From: Richard Bishop
[mailto:Richard.Bishop@tdi.state.tx.us]
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 4:17 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Decorating Fire Doors
Mr. Davila:
The following applies to materials applied to classroom walls and exit corridor walls. The Code is silent on materials being applied to doors, therefore it is not permitted. Rated fire doors are required to be tested by the manufacturer under actual live-fire conditions. Any combustible material attached to a door after manufacture may skew the performance of the door in a fire, compromising the protection of students in the classroom. Locally enacted fire codes may have different requirements and will take precedence over NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, adopted by the State Fire Marshal's Office for use in state-owned buildings and in areas where there are no local fire codes.
Excerpt from NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, Chapter 14.7.4.3
Artwork and teaching
materials shall be permitted to be attached directly to the walls in
accordance with the following:
(1) The artwork and teaching
materials shall not exceed 20 percent of the wall area in a building that is
not protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic fire
sprinkler system.
(2) The artwork and teaching
materials shall not exceed 50 percent of the wall area in a building that is
protected throughout by an approved, supervised fire automatic sprinkler
system.
No combustible materials may
be attached to, or suspended from the ceiling. The intent is to avoid an
accumulation of combustible materials that will permit fire to spread along the
walls so quickly that occupants are blocked from the exits. Combustibles
are not permitted at ceiling level because fire spreads very quickly on
horizontal combustible surfaces and flaming material may fall onto occupants
from above.
Richard L.
Bishop
Deputy State Fire Marshal
Fire Safety Inspections Services
Austin Contact number: 512-305-7955
richard.bishop@tdi.state.tx.us
"When you walk into a public place,
have an exit strategy. And keep in mind, the best way out may not be the
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