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A well known architect, from a very prestigious firm, walked up to a
vendor at the American Institute of Architecture show a few years
back, and related in a very dazed voice that he was required to
replace 65 doors on a project he was involved with. He went on to say that the fire rated doors had been prepared for electrified locking hardware at the factory, under label service, and installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, when the AHJ asked to see the listing on the power transfer hinge, the architect discovered that the particular hinge he had specified, and in fact most hinges used for passing power, are not listed for Fire Rated Assemblies. In fact, most power transfer hinges are only UL listed under standard UL634, Connectors and Switches. UL Standard 634 does not contain any fire resistance requirements applicable to fire doors. Most AHJ’s are unaware of this salient fact, since it is just one of those little things you do not think about often. The reason power transfer hinges were listed in the first place under UL 634, was so that they could be used in UL Listed Alarm systems. They were never intended for use in Fire Rated Assemblies. As we are all aware, security is of paramount importance to most companies today. Since the attacks of September 11, government, large institutions, schools and private enterprise have taken a hard look at their security in place. While the rush to lock buildings down to make them secure has been very rapid, compliance with fire and life safety codes has been an area that has not received the same amount of care and concern, since most security company personnel are not conversant with applicable life safety and fire protection codes and procedures. The installation of electrically controlled locking hardware and power transfer devices on fire doors needs to comply with the following criteria: • The Authority Having Jurisdiction’s (AHJ) enforcement of the applicable building codes; • The National Fire Protection Association Installation Standard No. 80 for Fire Doors and Windows; • Individual electrified lock fire rated product listings; • Individual fire door product listings. • Individual power transfer hinge fire rated product listings; and The recently approved NFPA 730 and 731 We all know who the AHJ is. It is usually someone in the fire prevention or protection office, or the planning department, or enforcement arm of the local fire jurisdiction. Clear definitions of who qualifies can be found in all of the NFPA publications, usually near the front. The AHJ has the responsibility of determining compliance with applicable building codes when changes are made to fire rated doors, or when hardware is installed on fire rated assemblies. Listing and labeling provides assurance that the products being used have been evaluated to applicable product safety standards. Labeling also provides a quick and easy reference for the AHJ to determine whether a product has met the basic requirements needed for compliance. The appearance of a UL Mark, or other agency mark, on a product, does not necessarily mean the installed product meets the appropriate Fire Door standards, as the referenced architect found to his surprise. The product category under which the Mark is issued needs to be appropriate for the installation and use. Although NFPA 80 covers what can be installed into a rated assembly and also covers the types of hardware that can be installed in fire rated doors and frames, it does not address power transfer hinges. Many hinge manufacturers, installers, door companies, contract hardware houses, security installation companies, locksmith companies, etc., are either unaware, or disinterested in providing a fire rated power transfer hinge, since they do not see the need. Since the AHJ may not be aware of the differences between a UL listed hinge as a Connector and Switch, as opposed to one listed as Fire Door Accessories, the end users, installers and others, typically are not required to replace such devices with fire rated door hinges. For UL Listings, you can determine if a hinge is fire rated by the letter(s) prefix in the file number. Fire rated products have a “R” prefix for retardant and the UL 634 listed hinge has a “BP” for burglary protection. UL listed fire rated power transfer hinges can be found in the category of “Door Hinges (GWZQ)” in UL’s Fire Resistance Directory. A quick and easy field identifier (although not a requirement by UL) is to look for the “F” stamp or label. Many door closers, panic exit devices and lock latches have such a quick identifier to help the AHJ make quick field judgments when needed. Listing agencies, such as UL and ETL Semko typically follow the ANSI procedures when determining the standards that hinges meet. ANSI A156.1, Standard for Butts and Hinges, gives the requirements that need to be met in the construction of a standard ball bearing hinge and how that construction relates to different door types, different door weights and also, differently rated doors. ANSI A156.1 covers such issues as continuous pins being present, the thickness of the material used and other relevant specifications. Hinges that meet the basic guidelines of the ANSI A156.1 and NFPA 80 standards, when used in fire rated assemblies do not need to be listed and labeled. However, a power transfer hinge is modified from the standard ball bearing hinge. The pins are usually cut (there are actually two pins, one from the top and one from the bottom, which are staked with roll pins), the bearings may be compromised, the bottom pin seat is missing and most importantly, the hinge has been drilled all the way through on both leaves, making the thickness of the hinge illusory, since the walls where the drill holes are located are paper thin. Since the integrity of the hinge has been affected, due to the various modifications, the question is raised. Do rated fire doors now have the required number of fire rated hinges, or are they missing one? If you use the basic ANSI A156.1 guidelines that call out the construction of hinges, it seems clear that the modified Power Transfer Hinge does not meet the ANSI A156.1 Standard. All of the modifications to the hinges therefore, bring into question the reliability of the hinges and also takes a standard ball bearing hinge that has been modified out of the realm of the ANSI A156.1 guidelines and places the power transfer hinge into a new category as a modified product subject to listing and labeling to Fire Rated Standards. As explained above, the integrity of a standard hinge has not been called into question, since they are all alike. With modified power transfer hinges, that is not the case. Power transfer hinges are not exactly alike, since different manufacturers have various production methodologies. They are disassembled, drilled, glued, stuffed with wires and epoxies, have plastic parts placed on them, embedded in them, and have modified pins and paper thin walls on the leaves. The question, therefore, is this: Are the doors in your jurisdiction that have power transfer hinges installed on them, compliant? Do they meet the minimum requirements for use in Fire Rated Assemblies for mechanical strength and flammability of plastic parts? Do they meet the requirements as a best use product under applicable standards? As the need increases for secure work environments, and people continue to need safe places to work and live, we members of the NFPA and all members of the building industry need to keep in mind that it is our responsibility to provide the needed guidance required to insure safety. FSM Ray Zehrung is the founder and president of Marray Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of access control locking hardware. Garrett Tom has over 24 years experience in the product testing and certification industry. Recently employed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Garret went on to found Product Certification Consultants LLC. FSM |
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