A door gap gauge may seem like a minor piece of equipment, but it’s a vital tool for good building inspectors. A worker is only as good as their tools allow them to be, so it’s important to make sure you have the right tools for any job at hand. This is especially true for building inspectors and construction workers. Measurements can’t be close, they need to be as precise as possible. A precise door gap gauge is an essential piece of equipment for building inspectors, IOR’s, Fire Marshals and construction professionals.
A door gap gauge is a simple tool that can be used to measure the clearance requirements of doors per NFPA 80 code compliance. Since all it takes is a misaligned door, clearance requirements are among the most commonly cited issues for fire door non-compliance. When checking the clearance of a door, using a door gap gauge is faster and more accurate then using a tape measure. Having a door gap gauge will speed up the process of inspecting fire doors while reducing any potential errors. It’s as easy as sliding it under the door.
At All Things Building Inspector, we have door gap gauges in single packs up to multipacks with six door gap gauges. Depending on their size and purpose, buildings can have a large number of fire doors. A team of inspectors, each equipped with a door gap gauge can quickly check all the fire doors of a large structure. Fire door gap gauges are already inexpensive, so they easily pay for themselves in the time they save building inspectors.
Ensuring that doors don’t have gaps that are too large is important for the safety of the building occupants. Fire doors and walls are designed to prevent the spread of a fire. They are often used to protect escape routes like hallways and stairwells. If a door has large gaps, the fire could spread into these areas and trap people trying to evacuate.
Aside from protecting the people in the building, ensuring that their doors meet NFPA regulations is important for the finances of the building owner. NFPA violations start at $100 per violation per day. It doesn’t take a lot of misaligned doors or a lot of time for these violations to become large fines for building owners. This is why the maintenance staff should also have access to door gap gauges. This way, they can quickly check the compliance of all of the doors and make any necessary adjustments.
Builders can also use a door gap gauge during the construction process. Fire door compliance should be at the forefront of new construction. Ensuring that all fire doors meet NFPA requirements when they are first installed reduces the amount of time making adjustments at the end of the project. Fire door gap gauges have made it easier than ever to check this aspect of a building before an inspection.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a better door gap gauge, All Things Inspector has everything you need. Besides having the best door gap gauge type in various quantities, we have vital information to help building inspectors ensure their doors are NFPA 80 compliant. Visit the link below to watch a video and to start shopping for your next door gap gauge.