Have you ever seen fire doors, one of the fire prevention features, in large buildings such as condominiums, office buildings, hotels, and schools?
Fire doors are essential equipment for preventing the spread of fires, but many people may not know the installation standards or inspection requirements for condominiums.
This article explains the features, standards, and inspection requirements for fire doors installed in condominiums.
If you want to learn more about fire doors in condominiums, please use this as a reference.
What Are Fire Doors?
Fire doors are doors equipped with fire protection functions.
They are primarily installed to prevent the spread of damage and the extension of fire in the event of a fire.
Here, we explain the features of fire doors, fire compartments, and types of doors.
Features of Fire Doors
Fire doors are doors with fire protection performance.
The terms "fire door" and "fireproof door" are common names; under the Building Standards Act, they are referred to as "fire shutters" (防火戸).
With the 2000 revision of the Building Standards Act, fire doors were divided into fire protection equipment and specified fire protection equipment.
Fire protection equipment corresponds to what were previously classified as Class B fire doors.
These include wire glass and wing walls used in openings of exterior walls and parts of fire compartments, primarily installed to avoid the risk of fire spreading from adjacent buildings.
Additionally, those that can block flames for 20 minutes or more fall under this category.
The other type, specified fire protection equipment, corresponds to what were previously classified as Class A fire doors.
These include fire doors and fire shutters used in fire walls, openings in fire compartments, exterior walls, and entrances to evacuation stairways.
The key feature of specified fire protection equipment is that it has a flame-blocking duration of one hour.
Fire Compartments Are Divided into Four Types
Fire compartments are divided into four types: area compartments, high-rise compartments, vertical shaft compartments, and mixed-use compartments.
・Area Compartments
Area compartments apply to quasi-fire-resistant buildings and buildings whose main structure has a fire-resistant construction.
Walls and floors must be of fire-resistant construction, and openings must be equipped with specified fire protection equipment.
Compartments divided by a certain area for the purpose of preventing large-scale fire spread are called area compartments.
For fire-resistant buildings, the compartment must be within 1,500㎡.
・High-Rise Compartments
High-rise compartments apply to floors on the 11th floor or above where the compartment has fire-resistant construction, fire protection equipment, and specified fire protection equipment.
High-rise compartments may be considered a disadvantage in the event of a fire because fire suppression using ladder trucks is difficult.
For this reason, they are compartmentalized to suppress the spread of fire.
Fire-resistant construction is required for floors and walls, and specified fire protection equipment must be installed at openings.
・Vertical Shaft Compartments
Vertical shaft compartments are designed to prevent vertical fire spread through staircases and atriums.
Staircases, elevators, and atriums fall under this category.
This applies to buildings with habitable rooms on basement floors or on the third floor or above.
The main structural parts must be quasi-fire-resistant construction or higher, walls and floors must be 45-minute quasi-fire-resistant construction, and fire protection equipment with flame-blocking performance is mandatory at openings.
・Mixed-Use Compartments
Mixed-use compartments apply to apartment complexes, assembly halls, parking lots, and similar facilities of a certain scale or larger.
This applies to buildings where part of the building falls under Article 27 of the Building Standards Act, such as cases where restaurants are located within an apartment complex.
However, relaxations apply if certain conditions are met, such as management by the same operator.
Basic mixed-use compartments must have walls and floors of one-hour quasi-fire-resistant construction, and openings must be equipped with specified fire protection equipment with flame-blocking performance.
Difference Between Normally-Closed and Automatic-Closing Types
The normally-closed type refers to a fire door that is closed during normal operation.
With a door closer installed, even if the door is opened when passing through, it automatically closes when released.
There is also a size restriction of within 3㎡.
On the other hand, the automatic-closing type refers to a fire door that is normally left open.
When smoke or heat is detected, the door closes to prevent fire from spreading.
There is no size restriction for automatic-closing fire doors, but when placed on evacuation routes, part of the door must be made into a pass-through door.
What Are the Characteristics of Fire Doors?
What exactly are the conditions and rules for fire doors?
As the name "fire door" suggests, the key performance characteristic to focus on is the flame-blocking duration.
