By Healthcare Facilities Today

        Bronx, N.Y. – As recent building code changes take effect and annual fire door inspections now required under NFPA 80 become routine, reports from the field and hospitals in particular indicate that inspectors are paying close attention to the "gaps" around fire doors.  Excessive door undercuts appear to be a primary cause of failed fire inspections – sometimes involving hundreds of doors.  Intumescent door sweeps for both wood and metal doors are available from Zero International that can restore lost fire ratings without the substantial costs of structural modifications or door replacement.

Doors with undercuts greater than ¾ inch effectively become non-rated door openings.  Products tested with a larger undercut are required to bring those doors back into compliance.  The use of standard door sweeps or door bottoms (even if fire-rated) is not acceptable, unless tested on doors with undercuts greater than ¾ inch.  Zero solves this problem using door sweeps with integral intumescent seals that expand when exposed to flames or heat.  

Zero's door sweep model # 339FS has been tested for 20-minute fire-rated wood doors with undercuts up to 1.25 inches.  It carries a 20-minute fire rating to bring doors into compliance for 20-minute applications.  In addition, Zero offers model #521FS carrying a 90-minute fire rating based on testing with metal doors with undercuts up to 1.25 inches, which can bring those doors back into compliance for up to 90-minute applications. 

For more information, contact: Zero International; 415 Concord Ave., Bronx, NY 10455-1004; phone:  800-635-5335 or 718-585-3230, ext. 206; fax: 800-851-0000 or 718-292-2243; email: zero@zerointernational.com ;  website: www.zerointernational.com