Fire and smoke barrier doors that are properly selected, installed and maintained can help reduce the impact of a fire, by decreasing the spread of fire, heat and smoke within the school. By impeding the spread of heat and smoke, occupants may be provided with alternative means to exit the school safely in addition to minimizing the damage to the building. Fire and smoke barrier doors are essential for schools, especially in long hallways and numerous stairwells connecting the various wings and floors, and in high hazard areas such as boiler and mechanical rooms.

Fire and smoke doors

Fire and smoke doors consist of an entire door assembly; including the door, door hardware, door frame and other accessories that work together to provide protection for each door opening.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has standards for fire and smoke doors:

• NFPA 80 – Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives is the standard for fire doors. It provides guidance on the installation and maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect openings in walls, floors and ceilings against the spread of fire and smoke within, into or out of buildings.1 Fire doors should be clearly labeled by the manufacturer as in the example below. 
• NFPA 105 – Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives is the standard for smoke doors. The purpose of smoke doors is to prevent the spread of smoke through the door openings.2

Life Safety Code

NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code provides strategies to protect people from the effects of fire and related hazards based on building construction, protection and occupancy features. Chapter 14 addresses New Educational Occupancies and Chapter 15 focuses on Existing Educational Occupancies.3

According to NFPA 101, in existing schools, fire doors are required for:

• Protection of stairwells (known as vertical openings)4
• Protection from hazards (boiler rooms, combustible storage rooms, etc.)5
  Smoke doors are required for: 

Subdivision of building spaces (sub dividing educational occupancies into compartments)6

• Subdivision of building spaces (sub dividing educational occupancies into compartments)6

School activities can impair smoke/fire door operation

Schools are busy places with many students and staff moving throughout the building during the day. The constant opening and closing of doors in hallways and stairways may be an inconvenience that often prompts users to prop the doors open with door wedges, chains, bungee cords, rope, etc. Fire and smoke doors that are propped open will not provide the protection intended. Be aware of these common reasons to prop open doors to help prevent these situations:

• Students and staff propping open stairwell and hallway doors to ease the flow of students during class period breaks and reduce noise from the banging of the doors.
• Facilities staff, contractors or deliverymen, who may be working in the area, prop open doors while carrying ladders, delivering packages or working at a jobsite.
• Kitchen staff open doors and position fans in front of them in order to increase ventilation.

Door design options

Common situations in schools where different fire and smoke doors design options are available include: 

• When there is a great deal of activity in and out of an area and the school does not want the doors to be constantly opening and closing, an option is that fire doors can be held open with magnetic door holders that are triggered to release by the activation of smoke/fire alarms so the doors automatically close and latch.7 
• When schools want to keep an area secured and protected, an option is to select doors that are fire or smoke rated and have door closers that ensure the door closes and locks each time the door is opened, to help keep the area secure. 
• When schools want to keep a door closed, but want to reduce the risk of injury from doors opening unexpectedly, an option is to install fire rated doors that include glass panels in the doors. Fire door window glazing material must be in compliance with NFPA standards to maintain the protection level of the door.8 

How to improve fire/smoke door effectiveness

• Select and install the appropriate doors to accommodate the needs of school operations and activities. For example, cafeteria doors may be held open with automatic openers during period changes and closed when the cafeteria is not occupied and being cleaned.
• Inspect the school on an ongoing basis to help verify fire and smoke barrier doors are not blocked, obstructed or otherwise made inoperable.
• Encourage staff to report problems with door assemblies and have them repaired promptly.
• Remove door chocks/wedges, hooks, fold down feet, bungee cords and other make-shift hold opener devices.
• Explain the importance of closed doors, automatic hold openers and unobstructed exits at staff meetings.
• Accompany the local code inspector during fire inspections to learn more about fire safety.
• Place signs on doors in common problem areas to remind users not to prop open doors.

Summary

Fire and smoke doors can impede the spread of heat and smoke during a fire within a school. Door selection, installation and maintenance are an important part of the fire safety program. There are a number of design options that can facilitate activities while providing fire protection and security. Train school staff members to keep fire and smoke doors closed unless they are held open with an automatic hold opener. Educate staff on the importance of fire and smoke barrier door assemblies so they work effectively to help protect students, staff and the general public who use school facilities.

Resources

1. National Fire Protection Association 80; Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, 1.1
2. National Fire Protection Association 105; Standard for the Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, 1.1
3. National Fire Protection Association 101; Life Safety Code, 1.2
4. National Fire Protection Association 101; Life Safety Code, 15.3.1.1
5. National Fire Protection Association 101; Life Safety Code, 15.3.2
6. National Fire Protection Association 101; Life Safety Code, 15.3.7
7. National Fire Protection Association 105; Standard for the Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, 5.2.2.1
8. National Fire Protection Association 80; Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening    Protectives, 3.3.59