The flame-blocking duration, sometimes referred to as the retained flame-blocking time, refers to how long the door can continuously block flames.
Fire Doors as Specified Fire Protection Equipment (Formerly Class A Fire Doors)
Fire doors are installed in different types depending on the fire compartment.
For specified fire protection equipment, they are installed at openings in area compartments, some high-rise compartments, and mixed-use compartments.
Regarding some high-rise compartments, these are compartments within 200㎡ or within 500㎡ that meet certain conditions.
For specified fire protection equipment, the door must have the performance to continuously block flames for one hour.
These doors serve the role of preventing fire spread when a fire occurs indoors and are placed at openings in fire compartments.
Specified fire protection equipment fire doors must be either normally closed or automatically closed in response to sudden temperature changes from fire, detection of smoke, or temperature rise.
For locations that require particular attention to safety, such as emergency elevators, boarding lobbies, evacuation stairway entrances, and mixed-use compartments, it is advisable to also add flame-blocking performance.
For this specified fire protection equipment fire door, the flame-blocking performance on both sides of the door is 60 minutes, which is also related to the materials and thickness used to meet this requirement.
For iron doors, the iron plate thickness must be 1.5mm or more.
For steel-framed concrete or reinforced concrete, it must be 35mm or more.
Fire Doors as Fire Protection Equipment (Formerly Class B Fire Doors)
Next, let's also look at fire protection equipment (formerly Class B fire doors).
Fire protection equipment (formerly Class B fire doors) is equipment that suppresses the spread of flames when a fire occurs.
There are those that have received approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and those stipulated in public notices.
They are basically in a closed state, effectively blocking smoke and people when detected, and those with a flame-blocking duration of 20 minutes on one side of the door qualify.
This type of fire protection equipment fire door is often installed in some high-rise compartments and vertical shaft compartments.
Vertical shaft compartments apply to maisonette-type buildings with rooms underground or on the third floor or above where the main structural parts are quasi-fire-resistant construction or higher, as well as staircases and atriums.
Some high-rise compartments are high-rise compartments divided within 100㎡.
Learn About Fire Door Installation Standards!
Fire doors protect against fires, but there are installation standards for them.
What kinds of standards have been established?
Installation Standards for Exterior Wall Sections
When a fire occurs in the surrounding area, openings in exterior walls at risk of fire spread require flame-blocking performance that can withstand 20 minutes on both sides, or quasi-flame-blocking performance that can withstand 20 minutes on one side.
Areas at risk of fire spread include locations within 3m on the first floor or within 5m on the second floor from adjacent property boundaries or road centerlines.
Fire protection equipment at exterior wall openings of fire-resistant or quasi-fire-resistant buildings is required to have flame-blocking performance that can withstand 20 minutes on both sides.
A fire-resistant building is a structure that can withstand heat, meaning it can withstand fire until it subsides or can withstand fires occurring around the building.
A quasi-fire-resistant building does not qualify as a fire-resistant building as described above, but refers to a building that can suppress fire spread.
Installation Standards for Area Compartments
Fire door installation is also related to area.
This is because larger buildings tend to suffer greater damage when fires occur.
For example, if a fire breaks out in an area with a concentration of large commercial facilities, the potential for catastrophe is very high.
To minimize fire damage in such areas, it is important to divide them using equipment such as fire doors.
There are also "fire prevention districts," where urban planning has been established to enhance fire protection functions through building structural restrictions, and "quasi-fire prevention districts," which, like fire prevention districts, aim to prevent fire from spreading.
These must be installed in accordance with the different conditions of fire compartments.
For area compartments, the requirements vary depending on the structure and size of the building, and in principle, buildings with fire-resistant or quasi-fire-resistant construction with a total floor area of 1,500㎡ or more must be divided using fire doors for every 1,500㎡ of floor area.
For high-rise buildings with 11 or more floors, fire suppression and rescue activities become more difficult, so fire doors are installed with narrower floor area divisions.
Installation Standards for Evacuation Staircases and Special Evacuation Staircases
Evacuation staircases and special evacuation staircases serve as evacuation routes in the event of a fire.
