About this video:
Inspectors should be familiar with two types of doors along the means of egress: exit doors and fire doors. This video provides an overview of how to inspect these doors. To ensure thoroughness, inspectors should establish and follow a consistent inspection procedure, considering the possibility of numerous doors installed on a given property.
Exit Door
The term exit door primarily refers to a door that leads directly to the building’s exterior. The ComSOP inspection requirements include the following regarding exit doors:
- Inspect the lockable exit doors for the presence of signs that state: “This Door Must Remain Unlocked During Business Hours.”
- Determine whether the exit doorways have a minimum clear width of 32 inches.
- Check whether the exit doors were locked from the inside, chained, bolted, barred, latched, or otherwise rendered unusable during the inspection.
- Verify whether the exit doors swing open in the direction of egress travel.
The video goes over two examples in a hotel, including an exit doors in a stairwell and automatic sliding doors.
Fire Door
Fire doors, also referred to as fire separation doors, is a fire-rated door. It is designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke between different parts of a building. It functions by withstanding and containing flames and heat for a specified amount of time to allow safe egress through the building’s escape route. The ComSOP inspection requirements for a baseline inspection include the following regarding fire doors:
- Verify fire door has an automatic closing device.
- Verify fire door is positive latching.
- Check the door isn’t blocked or wedged open.
The video provides an overview of a fire door inspection in a hotel, covering additional aspects that go beyond the scope of the ComSOP. Inspectors may consider incorporating some of these elements into their own inspection procedures. A few of these elements are illustrated below for reference.
Section 17 of the ComSOP, titled “Fire Door Inspections,” offers a detailed procedure and checklist specifically for fire door inspections. Inspectors may choose to offer this service to their clients as an ancillary service.
Additional Resources for Commercial Property Inspections: