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  1. #1
    Trey Humphreys's Avatar
    Trey Humphreys Guest

    Default Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Service / pedestrian door to interior of home must have a self closing hinge installed right?

    House was built in 2002. The hinge is now failing

    Hinge only closed door 1/3 of the way and I called it. Now I have a realtor all over me stating that this is no longer a requirement.

    Either way, the hinge is no longer functioning properly.

    Has something changed that I am not aware of?

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  2. #2
    Richard Rushing's Avatar
    Richard Rushing Guest

    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Trey,

    Yes... unfortunately, the realtor is correct (sigh-- hate to say that).

    The self-closing feature was a requiremet with the old CABO one and two family dwelling code.

    The IRC has now omitted this previous requirement.

    Rich


  3. #3
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard Rushing View Post
    Trey,

    Yes... unfortunately, the realtor is correct (sigh-- hate to say that).

    The self-closing feature was a requiremet with the old CABO one and two family dwelling code.

    The IRC has now omitted this previous requirement.

    Rich

    Does not matter.

    The code the house was constructed under applies to the house for the life of the house, except for new stuff, for which the new code in effect at the time applies (this is what Rich was saying) ... HOWEVER ...

    Being as this WAS required, it STILL IS required, and, if not working, the Building Official *could* (however unlikely and remote that is) do the following: (This is from the old Standard Building Code.)

    B103.5 UNSAFE BUILDINGS OR SYSTEMS. All buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems which are unsafe, unsanitary, or do not provide adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life, or which in relation to existing use, constitute a hazard to safety or health, are considered unsafe buildings or service systems. All such unsafe buildings, structures or service systems are hereby declared illegal and shall be abated by repair and rehabilitation or by demolition in accordance with the provisions of the Standard Unsafe Building Abatement Code.

    Ask the agent if they would like the Building Official to come out and determine if it is as safe today as was required when it was constructed, then add 'It is likely that those hinges only need some adjustment, see those holes there, and that pin?'



    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    I moved to TN in 1994 and have probably seen maybe 3 self closing doors here. Coming from CA I was used to seeing them and asked the Building Official about it.

    He said that they did not enforce that part of the code. I quit writing them up.
    JF


  5. #5
    Richard Stanley's Avatar
    Richard Stanley Guest

    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Define "common". Whose?


  6. #6
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by Fritz Kelly View Post
    Interresting dillema for all you code gurus, do you go by code or common sense?

    Not much of a dilemma actually. If there is a set of self-closing hinges present and they are not functioning and providing their originally intended service, then write that up as a problem.

    If there are no self-closing hinges present and none are required (by code or otherwise) then there is no problem and nothing to be written up.

    The key as a generalist inspector is to look and see what is there and determine if its working or not. If its there and does not work as intended, you write it up as inoperative and move on irrespective of what the current code might say about its necessity.


  7. #7
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    I'm sure there are a lot more compelling issues than loose screws on a door closer. I concur with Phillip's advice.

    Jerry McCarthy
    Building Code/ Construction Consultant

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard Rushing View Post
    Trey,

    The IRC has now omitted this previous requirement.

    Rich
    The 2006 IBC, 406.1.4 Separation, now calls for doors to be self closing and self latching.

    Jeff Euriech
    Peoria, Arizona


  9. #9
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Euriech View Post
    The 2006 IBC, 406.1.4 Separation, now calls for doors to be self closing and self latching.

    Jeff Euriech
    Peoria, Arizona
    The IRC does not.

    The IRC applies to one-and-two family dwelling units, the IBC does not.

    If you are addressing a dwelling unit condo with its own garage, the IBC would apply.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10
    Richard Rushing's Avatar
    Richard Rushing Guest

    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Yes... but you will be hard pressed to find many jurisdictions that goes by the International Building Code vs the International Residential Code.

    I do completely agree with Philip. If it's there already... it either is functional or not-- irrespective of when it was installed.

    Rich


  11. #11
    Randy Moore's Avatar
    Randy Moore Guest

    Exclamation Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    The IRC does not.

    The IRC applies to one-and-two family dwelling units, the IBC does not.

    If you are addressing a dwelling unit condo with its own garage, the IBC would apply.
    Yes, and that's a problem that should be fixed in the IRC immediately. Last week here in New Port Richey (FL) two teenagers died in their beds when a running vehicle in the garage poisoned them with carbon monoxide fumes. If anything needs to be a hard requirement this is it. I will write up this discrepancy as a serious safety hazard from now on.


  12. #12
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    When I find the door has no closer or the closer is not working I write it up as a recommended improvement to maintain fire separation and prevent fumes in the garage from entering the living area.

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  13. #13
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Breedlove View Post
    When I find the door has no closer ... to maintain fire separation ...
    Bruce,

    That choice of words could get you into big trouble.

    You are stating that *there is* "fire separation" between the house and the garage, which implies a "fire wall" or a "fire partition", neither of which is present, nor intended.

    I recommend you simply state 'recommended improvement to help prevent fumes in the garage from entering the living area.'.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Good advice as usual, Jerry. Much appreciated.

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  15. #15
    H.L. ( Buddy ) Ligon 111's Avatar
    H.L. ( Buddy ) Ligon 111 Guest

    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    I started noticing the New home builders had quit installing these on the home to garage entry door, I ask a "builder" Why ?-He said they received to many complaints from home owners-that it closed on them when coming in with grocerys, etc. I decided to clarify the code in my reports so the builder would not dispute it and found it had been deleted from the IRC...


  16. #16
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Whatever the current code, most SOP covers this as something to be checked and reported on. Whether you make a big deal about it is your choice.


  17. #17
    Join Date
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    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
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    Default Re: Self closing hinge on garage service door

    Quote Originally Posted by H.L. ( Buddy ) Ligon 111 View Post
    I started noticing the New home builders had quit installing these on the home to garage entry door, I ask a "builder" Why ?-He said they received to many complaints from home owners-that it closed on them when coming in with grocerys, etc. I decided to clarify the code in my reports so the builder would not dispute it and found it had been deleted from the IRC...
    It was taken out in 2004 I think. Note...... Some AHJ's still require them, but they are few and far between.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

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