Evacuation staircases include direct staircases leading to floors at basement level 2 or below, or ground floor level 5 or above.
Special evacuation staircases are direct staircases leading to floors at basement level 3 or below, or ground floor level 15 or above.
These staircases tend to experience longer congestion times during emergencies compared to ordinary staircases, and fire protection equipment must be used to prevent fire spread in order to ensure safety.
Therefore, fire doors with flame-blocking performance that are either normally-closed or automatically-closing linked to smoke detectors are required at evacuation staircase entrances.
This prevents smoke and flames from entering the staircase while enabling safe evacuation.
What Are "Fire Prevention Districts and Quasi-Fire Prevention Districts" Where Fire Door Installation Is Required?
It is often thought that fire doors only need to be installed in applicable buildings.
Additionally, one might think it is fine to use them only when particularly concerned about fire.
However, under the City Planning Act, buildings located in areas included in quasi-fire prevention districts or fire prevention districts must meet specified fire protection conditions.
We will explain what fire prevention districts and quasi-fire prevention districts are, along with detailed building restrictions and how to research them.
What Are Fire Prevention Districts and Quasi-Fire Prevention Districts?
What kind of areas are fire prevention districts and quasi-fire prevention districts?
Many people may be hearing these terms for the first time, but these areas are designated under the City Planning Act as "areas designated to prevent the danger of fire in urban areas."
Areas that prevent or eliminate fire risks exist nationwide, but they are often designated in areas with dense buildings near train stations and around major roads.
This is because buildings are densely packed, so the aim is to prevent fire from spreading, and major roads are designed to ensure emergency vehicles such as fire trucks can pass through without obstruction during fires.
In Tokyo, new fire regulation zones have also been established, and restrictions and zones differ by area.
If you are building in a residential area or near a major road, it is a good idea to check whether it is designated as a fire prevention district.
Building Restrictions by Area
While building restrictions exist in all these areas, there are levels of strictness.
Here, let's look at the building restrictions for each area.
・Building Restrictions in Fire Prevention Districts
The strictest building restrictions apply to fire prevention districts.
In fire prevention districts, buildings with three or more floors qualify as fire-resistant buildings regardless of whether the total floor area is 100㎡ or less or 100㎡ or more.
For one- to two-story buildings, those with a total floor area of 100㎡ or less must be either fire-resistant or quasi-fire-resistant buildings.
・Building Restrictions in New Fire Regulation Zones
The next strictest standards after fire prevention districts apply to new fire regulation zones.
In this case, buildings with four or more floors must be fire-resistant buildings regardless of whether they are 500㎡ or less or 1,500㎡ or more.
One- to three-story buildings with 500㎡ or less must be quasi-fire-resistant buildings.
・Building Restrictions in Quasi-Fire Prevention Districts
Under the building restrictions of quasi-fire prevention districts, buildings with four or more floors must be fire-resistant buildings regardless of whether they are 500㎡ or less or 1,500㎡ or more.
Three-story buildings with 500㎡ or less may be fire-resistant buildings, quasi-fire-resistant buildings, or those conforming to certain technical standards, but if between 500㎡ and 1,500㎡, they must be either fire-resistant or quasi-fire-resistant buildings.
For one- to two-story buildings with 500㎡ or less using wooden construction, certain fire protection measures must be taken for exterior walls, eaves, and openings.
If between 500㎡ and 1,500㎡, as with three-story buildings, the structure must be either a fire-resistant or quasi-fire-resistant building.
・Article 22 Zones
In Article 22 zones, exterior walls must use fire-resistant materials, and the roof must use non-combustible materials that are difficult to burn.
How to Research Fire Prevention Districts and Quasi-Fire Prevention Districts
Fire prevention districts and quasi-fire prevention districts can be researched at municipal offices, but it is also possible to make inquiries through real estate companies, architects, or construction companies.
You can also search for these areas on the internet and view urban planning maps to check whether an area is designated as a fire prevention district.
In the case of Tokyo, there may be relatively new ordinances or changes made the following year, so be sure to verify that you have the most up-to-date information.
Do Fire Doors Also Require Fire Prevention Inspections?
