went through this - but i'm in SK, Canada.....needed self-closing (arm or hinges) and solid wood core. The original solid door was cut and rehung (no sticker) and passed inspection.

People in Canada are reasonable tho. The US is full of A$$HOLES!

And I are one!

 

[e-tek]

People in Canada are reasonable tho. The US is full of A$$HOLES!

And I are one!

Funny - I just called YOU reasonable in another thread!!!

 

[79firebird]

at work they made us put a solid door going to the office and sead it was good. that was the fire inspector couls allways go with a metal one mabey? if they wont a door rated for 20 min did they ask for fire proof drywall in the room?

 

[DHS]

All the fire rated doors have a sticker on them with their rating. The inspector is looking for that sticker so do not remove it before he has signed off on the whole job.

Sounds like all you need is a sticker off one of those doors

 

[nate379]

There is a requirement for the door to be self closing here.

The self closer wasn't adjusted when the finance company took a look at the house and they WOULD NOT finance until that was fixed. It was a huge PITA for something that took 5 seconds to fix.

 

[Jeepguy]

at work they made us put a solid door going to the office and sead it was good. that was the fire inspector couls allways go with a metal one mabey? if they wont a door rated for 20 min did they ask for fire proof drywall in the room?

No, the inspector just said that the furnace needed walled, a sheethed with 5/8" drywall, and a 20min burn door. i think we are going to go with the less expensive metal door, hopefully we can find a fire rating for the one we already have and can use it.

I feel so bad for my sister, the contractor litterally started the job, collected checks and then left them with a completely unfinished addition. walls, siding, and a roof thats it. if i can save her some money i will everywhere i can.

 

[blkhonda1991]

It's been a LONG time since I took my fire codes class and I'm also not in your region... but a garage door should be rated at 4 hours. It seems to me your standard solid door should be good for 20 minutes... does it have a sticker? Can you call the manufacturer?

i don t know where you are but the irc requires a 1 hour separation between the garage and house which i believe is a 1 hour rated wall which only requires a 20 min door so a 4 hour door is 3 hours a 40 mins too much

 

[allapanoo]

Here in New Orleans I have never had an inspector look for the sticker on the door.They usually look to see that its a solid door(usually steel) and thats the end of it.Inpections are always a huge you mileage may vary type thing.

 

[Ggg]

NFPA 101 calls a 1 hour residential rated fire wall is minimum 5/8" type X gypsum board with all seams taped and filled on both sides of a 2x4 framed wall. Unfinished seams negate the fire rating of the wall as does gypsum on only one side of the wall. It used to be a 1 3/4" solid wood door was considered a 20 minute rating but with modern laminate doors, and foam filled doors this assumption is no longer valid. The door must have a sticker validating the fire rating. these doors are easily found in the big box stores, they should not have to special order a 20 minute door. Auto close mechanisms are not required for a residential application. Now having said that if you have a daycare in the residence then you must have the auto closers and possibly comply with the commercial requirements. NFPA is a minimum life safety code not maximum so your local lode cam be more strict but not less.
To answer your question about the steel door you have. I would think it is a 20 minute rated door, see if it has any markings stating as much. I think it is worth a try, maybe you'll catch the inspector on a good day. Maybe even add spring loaded self closing hinges to help a little going above and beyond code.