I live in an apartment building with several laundry rooms on each floor. Each room previously had a sign saying "This door must be kept closed due to fire regulations" or something to that affect. The painters took the signs down when they painted the doors and didn't replace them. Now the doors are never closed. The driers run some days for 12-18 hours. Isn't this a fire safety issue? Can I demand the doors be closed when the dryer is runing?
This depends on whether or not the corridor is fire rated. If it is, then the doors in question are part of rated fire door assemblies that should include self-closing, self-latching devices. To prop the doors open with a wedge or to remove the self-closing devices would indeed be a code violation.
Check the end of the door to see if there is a test label designating the rating of the door. It should be located at eye level on the end of the door nearest the frame. It may be painted over.
