Fire Rated Apartment Entry Door Hinges: Upgrade Your Safety

Some property owners may not realize how crucial it is to have fire rated self closing hinges for apartment entry doors until they are facing a serious situation. Take this conversation with a building manager:

“We have a 9-story building in San Mateo where the apartment entry doors actually don’t self close. The Fire Marshal never flagged it before due to the building’s age, but we need to install reliable new hinges to address this.”

There is always a chance to upgrade and avoid unwanted fire accidents. This raises the real question: Do US building codes actually require self closing apartment entry doors? And what is the best way to replace older hinges with reliable fire-rated hinges?

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Fire Code Explained: Is Self Closing Mandatory for Apartment Entry Doors?

In the US, NFPA 80 sets the standard for fire rated doors, focusing on national fire protection. It requires that every fire-rated door have a closing device so the door will close and latch automatically without people doing it manually. This ensures the door remains closed to stop the spread of fire and smoke, while providing clear access for safe egress.

Does this apply to apartments? Yes. Fire-rated apartment entry doors must be self-closing, especially if they open into a shared corridor or a fire-rated wall. While older buildings might technically get a ‘pass’ because they were built under different rules, upgrading to fire-rated self-closing hinges adds a critical layer of safety for everyone.

How to Verify Your Apartment Door is Fire Rated?

Under NFPA 80 Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, a fire-rated door can be identified by:

• Certification Label: NFPA 80 requires a permanent label on the door and frame (metal or embossed), showing the fire-protection rating (e.g. 20, 45, 60, 90 minutes) and a listed testing agency such as UL listed.
• Door Construction: Fire doors are typically steel or solid-core wood and are heavier than non-rated doors.
• Required Hardware: NFPA 80 requires fire doors to have fire certified hinges, positive-latching hardware, and a self-closing or automatic-closing device.
• Code-Required Locations: Fire doors are required where doors protect fire-rated corridors, stairwells, and dwelling unit separations.

How to Pick Fire Rated Door Hinges Replacement?

With so many choices and models available, choosing the right replacement for fire doors might be overwhelming. Here are a few short steps you can follow:

1. Know your fire door: Confirm the door size and weight to determine the required closing power. Makesure the fire door integrity by checking out 13-point fire door inspection checklist.
2. Match traffic and usage: Consider who will use the door and ensure it is easy for everyone to pass through.
3. Check hinge fire rating: How long will it stand fire and heat, it must show the hinge fire-protection rating (e.g. 20, 45, 60, 90 minutes), check the listing agency that listed it (UL listed)
4. Confirm hinge suitability: Must have the right capacity, and determine how many hinges are needed on one door.
5. Verify alignment and clearances: Poor alignment can lead to fire door failure.
6. Ask the experts: Contact Waterson team and share your hinge template so we can help confirm the correct solution.

Simple Upgrade to Enhance Safety: Self Closing Fire Rated Hinges

The case mentioned above is the project of Two50 Downtown Apartment in San Mateo. This large-scale renovation project has a deadline to meet, and so they urgently require self closing solution for the apartment entry doors. The project manager contacted Waterson for a total of 155 sets self closing fire rated hinges within 2 months, helping this project to finish on time.

Why Two50 Downtown Chose Waterson Fire Rated Apartment Entry Door Hinges?

A fire door only works effectively when it can close completely and latch every time. Waterson self closing fire rated door hinges provide enough closing power and latch control, making sure doors are closed without manual work. They are designed to meet the NFPA 80 requirements and are 3hr UL-listed, a good fit for renovation. Moreover, we ensure the work deadlines are met:

• Self Closing Mechanism: Automatically shuts the door after every use, preventing smoke and fire from spreading.
• Fire Rated: Certified with a 3-hour UL-list and NFPA 80 to resist high temperatures and maintain barrier integrity under extreme fire conditions.
• Latch Verification: Ensure the door closer provides enough force to fully latch.
• ANSI/BHMA A156.17 Grade 1: Proven durability with over 1,000,000 cycles, guaranteed to function in high-stress and high-traffic conditions.
• ADA Compliance: <5 lb opening force. >= 5 sec close time. Works seamlessly with over 34” wide door designs.
• Easy Installation: Check hinges’ alignment and simply follow our installation guidelines.
• Adjustability: Designed with a numerical panel that allows users to adjust easily.
• Heavy Duty: Designed for high-traffic, high-impact environments, reliable under real-world fire pressure.
• Stainless Steel: Built in 304 or 316 stainless steel for high durability
• Concealed Design: Flush-fit hinge design minimizes snagging and keeps emergency routes clear and code-compliant.

The built-in features of Waterson fire door hinges ensure a controlled door closing every time and long-term durability. Besides the apartment entry door, they have been trusted in many fire rated applications, including garage doors, hospital rooms, luxurious apartment doors, and more.

Waterson Self Closing Fire Rated Hinges for Apartment Entry Doors

Waterson self closing fire door hinges combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.

In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers custom hinge services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.

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Please note that Waterson closer hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.

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