FD60 Fire Doors

An FD60 door is certified to resist fire for 60 minutes as part of a complete tested assembly. It is specified where 30 minutes is not enough: high-rise and multi-storey escape routes, plant and boiler rooms, commercial compartment lines and certain flat entrance doors under a fire engineer strategy.

Why FD60 is heavier work

The core is denser and thicker than an FD30 leaf, so the door weighs more and the frame, hinges and closer all have to be rated for that weight. Use fire rated hinges matched to the leaf, intumescent strips and smoke seals, and a suitably rated door closer.

For most domestic openings FD30 fire doors are the correct specification, and over-specifying costs money without adding compliance. Solid and vision panel formats are in solid fire doors and glazed fire doors, with every rating in fire doors.

When FD60 is the right rating

FD60 means the doorset was tested to hold back fire for around 60 minutes, against around 30 minutes for an FD30 fire door. In UK housing FD30 covers the majority of domestic openings, and FD60 is specified where the risk or the escape distance is greater: taller buildings, flats off a common corridor, plant and boiler rooms, integral garages in some designs, and commercial premises. If you are unsure which applies, the requirement comes from the building's fire strategy or from Building Control rather than from the door itself. FD30 vs FD60 fire doors sets out the difference in detail.

What an FD60 leaf is like to fit

An FD60 leaf is thicker and heavier than both a standard door and an FD30 leaf, so the hinges, the frame and the fixings all have to be right. Use fire rated hinges rated for the leaf weight, intumescent strips and pads, and a door closer where the door must close itself. Trim allowance is minimal, so order the correct size rather than planning to cut.

Related options

Solid unglazed rated leaves are in internal solid fire doors, glazed rated leaves in internal glazed fire doors, and the full rated range in fire doors. Our fire door guide covers specification, and fire door materials explains what the cores are made from.

Can I fit an FD60 door in an FD30 frame?

Not as a like-for-like swap. The rating belongs to the whole doorset, so the frame, seals and hardware have to suit the leaf being fitted.

Is FD60 better for soundproofing?

Generally yes, because it is heavier, but it is specified for fire performance rather than acoustics. For a room where sound is the main concern, acoustic wall panels do more than upgrading the door.