Fire doors require fire equipment inspections such as equipment inspections once every six months and comprehensive inspections once a year, as well as periodic fire protection equipment inspections.
Here, we explain the items checked during inspections and the costs involved in periodic inspections.
Fire Prevention Inspections Are Mandatory for Apartment Complexes
The role of fire doors is to contain flames and smoke within a certain compartment when a fire occurs in a building.
Therefore, when managing rental properties and apartment complexes, regular inspections must be conducted to ensure proper functioning in the event of an emergency.
According to Article 17-3-3 of the Fire Services Act, the parties related to fire protection objects are obligated to conduct inspections, and the parties concerned are the owners, managers, and occupants of fire protection objects or fire-fighting objects.
In other words, owners and managers of rental properties are obligated to conduct fire equipment inspections and periodic fire protection equipment inspections.
Specifically, apartment complexes with a floor area of 150㎡ or more must conduct inspections once every six months, once a year, and once every three years, and are required to report to the fire chief of the jurisdiction municipality, with penalties for non-compliance.
Fire prevention inspections can only be conducted by fire equipment engineers or fire equipment inspection specialists.
However, for apartments and condominiums with a floor area of less than 1,000㎡, it is also acceptable for unqualified owners or managers to conduct inspections.
In practice, however, owners rarely conduct inspections themselves, and in most cases, inspections are conducted by qualified personnel.
What Is Checked During Inspections?
In fire equipment inspections and periodic fire protection equipment inspections, various equipment is inspected in addition to fire doors, including fire extinguishers, automatic fire notification systems, evacuation equipment, emergency lights, emergency warning systems, and water supply connections.
Among these, fire doors are checked for opening and closing operation and presence of damage.
First, it is necessary to check whether any objects are placed near the fire door and whether it can operate normally.
If objects are left immediately near the fire door, it may not be able to open and close properly, potentially increasing casualties.
Next, the installation condition of the door is checked.
By checking for damage to detailed parts such as the door, frame, and hardware, it is determined whether the door can be used without problems.
Finally, the hazard prevention function is confirmed.
It is very important that the fire door operates normally so that people nearby are not harmed when it closes.
After confirming that the weight, closing speed, and kinetic energy of the fire door are within certain standards, an inspection is also required to check whether the pressing force when caught between the fire doors meets the specified standards.
What to Do When You Receive a Periodic Inspection Notice?
When the inspection period arrives, the specific administrative authority sends a notice to the building owner or manager for the fire prevention inspection.
Upon receiving the inspection notice, you must promptly find an inspection company and conduct the inspection.
In some cases, the notice may not arrive even when the inspection period comes.
However, since fire prevention inspections remain mandatory, be sure to conduct an inspection when the inspection period arrives.
After receiving the notice, first look for an inspection company.
For fire prevention inspections, please commission an inspection company that employs fire equipment engineers or fire equipment inspection specialists, holds these qualifications, and has extensive experience, in order to prevent accidents and disasters.
Companies that handle 200 or more cases per year, have 20 or more employees, and do not charge additional fees after the inspection are recommended.
Once you have found an inspection company, prepare the necessary documents for the inspection.
For the initial inspection, prepare the confirmation certificate, inspection certificate, architectural floor plan, equipment drawings, area-indicated drawings, and fire equipment inspection report at least one week before the inspection date.
For the second inspection and beyond, you need to prepare the previous report, floor plan, and fire equipment inspection report.
The inspection report must be submitted to the fire chief of the municipality within one month after the fire inspection.
The inspection company will prepare the report within about one week after the inspection.
Once the report is sent by mail, the building owner or manager stamps it and returns it to the inspection company.
If three months have passed since the inspection date, a re-inspection is required, so when the report arrives, stamp it promptly and return it.
When the stamped report is returned, the inspection company submits the report to the specific administrative authority.
After that, within about two months, a copy of the report is returned from the specific administrative authority to the inspection company.
How Much Does a Periodic Inspection of Fire Protection Equipment Cost?
The cost of periodic inspections for fire protection equipment including fire doors varies depending on the total floor area of the building.
