Can You Put A Dog Door In A Fire Door

Pet doors installed in overhead garage doors.

Can you put a dog door in a fire door.

Inspectors will often refer to one hour fire rated doors. Since many fires start in the garage area having a pet door in the door to the house may allow a fire in the garage to spread more rapidly. However once a cat door or dog door is put into the fire barrier it ceases to be fire rated. While it may seem convenient to install a doggie door into your garage door to give your pet the independence to come and go as he or she needs while protecting entry from unwanted pests to the rest of your house you may want to reconsider.

Use the slide that came with the door kit to keep other animals out and to keep your pet inside when you re away asleep or can t monitor your pet closely. Make sure your pet is safely inside before closing. You can use the same generally flexible flap models of smaller dog doors or you can go with the cat doors that have the more rigid or polycarbonate flaps like the cat mate 235 or 221 large cat door. Once the pet door frame has been caulked you can rehang your door.

As the first line of defense from a fire from the garage a fire rated door is not only a building code requirement. Position the door so that the location of your pet door is clear of the sawhorses and the interior side is facing up. I believe a pet door in a garage door is one of the most dangerous and unwise things anyone can do says rob greenberg of chicago area garage door. Pet doors are sold in various sizes but the door must be large enough for the tallest and widest of your pets to fit through comfortably.

Lay the door flat on a set of sturdy sawhorses. All the pet doors are safe and secure and can be easily unlocked and locked. Most all homes with an attached garage have a fire rated wall and door. If your door is heavy have a friend positioned on the outside of the door to assist you.

Plexidor offers many installation options door mounted pet doors wall mounted pet doors window pet doors and even for sliding doors. Purchase a pet door kit with flaps and a security insert. And you can purchase a sash window pet door for your sash up down window the in glass approach is less obtrusive cleaner and neater. A fire resistant door can isolate minor.

However it s also more expensive and more trouble. They can be installed in metal or plastic screen windows or doors and are popular dog doors and cat doors for exterior walls. The door between the garage and the living area of the home is generally required to be a proper fire rated door. You will have limited clearance between the overhead door and the wall as it opens and closes.

For more options check out our full selection of doors just for cats.