What is positive-latching, and is it required for all fire doors?

Positive-latching refers to the mechanism that ensures a fire door remains closed and latched in the event of a fire. This means that when the door is closed, the latch bolt will engage with the strike plate to hold the door in place, preventing it from swinging open in the event of a fire.

Positive-latching is required for most fire doors, as it is an essential safety feature that helps prevent the spread of fire and smoke in a building. When a fire door is not properly latched, it can allow flames and smoke to quickly spread from one area to another, which can be very dangerous for anyone in the building.

In some cases, there may be exceptions to the requirement for positive-latching on fire doors, such as in certain types of buildings or in areas where there is not a high risk of fire. However, it is generally recommended that all fire doors be equipped with positive-latching mechanisms to provide the highest level of protection in the event of a fire.