Fire Door Guide

What a fire door actually is

A fire door is a complete door assembly that has been tested to hold back fire and smoke for a defined period so that people can escape and the fire service can work. The rating belongs to the whole assembly, which means the leaf, the frame, the seals, the hinges, the latch and the closer all have to work together. A certified leaf hung on the wrong frame with the wrong hinges is no longer a fire door.

Doors2Floors lists 246 fire doors, and every product page carries the specification supplied by the manufacturer.

FD30 and FD60 explained

The number after FD is the tested resistance period in minutes.

• FD30 means 30 minutes of tested fire resistance. This is the rating specified in most UK homes, typically on doors between a house and an integral garage, on loft conversions and on the doors off a stairwell in a three storey home. We list 156 FD30 fire doors.
• FD60 means 60 minutes of tested fire resistance. This is usually specified in commercial buildings, flats and larger multi storey properties. We list 8 FD60 fire doors.

FD30 doors are normally 44mm thick and FD60 doors are normally 54mm thick, which is why a fire door feels much heavier than a standard 35mm internal door.

What makes up a compliant assembly

Every element below forms part of the tested assembly. Leaving one out, or substituting an untested equivalent, can invalidate the rating.

• The certified fire door leaf
• A compatible fire rated frame or lining
• Intumescent strips, plus cold smoke seals where smoke control is required
• Fire rated hinges, normally three per leaf
• A fire rated latch or lock
• A door closer where the specification calls for one

We stock 52 fire rated hinges, 11 intumescent strips and pads, 4 door closers and 55 door linings and frames to complete the assembly.

Choosing a fire door by construction

Solid fire doors

A solid leaf gives the simplest specification and the widest choice. We list 192 solid fire doors.

Glazed fire doors

Glazed fire doors use fire rated glass in a tested bead system, which lets light through a protected corridor or stairwell. We list 47 internal glazed fire doors within a wider range of 57 glazed fire doors. The glass and the beading are part of the certification and must never be swapped.

Choosing a fire door by finish

A fire door does not have to look industrial. The same tested cores are available in the finishes used across the rest of the house.

• 113 oak fire doors
• 33 white fire doors
• 25 black fire doors
• 22 grey fire doors
• 17 walnut fire doors

Matching the fire door to your standard doors is usually a case of picking the same style and finish from the fire rated range. Our 710 internal doors and 292 internal oak doors use many of the same designs.

Sizing, gaps and trimming

Fire doors follow the same width and height families as standard internal doors, but the gap around the leaf is part of the tested performance. Follow the manufacturer figure on the product page rather than a general rule, and never trim a fire door beyond the stated allowance, because that removes material the test relied on.

Our door size guide sets out the standard UK sizes, and our door measuring guide covers how to take the measurements.

Where fire doors are required

Requirements come from Building Regulations and, in England and Wales, from Approved Document B. They depend on the building, its use and its layout, so the specification for your project should come from your building control officer, architect or fire risk assessor. We supply certified products, we do not certify installations.

Installation and maintenance

A fire door only performs as tested when it is installed as tested. Use the ironmongery the certification allows, fit the seals in the grooves provided, and make sure the door closes fully into the rebate from any open position. Read our installation information before you start.

Once fitted, check the gaps, the seals and the closing action regularly. Our guides on fire door materials, FD30 versus FD60, what fire doors are and where they are needed and how to stop a fire door slamming go into more detail.

Before you order

• Confirm the rating your project requires with building control
• Order the leaf, frame, seals, hinges and latch together
• Check the leaf thickness against your ironmongery
• Keep the certification paperwork that arrives with the door

If you are unsure which rating applies, contact our team through the contact page with the details of the opening. Delivery timescales are shown on the delivery page.