For example, the fire equipment inspection costs within Tokyo's 23 wards are as follows:
・Total floor area under 1,000㎡: 30,000 yen
・Total floor area under 2,000㎡: 35,000 yen
・Total floor area 2,001㎡ or more: Quote required
Some companies require a separate estimate if the total floor area exceeds 3,000㎡, so you will need to check with the inspection company.
The above costs include inspection fees for fire extinguishers, evacuation equipment, emergency lights, water supply connections, and other equipment.
Looking at inspection costs per piece of equipment, the guideline for a fire door is approximately 3,000 yen per location.
Additionally, fire prevention inspection costs vary depending on how many pieces of equipment there are.
The number of fire equipment items also differs depending on whether there are fewer than 10 units or 20 or more units.
During fire prevention inspections, there are cases where entry into apartments or condominium rooms is required, so residents must be notified in advance.
If residents cannot be present, the owner or management company must stand in as a substitute, so be sure to confirm this thoroughly.
Depending on How Fire Doors Are Used, There May Be Violations of the Fire Services Act
Fire doors are indispensable for safely managing buildings.
Fire doors are required to be installed under the Building Standards Act, but depending on how they are used, there is a possibility of violating the Fire Services Act.
For example, this includes cases where a door stopper is wedged into a fire door to keep it open while loading cargo, or where items are placed around the fire door.
Fire doors are meant to prevent fire spread by closing the door when a fire breaks out.
Therefore, leaving them open or placing objects that obstruct opening and closing constitutes a violation.
In fact, in 2001, a fire broke out in a mixed-use building in Shinjuku, Tokyo, resulting in the loss of 44 lives.
This mixed-use building was a narrow site of 516㎡, consisting of a four-story above-ground and two-story below-ground structure.
The fire started near the elevator on the third floor, spread upward to higher floors, and caused extensive damage with many lives lost due to carbon monoxide accumulation.
At the time, unused supplies and garbage were placed around the fire doors, and they were left open, indicating that the fire doors were not operating normally.
Had the fire doors been operating normally, it might have been possible to contain the damage.
There are many cases where violations of the Fire Services Act lead to catastrophic damage.
It is necessary to maintain a state where immediate action can be taken in case of emergency, such as not leaving fire doors open and not placing objects around them.
Also, according to the "Standard Condominium Management Regulations" created by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, owners and managers of apartments and condominiums can request access to exclusively-owned areas when necessary, and residents must not refuse such requests.
While management regulations differ by rental property, based on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Standard Condominium Management Regulations, it is possible to include a provision stating that access for inspection may occur even when residents are absent.
If a resident refuses access and a fire subsequently occurs causing damage, the resident may be held liable for compensation.
While obtaining understanding from residents is fundamentally important, incorporating this into management regulations makes it easier to establish as a rule.
Beyond Fire Protection Equipment! Check Other Disaster Prevention Equipment as Well
Disaster prevention equipment is not limited to fire protection equipment such as fire doors.
Disaster prevention equipment includes types such as fire suppression equipment, alarm systems, evacuation equipment, and smoke control equipment.
All of these play important roles in protecting people from disasters.
Here, we introduce the types and roles of disaster prevention equipment.
Fire Suppression Equipment
Fire suppression equipment is equipment designed to prevent fire spread in buildings when a fire breaks out.
It can also suppress flames until firefighters arrive.
Fire suppression equipment includes indoor fire hydrant systems, outdoor fire hydrant systems, sprinkler systems, water mist fire suppression systems, inert gas fire suppression systems, dry chemical fire suppression systems, motorized fire pump systems, and halogenated agent fire suppression systems.
Technical standards for each are established by fire agency public notices, so verification is required during installation.
Among these, fire hydrant systems can be installed both indoors and outdoors and can handle situations beyond the capacity of portable fire extinguishers.
They have high water discharge volume and effective range, with superior firefighting capacity.
Additionally, sprinkler systems and water mist fire suppression systems are equipment that automatically extinguishes fires by discharging water from heads.
Various methods are used to prevent fire spread in buildings, including those using powder agents and foam, those using inert gas, and those using halogenated agents.
In apartments and condominiums, automatic fire alarm systems, emergency warning systems, indoor fire hydrants, and sprinkler systems are often installed.
