Requirements for linen and waste chutes are found in the International Building Code (IBC) and the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101). IBC requirements are in Section 713 for shaft enclosures, which references Section 716, Opening Protectives, for requirements for chute access doors. The Life Safety Code requirements for vertical openings (shafts) are found in Section 9.5, which requires waste and linen chutes to be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 82, Standard on Incinerators and Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment. The IBC also references Chapter 6 of NFPA 82.
A chute may act as a “chimney,” allowing smoke, hot gases or fire to spread upwards. As they typically pass through multiple floors of a building, a chute is considered a shaft for code compliance. Therefore, every chute door must have a fire-protection rating to maintain the smoke and fire integrity of the shaft.
The IBC also requires chute doors to be self-closing or automatic-closing through connection to an approved smoke detection system. Chute doors must have a positive latching mechanism that keeps the door in the closed position in the event the latch-spring fails during a fire. NFPA 82 Section 6 has similar requirements for the chute door operation and latching mechanism along with size limitations for the chute door.
UL Certification for linen and waste chute fire doors
UL certifies intake and discharge doors for linen or waste chute applications under product category GSPR Chute-type Fire Doors. The fire doors in this category are certified to UL 10B, the Standard for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, as required by the IBC, NFPA 82 and NFPA 80 for the determination of the fire door fire protection rating. Products certified for this application will include the term “Chute-type Fire Door” and the hourly rating for the product on the applied label. If the product is capable of a temperature rise rating, this will also be visible on the product label.
Chute doors may be certified (Listed/Classified) for installation in concrete and masonry shaft walls or in non-masonry shaft walls, such as drywall. The specific construction type permitted for a certified chute door will be noted in the product certification information. To determine code compliance, it is important to specify and verify that the correct door is installed based on the construction of the shaft wall used for the linen or waste chute. Chute-type fire doors must always be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and those instructions should be readily available.
Chute-type fire doors are intended for installation in vertical shafts as they have not been investigated for use in horizontal assemblies.
You can verify the chute-type fire doors certified by UL Solutions by reviewing the GSPR guide information and individual product certifications using UL Product iQ®, which is free to use but does require a one-time registration.