Although there is no explicit performance statement in the Code that means of egress should be free of smoke, it is the intent that during the period when occupants are using a means of egress to evacuate from a floor area, the smoke contamination should not reach levels that would inhibit movement to the exit. This is particularly critical for persons with disabilities, who may not move at the same rate as other persons and who could be more susceptible to the effects of smoke contamination.
NFPA 80, “Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives”, requires that a fire door protecting a means of egress be designed to minimize the possibility of smoke passing through the opening.
Although self-closing devices are not required for all doors in a fire separation (see Article 3.1.8.11.), it is assumed that in a fire situation every door in a fire separation is closed. Article 3.3.3.5. prohibits grilles and similar openings for certain fire separations in hospitals and long-term care homes.
Although fire dampers that release on the fusion of a fusible link will help to control the spread of fire, a substantial quantity of smoke could have passed through the opening before that event. They are frequently located below the upper levels of a room and so the release of the fusible link of the fire damper that protects an opening will be delayed until the temperature at the level of the opening becomes high enough to fuse the link.
Similar concern has to be considered for other closure devices that are permitted to remain open on fusible links, and their location should be restricted in accordance with NFPA 80, “Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives”, and this Code, except where their installation in another location will not allow the products of combustion to spread into means of egress.