Rolling Fire Door Repair & Drop Testing in El Paso, TX
For rolling fire door repair and drop testing in El Paso, TX, call (385) 325-7138 about a fire door that's due for its annual test, failed a drop test (a test release that checks whether it closes by itself), won't close all the way, or won't reset. A rolling fire door is a coiling door — a curtain of metal slats that rolls up above the opening — built to close by itself in a fire.
Call to describe the problem—if the door is stuck open or the dock is down, say so first.
Independent service-request website. Calls may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company. That provider confirms availability, scope, pricing, and service terms.
Facts checked: September 23, 2026.
What is a rolling fire door drop test?
A drop test checks that a rolling fire door really closes by itself. A trained technician releases the door the way a fire would, confirms it closes all the way, resets it, and drops it a second time to confirm the reset worked. DASMA's guidance says this happens at least once a year and the results go on a written form.
DASMA — the trade association for makers of doors and operators (the motor units that open and close doors) — puts it this way in its technical data sheet: the door "shall be inspected and drop-tested not less than annually by a Trained Rolling Steel Fire Door Systems Technician" (DASMA TDS #271, revised June 2025).
| What happens in an annual test | Who does it | What you should end up with |
|---|---|---|
| The door and its parts are looked over | A trained rolling steel fire door technician | Notes on anything worn, damaged or missing |
| The door is released the way it would be in a fire and must close fully | Same | A pass or fail for full closure |
| The door is reset following the manufacturer's instructions | Same | — |
| The door is dropped a second time to confirm the reset worked | Same | A pass or fail for the reset |
| The results are written down | Same | A completed record on DASMA's drop test form, to keep for inspections |
This describes what a trained technician does. It isn't something to try yourself.
The national standard for fire doors is NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives. NFPA's current edition is 2025, and an amendment effective December 24, 2024, added a definition of a "Trained Rolling Steel Fire Door Systems Technician" (NFPA TIA 25-1). Which edition applies to your building depends on the fire code your local authority uses, so ask it.
Is it a fire-rated rolling door or an ordinary roll-up?
A fire-rated rolling door is a tested assembly: the curtain, guides, closing device and other parts are meant to work together. Share the rating from your building records or past inspection reports. You don't need to go find the label on the door before calling.
| What you have | Useful detail | Where it's covered |
|---|---|---|
| A rolling door listed as a fire door in your inspection records | Rating and model from records | This page |
| A rolling counter fire door or fire shutter | Where it is and what it protects | This page |
| A past inspection or drop test report | Date, door ID and any deficiency noted | This page |
| A closing device tied to the fire alarm | Any alarm or release documents you have | This page, plus the alarm contractor |
| A roll-up door with no fire records | Door number and what it's doing | Roll-up and rolling-steel door repair — but no record isn't proof it's not rated |
| A hinged, walk-through fire door | — | Not covered here |
For the national overview, see Uptime's national page on roll-up and rolling-steel door repair.
What if the fire door failed, won't close or won't reset?
Call and say the fire door failed its test, won't close or won't reset. Keep people clear of the opening, don't try to reset or adjust it yourself, and follow your facility's fire-safety plan. After a repair, DASMA calls for two consecutive successful drop tests — one to show the door closes fully and one to confirm it was reset.
| What you're seeing | What a qualified technician may inspect | Why it matters | What to report |
|---|---|---|---|
| It failed its annual drop test | Closing device, release, curtain, guides | It may not close in a fire | The report finding, if you have it |
| It stops before reaching the floor | Guides, curtain, bottom bar, closing parts | A gap defeats the door's purpose | Where it stops |
| It closes much faster or slower than it used to | The closing device and the parts that control closing speed | A door that slams or creeps may not close properly in a fire | What you saw |
| It won't reset after a test | Reset mechanism, release, operator | The door may not be ready for the next event | Door ID; what happened |
| It dropped on its own | Release device, fusible link (a heat-sensitive link that lets go in a fire), alarm connection | Something triggered it, or a part failed | When it happened |
| A forklift or cart hit it | Curtain, guides, hood (the cover over the rolled-up curtain), closing parts | Damage can stop it from closing | What hit it |
| The fire marshal wrote it up | Whatever the finding names | Ask the fire marshal what record it wants to see | The finding wording |
Example of what to say (example wording, not a script): "Our two rolling fire doors at our El Paso warehouse are due for their annual drop test."
Call about the fire door and what you know so far.
Are inspection, testing and repair separate jobs?
