87% Noncompliant. Are You Sure Your Building Is Safe?
Since June 1st, we have inspected nearly 1,000 fire-rated door assemblies across facilities throughout North Carolina. The results are concerning: 87 percent failed compliance.
This is not a typo.
It is not a minor issue.
It represents a widespread and significant risk to life safety.
The Importance of Fire Door Compliance
Fire doors are a critical part of a building’s life safety system. They are designed to contain fire and smoke, protect exit routes, and allow occupants time to evacuate safely. When these assemblies do not function as intended, they compromise the entire fire protection strategy of a facility.
Unfortunately, many property owners and managers underestimate the urgency of maintaining code compliance. Failure to comply with NFPA 80, NFPA 101, and related standards can result in:
Compromised life safety for occupants and staff
Increased legal and insurance liability
Greater potential for catastrophic loss during an emergency
What the Data Shows
Across hospitals, schools, offices, and multi-family properties, our inspection results reveal a consistent pattern of deficiencies. The most common include:
Missing or painted-over fire labels
Damaged or missing gasketing or intumescent seals
Improper or modified hardware
Excessive gaps beyond NFPA tolerance limits
Inoperative closers or latches
Each of these conditions reduces the door’s ability to perform as a rated assembly and can allow smoke or fire to spread quickly through a building.
Inspections and Repairs Save Lives
Compliance is not simply about meeting a requirement—it is about protecting people. A properly maintained and inspected fire door can prevent a small incident from becoming a large-scale tragedy.
If your facility has not undergone a recent fire door inspection, the time to act is now. The numbers clearly show that noncompliance is the norm, not the exception.
Schedule a Fire Door Inspection
Our certified inspectors, qualified through DOIT as Qualified Fire Door Inspectors (QFDI) and DHI as Door Hardware Technicians (DHT), perform detailed NFPA-compliant inspections and provide digital reports with photographic documentation and repair recommendations.
To learn more or to request a sample report, contact us today. Ensuring compliance is more than a formality—it is a responsibility that protects lives, property, and peace of mind.