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Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin

Post Number: 200
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 11:58 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

A question has come up regarding the Architect's design intent to use wood trim as a surround of the metal frame at rated door assemblies. NFPA doesn't seem to address plant-on's on frames. NFPA does say: "features may be attached to fire doors "in accordance with the manufacturer's inspection service procedure and under label service."

Can anyone provide any input regarding the use of wood trim that surrounds the metal frame of a rated assembly? Am I not seeing something in NFPA?
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat

Post Number: 289
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 12:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Robin,

You won't find it in NFPA
The rating of frames is covered under UL Standards. They used to have a UL Standard (UL 63?)for frames, but dropped it years ago because all of the door manufacturers were already in compliance.
I've done it - however, it must be designed to be fastened to the wall only.
Mechanically fastening to the rated door or door frame voids the label.
Bob Woodburn, RA CSI CCS CCCA LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bwoodburn

Post Number: 258
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 12:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

That wouldn't seem to rule out adhesively-attached trim...
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat

Post Number: 290
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 12:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Only if the adhesives have a UL Rating and meet the required toxicity requirements when burned.
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wayne_yancey

Post Number: 81
Registered: 01-2008
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 01:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We had a similar design request (within the last 3 weeks) to applicque ship-lap vertical boards on a 60 minute fire-rated hollow metal door. This from Curries. No can do unless the door was UL or WHI or ULC tested with this treatment (adhesive or mechanical fasteners).

I have trimmed out the steel frames with wood (5/4 stock) profiled to accommodate 1/2" returns; fasteners only into jamb studs (wood or steel). No exception taken by AHJ.
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat

Post Number: 291
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 01:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Wayne,

That's been my experience and solution as well.

I was once asked to apply a bronze sheet to a rated H.M. Door. UL said "No Way", it had to do with the adhesives again.
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP
Senior Member
Username: redseca2

Post Number: 116
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 01:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Often in the morning when I pass through the ground floor lobby of the building I work out of, the door to the Fireman's Control Closet will be open. The lobby walls are stone veneer and the FCC door was detailed to match. With the door open you can see all sorts of random sized wood furring supporting the stone applied to the face of what needs to be a fire-rated occupancy separation door. This must date back to a 1986 remodel.

I always think of that as I explain to designers why they cannot apply much more simple overlays and appliques to doors such as are discussed in this thread.
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wayne_yancey

Post Number: 82
Registered: 01-2008
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 02:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Steve,

It is hard to defend your position when there is precedent all around to do differently. "How did they do that" we say to ourselves.

Older code?
Cleaverly disguised code exception?
Negotiation with AHJ?
Ran the fire separation around the room and did not include the entry door?
Just did it and nobody noticed or cared if they did notice?
Shit happens?
And on and on.
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues

Post Number: 743
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 02:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Well, just remember at some point they will be starting the code mandated yearly inspection of rated doors.

On the other hand, there is no manpower to perform those inspections so they will hire inexperienced people who will doing things like approve bronze clad hollow metal door. Then we will face owners who want this and point to their existing doors that passed -grin!
Ronald L. Geren, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: specman

Post Number: 662
Registered: 03-2003
Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 08:23 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In Appendix F of NFPA 80-1999 (the edition adopted by the 2006 IBC) it mentions “Plant-ons” to door surfaces. It doesn’t distinguish between frames or the door itself (although it does mention “door face” in a couple of locations), so it is really difficult to make a determination if they're referring to the “door assembly” or a particular component of the assembly without a specific NFPA interpretation.

It has been my opinion that if the frame itself is not physically modified (bent, warped, penetrated, etc.) then the integrity of the frame remains intact and the application of adhesively applied wood trim should not alter the fire-resistance characteristics of the frame or the door assembly. But that’s only an opinion; the building official has final say on what he/she will accept.

As for the inspections, that may or may not be adopted by ICC for the 2009 IBC--my thoughts are that it will not be accepted if the 2007 edition of NFPA is considered. This is similar to the ICC's adoption of ASCE 7, in which the ICC excluded the requirements for special inspections (Appendix 11A), including those for suspended ceilings in particular seismic areas.

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