By Brad Keyes / Special to Healthcare Facilities Today

Q: I have an oxygen/med gas storage room that is attached to the hospital, and can only gain access to the room by way of the exterior of building. Does the room have to have a fire-rated door assembly?

A: Well… that depends. If the storage room contains 3,000 cubic feet or more of compressed medical gases, and the room is located indoors, then the room must be constructed with 1-hour fire-rated construction and the door to the room is required to be 1-hour (not ¾-hour) fire rated as well (see 5.1.3.3.2(4) of NFPA 99-2012).

However, the intent of 5.1.3.3.2 is to separate the compressed gas storage room from the rest of the facility by requiring 1-hour fire rated barriers, and if the door opening to the storage room opens into the facility, one could easily understand why a fire-rated door is required. However, if the door to the storage room opens to the outdoors (i.e. receiving dock) then one could make a point that the doors is not required to be fire-rated, because there is no separation between the storage room and the rest of the facility at that point.

But the problem is, NFPA 99-2012 section 5.1.3.3.2 does not say that and does not appear to have any exception for a door to the storage room that opens to the outdoors. I think a rational, smart, understanding surveyor would agree with that point and not cite you for not having a fire-rated door that opens to the outdoors.

But will you always have a rational, smart, and understanding surveyor?

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.