Fire Door – Missing, Damaged or Has Pet Door in It

The door between the garage and the rest of the house is required to be a “one hour fire door.” This is interpreted to be a 1 and 3/8 inch thick solid core wood door, or an approved honeycomb – core steel door or a “20 minute fire-rated door” that includes a fire rated jamb / assembly and including that it be self-closing. Note that a fire rating label may be on the jamb assembly.

The two most common issues found by home inspectors are that that the door is a hollow core wood door or there is a pet door in the “fire door” which is improper.

Replacing a door

Should a door need replacing, it’s normally easy and relatively inexpensive.

“Fire doors” do not fully stop the spread of fire

Buyers often think that “fire doors” stop a fire. In reality, they are for slowing the spread of a fire. Since many fires start in the garage where there are often flammable items stored (paint cans, gas cans, rags cardboard storage boxes; having a fire door will give you more time to escape the fire

Having an heat detector, rather than a smoke detector is a recommended.  ( Learn why a heat detector, not a smoke alarm )

Cracked or damaged doors

Doors that have a crack through them or that are damaged may no longer qualify as a proper fire door and should be replaced.

Glass or windows in fire doors 

Doors with a window or glazing in them going to the garage usually do not meet current fire requirements unless they are rated as a 1 hour fire door assembly which very few are. To know if a door is rated, check for a tag, usually a metal tag, on the hinge edge of the door stating its fire rating.

DIY home owners may install a fire door on their own. Door hangers, finish carpenters and qualified handymen are the most proficient at installing and working on doors.