Decommissioning Labels for Fire Rated Doors and Frames
It is not unusual that after major construction projects, renovations, or after a Life Safety Compliance Solutions‘ life safety assessment that what were once fire-rated doors on fire or smoke barriers are now simply fire-ra
ted doors. The fire codes and many AHJ’s require a labeled fire-rated door, regardless of whether it is on a fire or smoke barrier, to be maintained and inspected as a fire-rated door. This can generate undue expense and investment when the door’s function in case of fire has changed.
Code officials urge against removing a fire-rated label from a fire door to avoid costly recertification in case the door is to be placed into service as a fire door at a later date and to alert the public of the door’s original purpose in case of fire. Yet the additional cost of maintaining that door and inspecting it annually is significant. A great alternative to not removing a fire-rated label and avoiding the cost of maintenance, annual inspection, and later recertification is to decommission a fire-rated door with the new Fire Door Solutions Decommissioning Labels!
To decommission a fire-rated door, Fire Door Solutions can place a label over the affixed fire- rated label that informs the public and AHJ’s of the change in purpose for the door. The sample decommissioning label to the right has adhesive on both ends to cover the affixed fire-rated label, but not deface it in case of future re-purposing as a fire-rated door on a fire or smoke barrier.
To not confuse the public of a fire door’s purpose, if a fire-rated label is removed, or in this case decommissioned, NFPA 101-2012, Section 4.6.12.3 requires that all fire-rated and labeled hardware be removed from a door. This is required before placing a decommissioning label over a fire-rated label. Fire Door Solutions will gladly provide this service! Call us for a quotation!
If your facilities team would prefer to do this in house, Decommissioning Labels can be purchased under the Fire Door Solutions website, www.firedoorsolution.com, product tab. Please be aware that the purchaser will be required to accept responsibility for removing all fire-rated hardware from any doors on which the Decommissioning Labels will be applied through reading and agreeing to a set of terms and conditions at the time of purchase. Additionally, recommissioning a fire-rated door will require the rated fire door hardware to be replaced to restore the door to its original rated condition to avoid recertification costs later.
