Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Self-closing doors on hazardous rooms

Q: Do soiled utility rooms in business occupancies (non-sprinklered) require self-closing doors and 1-hour fire rated construction?

A: Yes, but not because it is a soiled utility room (like a hospital), but because it is a storage room. Business occupancy chapters of the LSC says storage rooms are hazardous areas, and references section 8.7.1.1 of the 2012 LSC which requires all hazardous areas to be either fully protected with sprinklers, or protected with 1-hour fire-rated construction. Since your business occupancy is non-sprinklered, then that means the storage room (i.e. soiled utility room) needs to be one-hour fire rated construction which requires a ¾-hour fire-rated self-closing door.  

NFPA 105 continues to explain that smoke dampers are tested once every 4-years for non-hospitals and must be tested with normal HVAC airflow. 

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.