Doors – Are louvered bedroom doors allowed by code

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I'd like to build new rail and stile type interior bedroom doors with slats installed in the panel openings. This would be for improved air flow. This story on ABC ("Closing your bedroom door at night could save your life in a fire") makes me think there might be code requirements in place to not have anything but a solid bedroom door.

If a solid door is required, I could install the slats as planned, backed by safety glass to give the impression of a "breezy" door, and have some manual louvers in place that could be used to control air flow.

Best Answer

The only INTERIOR door mentioned in the code is the door between the garage and an interior room in the house. (The code requires it to be fire rated...basically it needs to be solid core, the frame needs to have rabbeted frames (no applied stops), side hinged and it must have a latch...not a catch.)

EXTERIOR doors need to have a certain energy rating.

IMHO I think you should sleep with the door open, so you can hear the smoke alarm in the hall.