There’s a lot of debate and confusion when it comes to fire door inspections. For the past years, inspection requirements have remained unclear, leaving facility managers unsure how they should operate internal responsibilities and how frequently they should have their fire doors inspected. 

Fortunately, some property managers enroll their team in a fire door inspection course to ensure that their staff is well aware of the precautions and steps they need to take to ensure everyone’s safety on the property. 

While using a checklist is ideal, we’ll still share with you some useful fire door knowledge. Today, we’ll give you a brief summary of most everything you need to know about fire door inspections—the requirements and how often you need them. Let’s take a look!

What are the Fire Door Inspection Requirements?

According to the latest edition of the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, an annual, nationwide inspection mandate for commercial fire doors and their components. 

By doing this, establishments can improve the reliability of evacuation and the overall safety of those on the property. Since fire doors are a crucial component in any commercial building, having up-to-date fire door inspections is a crucial requirement that could affect your business. 

Who Can Perform Annual Fire Door Inspections?

Facility managers, safety engineers, and the building owner are responsible for ensuring the annual fire door inspection and tests are conducted and documented according to NFPA standards. 

Regular fire door inspection frequency—monthly or bi-monthly—can be performed by an employee trained and educated in fire door components, maintenance, and operations. But a licensed fire protection company should perform the annual inspection. 

Of course, enrolling in a fire door inspection course can help, so you have the right tools and knowledge when conducting a thorough inspection. 

What are the Fire Door Safety and Inspection Best Practices?

• Ensure that all fire doors and evacuation paths are clear of debris, stock, and any obstructions that could prohibit an easy exit. 
• Ensure that all fire door labels are visible and legible so you know when to inspect and test the components. 
• The fire door exit signs must remain brightly lit and not blocked by anything.
• To ensure that doors open and close easily, lubricate and clean the hinges on a regular basis. 
• Another thing to inspect is that the door’s hardware and frames should be aligned to ensure smooth operations. 
• With self-closing devices, ensure that they are operational and close completely from an open position. 

These are only a few of the best practices that one must know regarding fire door safety and inspection. Enrolling in a course can help your manager and staff know other best practices and requirements to ensure a reliable inspection. 

The Bottom Line: Provide the Right Fire Door Inspection Knowledge to Your Team

When it comes to your property’s safety, you must follow the best practices for fire door inspection safety and tests. Because of this, enrolling your team in a fire door inspection course can help them gather all the necessary knowledge, techniques, and requirements so they can provide reliable and smooth testing and inspection experience. This way, you can rest well knowing your property is safe and operational. 

How Can We Help You?

All Things Inspector provides all the tools that you need to thrive in the inspection industry. We offer specialty tools for fire door inspections, door pressure gauges, door gaps gauges, and we even have a free fire door inspection checklist. 

Learn more about how we can take your inspector knowledge to the next level!