They can be. Ask the provider to spell out each task and the records it will give you. A price for an inspection or test doesn't automatically include fixing what the test finds, or a retest afterward.
| Task | What to ask for in the proposal |
|---|---|
| Inspection | Which doors, what's checked, and a written list of findings |
| Drop testing | Testing for each door, who does it, and the recorded results |
| Repair | The specific problem, the parts, and separate approval before work |
| Reset after the test | Who resets the door, and a record that it's back in service |
| Retest after a repair | Whether it's included, and what happens if a door still fails |
| Replacement | The rated door, any approvals needed, removal and disposal |
| Records | What documents you get, who receives them, and any open items |
DASMA says a rolling fire door that's repaired or changed must be drop-tested, and it must pass two drops in a row. Repairs use parts from the original manufacturer. One exception is a labeled retrofit fire-door operator whose listing permits use on that manufacturer’s door, installed to its instructions and accepted by the local fire authority (DASMA TDS #2502).
What records should you ask for?
- A record for each door, with its ID and location
- What was inspected and what was found
- Drop test results, including the second drop that confirms the reset
- What was repaired, with the parts used
- Anything still open, and what it will take to close it
- Who the record goes to
Nobody should promise that one "certification" satisfies every insurer, owner or inspector. Ask your fire authority what it wants to see.
Who reviews fire-door records in the El Paso area?
Inside El Paso city limits, the El Paso Fire Department's Fire Marshal's Office handles fire plan review and code compliance and works from the 2021 International Fire Code. Emergency services district fire marshals also review commercial fire plans in some unincorporated areas. Ask the office that covers your address how it wants fire-door records handled.
We checked these on September 23, 2026.
| Where the building is | Fire office | Contact | Code edition as published | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of El Paso | Fire Marshal's Office | (915) 212-5699 | 2021 International Fire Code | How do you want rolling fire door test records kept? |
| Addresses in ESD 2's district | ESD 2 Fire Marshal Division | 16001 Socorro Rd., Fabens | 2021 International Fire Code, adopted September 22, 2025 | Is our address in your district? |
| Addresses in ESD 1's district | ESD 1 Fire Prevention | 13661 Paseo Del Este Blvd., El Paso; (915) 852-3204 | Confirm with the office | Is our address in your district? |
| Socorro, Horizon City, San Elizario, Anthony (Texas), Clint, Vinton | Ask the city or town which fire office covers the address | See every El Paso-area permit office | Confirm with the office | Who reviews fire-door records here? |
| Sunland Park, New Mexico | Ask the city | Community Development, (575) 589-3631 | — | Who reviews fire-door records here? |
| Santa Teresa, New Mexico | Start with Doña Ana County Building Services and ask which fire authority covers the address | County Building Services, (575) 647-7350; see Santa Teresa, New Mexico | — | Who reviews fire-door records here? |
The State Fire Marshal's Office doesn't list a license for fire-door inspection or drop testing; it licenses fire alarm, fire sprinkler, fire extinguisher and fireworks work (TDI licensing). Ask your local fire office if it has its own rules, ask about the technician's rolling fire door training, and make sure you get the written record. The provider and that office confirm what applies.
If the fire door ties into the fire alarm
If the door's closing device is connected to the building's fire alarm, say so on the call. Fire alarm systems are a separately licensed trade in Texas, and the provider can tell you who else needs to be involved.
What this covers, and what it doesn't
Covered: rolling steel fire doors, counter fire doors and fire shutters; their closing devices, releases and operators; annual inspection and drop testing requests; repairs after a failed test or an impact; replacement questions for rated rolling doors.
Say so on the call, and the provider confirms: fire curtains and other rated coiling assemblies.
Not covered:
- Hinged, walk-through fire doors and hollow-metal frames
- Fire alarm, sprinkler and extinguisher work
- Fire dampers
- Whole-building fire code inspections or "compliance certificates"
- Parts-only orders
If it's a rated rolling door at a commercial building, call and describe it.
What happens after the call?
Call (385) 325-7138 and say whether you have a failed door, a written finding, or a test coming due. Your request may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company. That company confirms whether it can take the work, plus the price, the schedule and its own terms, before any work.
- Call and describe it. Say first if a fire door won't close.
- Your request may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company.
- That company confirms the job — which doors, the tasks, availability, price, scheduling and its own contract, work and warranty terms.
Uptime Dock & Door is an independent commercial service-request website for loading-dock and commercial door repair. It doesn't test or repair doors, issue certificates, set prices or send technicians.
If you reach voicemail, leave the facility address, the door or dock number if known, what's wrong, and a callback number.
