In our ongoing series about understanding NSPIRE, this article is on the critical aspect of fire-rated doors. It’s essential to understand the requirements and ensure your properties comply. This article provides an overview based on the upcoming criteria that will take effect October 1st, 2025.

Fire-Rated Doors: Key Points

Identification and Importance:

  • Fire-rated doors are integral to maintaining safety standards and are scrutinized under NSPIRE.
  • You can identify these doors by the fire rating tag near the hinge. This tag indicates the door’s compliance with fire safety regulations.

Self-Closing Hardware:

  • Most fire-rated doors come with self-closing hardware to ensure they close automatically.
  • A door that doesn’t fully close and latch is a deficiency under NSPIRE guidelines, requiring repair.

Inspection Criteria:

  • Non-Functional Doors: If a fire-rated door doesn’t close properly or latch, it’s considered a severe health and safety issue .
  • Prohibited Practices: Using kickstands or wedges to keep fire-rated doors open is not allowed. Only magnetic releases designed for such purposes are permissible.
  • Damaged or Missing Parts: Fire-rated doors with holes of any size, rust covering 25% or more of the surface, broken or missing glass, or damaged or missing seals or gaskets are considered severe health and safety deficiencies.
  • Operational Hardware: All door hardware should be in good working condition. Faulty or malfunctioning hardware is a severe health and safety deficiency.
  • Missing Fire Door: If a fire-labeled door is missing (with evidence of prior installation), it is a severe health and safety deficiency requiring repair within 24 hours.

Examples from Inspections

  • Community Room Doors: Fire-rated doors in community rooms with kickstands or wedges are a clear violation.
  • Weather Stripping: Any damage to the smoke seal or weather stripping on these doors is a significant issue.
  • Stairwell Doors: Ensure all fire-rated doors, such as those leading to stairwells, are fully operational, including the self-closing mechanisms and intact seals.

Compliance and Repairs

  • Repair Requirement: Most deficiencies related to fire-rated doors must be addressed within 30 days.
  • Perfect Condition Mandate: Fire-rated doors must be maintained in near-perfect condition to pass NSPIRE inspections.

Stay Informed

Staying informed and prepared ensures your properties meet the latest HUD standards.

Reach out to us anytime for more information and support. Together, we can ensure safe and compliant housing for all.

Posted in Inspections