Q: Does the inactive door on a set of double doors protecting a hazardous area require a door closer? Can the latching mechanism on the inactive door be an automatic flush bolt?
A: Yes, on both accounts. All door openings in a hazardous area must be self-closing. If the inactive leaf is left open, it would not self-close on its own; Therefore, it needs a closer. The latching mechanism on an inactive leaf may be (and recommended to be) an auto-flush bolt.
Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.
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