Fire-Rated Drop Testing: The Annual Requirement for Michigan Businesses

Quick answer: Rolling steel fire doors must be drop tested at least once a year. A trained technician releases the door, confirms it closes fully at a safe speed, checks that it resets, and signs a written record for your files. Overhead Door Company of Battle Creek, Jackson & Ann Arbor provides fire-rated door inspections and annual drop testing.

In Michigan, an annual fire door drop testing certification is required. Any rolling steel fire door must comply with Michigan building codes and close automatically at a rate of 6 to 24 inches per second, as a precaution to seal off fire and smoke, per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Michigan rolling steel fire door testing requirements include:

• Doors must rest on the sill and close completely.
• Confirmation of the door closure and verification that the mechanism can be reset.
• The doors must close at a speed of between 6 and 24 inches per second.
• Documentation to include the location of the door, the date, and be signed by the technician with their full name.
• The inspection reveals any painted fusible links, damaged components, and/or blocked release mechanisms.

Some of the more common reasons for inspection failure include missing, broken, or painted parts, misalignment of the guide rails, and door-path obstructions. Painted fusible links or damaged guide rails mandate an instant test failure.

Additionally, annual testing needs to ensure the door resets properly after use. It is up to you to ensure the reset part of the test is completed, as a cheap or lazy vendor may skip this important part.

The Critical Importance of Fire-Rated Doors in Michigan

Fire-rated doors are proven to confine smoke and flames to a given area for between 20 and 90 minutes, or longer, preventing smoke from spreading and allowing safe evacuation while saving lives and protecting property.

Understanding Michigan’s Mandate: Why Annual Drop Testing is Non-Negotiable

NFPA 80 and Michigan’s annual fire door inspection are adopted by local fire codes throughout the state to ensure building safety. Failing to have annual testing done by a properly certified technician for any reason can invalidate insurance claims, result in hefty penalties and fines, and, of course, can be a serious safety risk.

Regulatory compliance includes:

• Mandatory testing at least once per year
• Fire-drop door testing must be performed by trained technicians for rolling steel fire door systems.
• Proper documentation of such tests must be kept on file in your office and made available upon request by the local Fire Marshal.

Furthermore, if compliance is not met, Michigan’s Local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) may restrict or revoke your building’s occupancy permit until your doors are tested and, if necessary, repaired.

Documenting Compliance: Your Responsibility as a Michigan Business

As mentioned, maintaining proper documentation is the business owner’s responsibility, and in the eyes of the Fire Marshal, it is just as important. No signed record is as if the test never happened.

Records of the NFPA 80 door inspection checklist and of Ann Arbor rolling steel fire door testing requirements and results, as signed by professionally trained and certified technicians for at least the past three years, should be kept on site. The same is true of any other Michigan city, no matter how large or small.

The business owner or manager must be able to present the fire door drop testing certification at the Fire Marshal’s request.

Don’t Compromise: Ensure Your Michigan Business is Compliant

Safety maintenance and Michigan annual fire door inspection certifications are mandatory for any business. Forgetting about them or avoiding them is cause for concern and carries consequences. Letting repairs go is downright dangerous.

If you have had trouble finding quality NFPA 80 door inspection technicians in the past or suffered from scheduling issues, we at Overhead Door Company of Battle Creek, Jackson & Ann Arbor can steer you in the right direction. Non-compliance is not optional!

If you need repairs or a new rolling steel fire door, give us a call for service or an estimate today. We’ll help you keep your property up to code.

Image credit: // Shutterstock // united photo studio

Fire Door Drop Testing FAQs

What happens during a fire door drop test?

The technician triggers the door's release so it closes the way it would during a fire. They check that it closes all the way to the sill at a controlled speed without binding, then confirm it can be reset. Any problems they find are written on a signed record for your files.

What causes a fire door to fail its drop test?

The most common causes are painted, missing or damaged parts such as fusible links, guide rails that are bent or out of alignment, and anything blocking the door's path. Keeping the opening clear of pallets, carts and stored items is one of the easiest ways to help your doors pass.

How long should I keep fire door test records?

Keep signed test records on site for at least the past three years and have them ready when the fire marshal asks. Each record should show the door's location, the test date and the technician's full name and signature. Without a signed record, the test may be treated as if it never happened.

Can a fire door that fails be repaired?

Often, yes. Many failures are fixed by replacing fusible links or damaged parts, adjusting the closing mechanism or repairing the guides, then testing the door again. A door with serious damage may need to be replaced. We sell, inspect and repair fire-rated doors to get them back in service.

How do I schedule annual fire door drop testing?

Call (800) 962-3141, call the location nearest your building, or use the Schedule Service form on our site. If you have several fire doors, testing them in the same visit keeps your records together. Businesses in our Commercial Preventative Maintenance Program also get priority scheduling.