Alarm Systems
Alarm systems are equipment designed to detect fires or gas leaks and notify the people inside a building.
Alarm systems include automatic fire alarm systems, manual fire alarm systems, gas leak fire alarm systems, electrical leakage fire alarm systems, emergency alarms, and fire alarm systems that notify fire departments.
All are reporting systems mandated by the Fire Services Act, and are indispensable for both reporting and for detecting and sounding alarms.
Among these, fire alarm systems come in automatic and manual types, which sound emergency bells to notify of fires and display fire zone lamps to indicate where the fire is occurring.
For electrical leakage and gas leaks, detection and notification must occur in advance of an incident.
Fire alarm systems come in a differential type that activates when the indoor temperature rises sharply, and a fixed-temperature type that activates when the indoor temperature reaches a certain level, with the characteristic of differing installation locations.
The differential type is compatible with various locations, while the fixed-temperature type is installed in places prone to temperature fluctuations, such as kitchens and boiler rooms.
Evacuation Equipment
Evacuation equipment refers to mechanical devices and equipment used for evacuation when some type of disaster such as fire or earthquake occurs.
Evacuation equipment is divided into evacuation devices and emergency lights/signs.
Evacuation devices are used when there are no evacuation staircases available, and are characterized by being used as emergency and supplementary measures.
Examples include evacuation ropes, evacuation ladders, slide escapes, slide poles, evacuation gangways, and descent control devices and rescue bags.
In apartments and condominiums, evacuation ladders and slide escapes are often installed, so some residents may actually have these installed.
Emergency lights and signs are used to indicate the location of emergency exits and the direction of evacuation.
There are emergency lights with lighting devices and signs without lighting devices, and it is a principle that they must be easily identifiable by anyone.
It is stipulated by law that emergency lights and signs must consist of symbols indicating evacuation exits, arrows pointing in the direction of evacuation, and the text "Emergency Exit," and are characterized by their green color.
Emergency lights are equipped with emergency power sources to handle power outages caused by disasters, enabling immediate illumination during emergencies.
Smoke Control Equipment
Smoke control equipment is equipment designed to discharge smoke in order to prevent smoke from spreading due to fire.
It is said that approximately 80% of fire fatalities are caused by smoke inhalation, making the installation of smoke control equipment critically important.
Examples include fire doors, fire shutters, hanging walls, and smoke vents, and smoke control equipment includes natural smoke exhaust systems and mechanical smoke exhaust systems.
Natural smoke exhaust systems are windows installed near the ceiling of a building, which are opened during a fire to exhaust smoke.
Mechanical smoke exhaust systems are ventilation fan-like devices with intake ports on the ceiling surface that mechanically draw in smoke and discharge it outside.
Smoke vents must be installed within 80cm of the ceiling or at the ceiling level in each compartment after the floor area is divided by smoke barriers for every 500㎡, and must be within a horizontal distance of 30cm from each smoke control compartment.
In addition, there are differences in installation standards between natural smoke exhaust systems and mechanical smoke exhaust systems, so careful verification is necessary.
In apartment complexes such as apartments and condominiums, fire door installation may be required, and installation standards differ depending on the exterior wall section, area compartments, evacuation staircases, and other factors.
When installing fire doors, the Fire Services Act mandates regular inspections, and using them incorrectly may result in violations of the Fire Services Act.
For fire doors, be sure to verify the installation standards and usage before installation.
It is also important to understand disaster prevention equipment beyond fire protection equipment such as fire doors, and to make efforts to ensure residents can feel at ease.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Doors in Condominiums
Q1. How often should fire doors be inspected?
Fire doors are required to undergo annual periodic reporting. Reporting to the specific administrative authority is required, and inspections by qualified personnel are mandated.
Q2. What should you do if a fire door won't close?
Contact your property management company or a specialist immediately and request repair and adjustment. Malfunctions in fire doors may constitute violations of the Fire Services Act.
Q3. Is it okay to place objects in front of a fire door?
Placing objects in front of or around fire doors is strictly prohibited. It prevents the door from closing properly in the event of a fire, increasing the risk of fire spread.
