One of the most important tasks for a building owner to adhere to is ensuring that your fire doors are up to code, which includes overhead and rolling doors. Overhead and rolling fire doors are an integral part of your building’s overall fire protection system. These doors are a key component to the compartmentalization of a building to stop the spread of fire, smoke and other deadly toxic fumes. Rolling fire doors must be inspected and tested thoroughly, otherwise the facility as well as everyone inside is at risk.

What is a fire door drop test?

Fire door drop tests occur in two distinct steps.

Step One: Technicians will simulate the conditions necessary to trigger the fire door to operate. This involves the fire door shutting properly and ensuring the door doesn’t suffer any damage.

Step Two: Once the functionality of the rolling fire door is confirmed, technicians will then proceed to examine the doors return to its default state. This will be examined to ensure there are not any malfunctioning components to the rolling fire door that could hinder it from performing in the event of a fire emergency.

How Are Drop Tests Performed?

1 - The first thing is to check that the door’s installation is correct.

2 - Next, technicians will check to make sure that the fire rated label for your fire door is attached. Without this identification, your door will not get proper recognition as a fire door and fail the test.

3 - Then a technician will ensure all the mechanical components of the door operate as intended.

4 - Technicians will inspect the fusible link(s) and cable system and remove all grease or blockages to keep your door rolling properly.

5 - Next, technicians will check the guide assembly and curtain make sure no bolts have detached and all slats are not dented or bent that could cause the door to jamb.

6 - Once that’s done, technicians will perform the first of 2 drop tests to ensure the door falls at the correct speed and stops fully on the floor. The door will be reset and technicians will perform a 2nd drop test to ensure all components are able to be reset correctly and verify the falling speed of the door a second time.

If you have not yet arranged a rolling fire door drop test for your business, now is the perfect time. Whether you have a commercial facility, hotel or motel, healthcare institution, educational campus or industrial facility fire doors should be properly tested and inspected. In fact, a fire door Inspection and drop test is required to ensure that your fire doors will close automatically in the case of a fire emergency.