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Kirkland, WA
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[#1] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 10:54:29 AM |  |  |
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I was just told by a contractor that it is no longer required to have a self closing hinge on a fire rated garage door. This home is new construction and is in a rural county area. I find this absurd. The door does lead to the entry hallway of the home. Any help here? I would love to correct the builder if possible. And if I am wrong I need to know.
Mike
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Mike O'Brien
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Associate Editor - TIJ
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Seattle, WA
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#2] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 11:21:10 AM | | |
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I don't believe it is a national code requirement. Certainly not in the IRC. Possibly local AHJ?
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
http://www.rainspect.com
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Kirkland, WA
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#3] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 11:43:26 AM | | |
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Here is the answer, NO it is not required. According to the local building code enforcer when the codes were last written it was omitted. Logically it does not make sense to me and I will still add it as a recommendation, but as for a requirement, it is not required.
He also said that walls adjacent to living spaces, in garages, are no longer required to be 5/8 type x but now can be 1/2 type x but ceilings in garaged are still required to be 5/8 type x.
Of course other jurisdictions may vary! This was for Snohomish county WA.
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Mike O'Brien
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Collins, NY
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#4] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 11:45:48 AM | | |
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What is the fire rating? Every 90 minute door in my supplier's catalogs comes standard with two self closing hinges, the pins to set the spring tension are shipped loose but with the door. Every jurisdiction around here requires a 90 minute door with self closing hinges, but I've had a lot of 'handy man' types asking for 3/4 hour doors lately. I haven't heard of any 45 minute rule and the last time I used such a door was to meet a 20 minute smoke and draft requirement for an existing apartment complex, I was required to use the self closing hinges.
Unless you have access to the plans you will need to call the AHJ for the right answer, but smells like BS to me.
Tom
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Kirkland, WA
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#5] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 12:08:02 PM | | |
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I agree with the smell (BS).
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Mike O'Brien
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Rochester, New York
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#6] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 12:55:26 PM | | |
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It's required here in NY:
R309.1 Opening protection. Openings from a private garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall not be permitted. Other openings between the garage and residence shall be equipped with a 3/4-hour fire-protection-rated door assembly equipped with a self-closing device.
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Chad Fabry
StructureSmart Home Inspection Rochester, NY
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#7] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 1:35:25 PM | | |
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I just checked all of my supplier catalogs. There are fiberglass doors rated at 20 minutes, and steel doors rated at 90 minutes. All doors are in steel split frames with self closing hinges. The 45 minute rating applies to certain solid core flush wood doors (only those labeled) and the Stanley B series steel fire door.
Chad, as a code officer would you approve a wood door? Label or no, it would never fly here between the house and garage. Fire seperation inside commercial buildings is about the only place we can use them, and most of those are concrete cores and rated well beyond 45 minutes.
Tom
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#8] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 1:40:53 PM | | |
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I would approve a rated solid core wood door assembly. Honestly, I don't think there's a defensible position to not approve such an assembly.
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Chad Fabry
StructureSmart Home Inspection Rochester, NY
www.structuresmart.com
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#11] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 3:53:32 PM | | |
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I never ever ever see self closing garage doors. Never.
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Mark A. Perry
www.ahis1.com
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Self closing hinges on garage doors
[#12] Posted: Mar 11 2010 - 4:17:25 PM | | |
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| Quote: Originally posted by MOB
Here is the answer, NO it is not required. According to the local building code enforcer when the codes were last written it was omitted.
That's not quite correct. It stopped being required when Washington adopted the IRC, which never required an automatic closer in that location. Nothing was "omitted." Washington just switched to a different code.
Quote: Logically it does not make sense to me and I will still add it as a recommendation, but as for a requirement, it is not required.
He also said that walls adjacent to living spaces, in garages, are no longer required to be 5/8 type x but now can be 1/2 type x but ceilings in garaged are still required to be 5/8 type x.
Only if there are habitable rooms above.
Quote: Of course other jurisdictions may vary! This was for Snohomish county WA.
That's for all of Washington, unless a particular city adopts a more stringent requirement.
Why not buy yourself a copy of the code?
- Jim Katen, Oregon
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