Fire Rated Glass Door

[shubox56]

Hi guys,

My garage/shop will be a semi-rough mancave that is used for wrenching AND hanging out with the guys. It's NOT a high dollar rehab, far from it, but still look great. A fun place to spend time. With that, I'm considering the addition of a fire rated GLASS interior door to the garage (32" entry into foyer). I know that they exist, but I also know they are expensive. Is there such a thing as a REASONABLLY price fire rated glass door?

I can get away with this because I don't have a wife (divorced in Nov) to complain about peering into the mancave. LOL

 

[driftpin]

A quick internet search shows plenty of 36" fire/smoke rated steel doors w/large windows, but I haven't seen any sized 32". You might try a local architect, or a fire service business. Means of egress is usually 36" in width, so this could be a difficult item. Cutting a fire-rated door and installing a window would render the door non-compliant with its fire-rating, even-if the window was fire-rated safety glass, which is sometimes wired, but there is non-wired glass. There are fire-rated glass kits, but my understanding of the code is that the door would have to be engineered and approved for the optional installation of the glass window kit, and the window kit would have to be approved for the fire-rating. Given all of that, the easiest solution would seem to-be to buy the door the way you need it according to your AHJ. It might be a worthwhile thing to do to check with the fire marshal's office/plans reviewer before making a purchase, to ensure that the product you're tentatively purchasing meets local/state codes as-enforced. You should also ask what edition of the fire code (by year) is currently adopted by your state, as that is what you have to-follow.

You could do a search locally for a 'fire protection engineer (FPE),' and ask him/her, they will probably be able to identify a supplier. Be-aware that the FPE certification/licensing is a relatively rare designation, there are more psychiatrists in the USA than there are FPE's. When my wife, an E.E. took her P.E. exam, she said the only people that had more reference books in-front of them for the exam were the FPE candidates.

This is the most-current document referencing the work you're proposing to do:
https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-stan...ds/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=80

Look here for typical installation methods depending on the specs of what you need to install.

I searched for prior posts in GJ and found Tommy's helpful link, still good:
http://www.trustile.com/products/fire-rated-doors?series=0

 

[shubox56]

Thanks for the feedback. I just checked local code, it isn't allowed. So much for that thought. Moving on. )

 

[driftpin]

Thanks for the feedback. I just checked local code, it isn't allowed. So much for that thought. Moving on. )

Are you residing in a "home rule" community? Your local building official's office should be able to conform or to deny. The edition of the NFPA 101-Life Safety Code adopted in IL is the 2015 edition, as-of 1-1-2020. "Home rule" communities may adopt more-stringent ordinances, but if they don't, the above applies. The local building department or the fire marshal's office can inform you.

https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/sfm...s/LifeSafetyCodeFactSheet-WhereLSCApplies.pdf

 

[johnnyradiant]

I'm curious about why it wouldn't be allowed. Not sure I'd want to do what is proposed but still. I thought their requirements would be for a fire rated door, and how it opens. What part of their code eliminates ability to contain glass?

 

[wssix99]

I'm curious about why it wouldn't be allowed. Not sure I'd want to do what is proposed but still. I thought their requirements would be for a fire rated door, and how it opens. What part of their code eliminates ability to contain glass?

+1. These are all over industrial buildings. The catch is that the more basic ones I've ever seen require wires to be in the glass for the fire rating: https://www.fireglass.com/resources/product-comparison/#Glass

 

[Viper98912]

Interestingly enough, I did a lot of research on this 5 years ago.

There ARE a FEW guys out there who make it, but it's very expensive. Also, you'll probably need a LOT to convince your county inspector that it passes. If you don't get it inspected, and have a problem in the future with a fire (hopefully not), then you'd have a lot of work to do to convince the insurance company as well.

You can also look into commercial doors, but many of those have the wire frames inside of the glass for strength.

But yes, I had the same idea years ago. I ended up moving from the house in about a year due to a job change, so never did it...

 

[johnnyradiant]

I realize available funds may be a limit but a certified door is a certified door. With the certification seal/label on the door and possibly some paperwork from the manufacture that should meet inspector's requirement. That has been my experience here. If you have your i's and t's they generally shut up. I'd still be curious about what code clause eliminates the potential use.

I can't even pick-up a rated slab door and drill the hardware in myself without voiding the rating if following the letter of the code. I still haven't figured out what the difference is to their hole vrs mine. I've looked at enough to see they don't make a hole any different.

I had one inspector that was uptight about a peep hole once. But if there is paperwork showing the door, as is, meets certification then that's were the discussion ends, 'round here.