See how service requests work and who Uptime is.
What's useful to have, but not required?
The address, how many fire doors and what you need are enough to start. If you already have these, they help:
- The door IDs and where they are
- The rating and model, from your records
- The last inspection or drop test report
- Any written finding from a fire inspector
- Whether a closing device ties into the fire alarm
- When the doors can be tested without disrupting work
- Who receives the records
You can call without any of it. Don't release it, run it, or get near it to gather details.
What affects the cost of a fire-door test or repair?
We can't quote your fire-door test or repair from a web page. The price depends on how many doors you have, their condition, parts, and access. Here's what to ask before you authorize work.
| Driver | Why it changes the price | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Number of doors | Testing several doors on one visit can change the math | Can you price all our fire doors on one visit? |
| Test only, or test plus repair | A failed door needs repair and a retest | Is the retest after a repair included? |
| Parts | DASMA says repairs use original-manufacturer parts; a retrofit operator can be an exception only if the local fire authority accepts it | Are the parts from the original manufacturer? |
| Alarm tie-in | Another licensed trade may need to be involved | Who coordinates with the alarm contractor? |
| Access | High doors and busy aisles need lifts and planning | Do we need to clear the area first? |
| Timing | Testing may need to happen outside working hours | Does timing change the price? |
| Records | The written record shows each door was tested and whether it passed | Is a completed record included for every door? |
| Written terms | The company that does the work sets its own payment, warranty and service terms | Will I get the scope and terms in writing? |
Call about the inspection, repair and records you need.
Repair or replace a rolling fire door?
A damaged curtain section, a failed closing device or a bad release may be repairable. DASMA says repairs use parts from the original manufacturer and are followed by two successful drop tests in a row. If original-manufacturer parts aren't available, or the damage is widespread, ask the provider and your fire authority what your options are. Don't assume an ordinary rolling-door part keeps a fire rating.
If a new rated door is on the table, see commercial door installation and replacement for the project questions, and keep the rated-door questions from this page in the proposal.
Where in the El Paso area can a facility call?
Facilities in El Paso and across El Paso County can call — Socorro, Horizon City, San Elizario, Canutillo, Fabens and the rest — plus Hudspeth County and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico and Sunland Park. The independent provider confirms availability for your facility address and equipment. See the El Paso service area, or go back to loading dock and dock door repair in El Paso.
Rolling fire door questions
How often does a rolling fire door need a drop test?
DASMA's guidance says at least once a year, by a Trained Rolling Steel Fire Door Systems Technician. Your local fire authority decides what applies to your building, so ask it too.
Does Texas license fire-door drop testing?
The State Fire Marshal's Office doesn't list a license for it; it licenses fire alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher and fireworks work. DASMA's guidance calls for a Trained Rolling Steel Fire Door Systems Technician. Ask your local fire office if it has its own rules, and get the written record. The provider and that office confirm what applies.
What happens if our fire door fails its test?
It needs repair and then a retest. DASMA calls for two consecutive successful drop tests after a repair. Ask the provider to price the repair and the retest, and keep the record.
Is a regular door tune-up the same as a drop test?
No. A general maintenance visit doesn't show that a fire door's drop test was done. Ask for the drop test by name, and for the written results.
Can an ordinary rolling-door part be used on a fire door?
Don't assume so. DASMA says repairs use parts from the original manufacturer; a retrofit operator can be an exception only if the local fire authority accepts it. Ask the provider which parts it will use.
Can I call about hinged, walk-through fire doors?
No. This line covers rolling fire doors and fire shutters. Hinged fire doors and their frames need a commercial door company that handles them.
Call about a fire door in El Paso
Tell us how many rated rolling doors you have and whether you need a test, a repair or both.
Call to describe the problem—if the door is stuck open or the dock is down, say so first.
Independent service-request website. Calls may be shared with an independent commercial dock-and-door repair company. That provider confirms availability, scope, pricing, and service terms.
Sources
All checked September 23, 2026.
- DASMA TDS #271, Rolling Steel Fire Doors: Periodic Inspection and Drop-Testing — revised June 2025
- DASMA TDS #2502, Rolling Steel Fire Door Repair and Parts Replacement — revised June 2024
- NFPA 80 TIA 25-1 — 2025 edition amendment
- El Paso Fire Department, Fire Marshal's Office
- El Paso County ESD 2 Fire Marshal Division and ESD 1 permitting
- Sunland Park Community Development
- Texas Department of Insurance, State Fire Marshal licensing
- More background: our research on fire door drop test requirements