In a residential home inspection, “fire doors” are required to provide fire separation between the garage and living spaces. Biffs Professional Home Inspections checks to see if you have a proper fire separation door.

​Here is a standard breakdown of location and type of door required.

​1. Primary Required Location: Garage-to-House
​The most common and strictly enforced location for a fire-rated door is the opening between an attached garage and the main residence.

​The Restriction: Under no circumstances is a door allowed to lead directly from a garage into a bedroom or any room used for sleeping.

What type of door qualifies as a fire separation door?
​
A 20-minute fire-rated door
Solid wood door: Must be at least 1-3/8 inches thick.
​Solid or honeycomb-core steel door: Must be at least 1-3/8 inches thick.

Critical Requirements for Home Inspections
During an inspection, a door isn’t considered “compliant” just because it’s thick.

Inspectors look for:
​Self-Closing Device: The door must have an automatic closer or spring-loaded hinges. If you push the door open and let go, it must swing shut and latch on its own. ​No Gaps: The door must fit tightly in its frame.

​No Pet Doors: Installing a plastic pet door in a fire door voids its rating and is a major safety deficiency.

                                                  Biffs Professional Home Inspections
                                                          www.biffsproinspect.com
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