How To Choose Internal Fire Doors That Meet Safety Regulations

Imagine the following situation: a fire erupts in a common hall. The fire door that was supposed to contain the fire fails within minutes instead of providing the 30 minutes of protection it was designed to deliver. 

That’s the risk of choosing a fire door based on appearance or price instead of proven fire performance. It is not uncommon, as perceived by many building owners in the UK. The great news is that there is no need to make a complex choice when selecting a compliant internal fire door.  

When you are aware of what to look for, then it is easier to make the right decision. The sections below describe the major checks which will assist in selecting an internal fire door that is not only compliant with safety regulations but also reliable when it is most required.

Check Fire Rating Certification

The first step in selecting compliant internal fire doors is to check the certification label attached to the door edge. Don’t simply believe a supplier. 

All legitimate fire doors have a colored plug or label that ensures that it was tested to BS 476 Part 22 or a more recent standard, BS EN 1634-1. The label also includes a rating, e.g., FD30 or FD60, indicating the length of time the door can withstand fire and smoke. In its absence, there is no evidence that the door does what it claims to do. 

Before signing off on a purchase, check for: 

• An outward certification mark or colored plug on the door edge. 
• A stated fire rating (FD30, FD60, or higher). 
• Third-party certification, such as Certifier or BM TRADA Q Mark. 

The latter is more important than it sounds, as third-party schemes verify the entire assembly as a unit, and not just the leaf. This is the one step that is most often skipped and later causes the doors to fail inspection.

Match The Rating To The Door’s Location

All rooms do not require the same type of protection. The second process is to align the rating to the position of the door. FD30 is usually required as a standard in escape routes, stairwells, and doors between a garage and living space. Instead, plant rooms, boiler cupboards and commercial areas with greater risk require FD60 or higher. One phone call to a fire risk assessor or a building control officer can save the expense and inconvenience of ordering the incorrect rating twice. 

Making this mistake does not merely run the risk of a failed inspection. It can create a true vulnerability in the fire management of a building long after the paperwork is closed. Location isn’t the only factor shifting, either. The increasing prevalence of the use of lithium-ion batteries in homes has propelled campaigns such as Fire Door Safety Week to remind owners that doors must remain fit for purpose to combat newer ignition risks, rather than traditional ones.

Verify Door And Frame Compatibility

The certified door leaf is not very meaningful by itself. The frame, hinges, and glazing all must be tested and rated as a single system. 

A certified leaf can be easily defeated by a non-certified frame, and the same goes for the other way around, as can be easily done with hardware that was not part of the test evidence. Either error can render the whole assembly useless and without any apparent fault. This is not the only time this has happened. 

The recent survey into social housing fire door compliance revealed a remarkable proportion of fire doors inspected had a door set time period of less than the legal minimum of FD30, with components being changed over the years without anyone ever looking for compatibility. A better way is to purchase the entire set at once: 

• Door leaf and frame from a certified range 
• Hinges, closers and locks designed for that particular door.
• As-tested glazing system.

Confirm Seals, Hinges, And Hardware

Even a perfectly matched assembly has to rely on its smaller components to perform their duties when the time is needed. The intumescent seals swell out during heat and seal cracks around the door. Ensure that they are continuous and intact, and have not been painted over, as paint may prevent the seal expanding correctly. All hinges, closers and locks must be certified with the same rating as the door. Any letterplate or vision panel must be included in the tested specification and not added afterwards by a good-intentioned contractor. Before the installation, do a quick check: 

• Seal condition and coverage along all edges. 
• Markings on hinges, closers, and locks. 
• A working self-closing device on every door leading onto a common area.

The latter cannot be compromised. Any door that is held open by a prop will have zero protection regardless of how it was made. Such details are little in themselves, but when brought together determine whether a door really works when it really counts.

Plan For Ongoing Inspection And Maintenance

The purchase of the right door is half the battle. Maintaining its compliance is a continuous task not completed after the invoice is paid. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations require the responsible persons in multi-occupied buildings to conduct quarterly inspections of communal fire doors, and annual inspections of flat entrance doors. 

The National Fire Chiefs Council provides guidance on what precisely those checks should entail. 

Everything is kept on track by a simple routine: 

• Search empty spaces, cracks and missing seals around the frame. 
• Ensure that the door closes completely by itself. 
•  Record all checks done, with date. 

Conclusion

The internal fire door selection does not involve finding the highest priced door. It is all about delivering certified products to the appropriate sites and maintaining them afterwards. Make sure the entire assembly is tested as an assembly, and do not ignore the minor hardware that glues it all together. It is a protection that lasts years and not months, which is ensured by a mere inspection routine. 

Get these basics right, and you have a set of doors that not only comply with the UK regulations but also safeguard the people whose lives depend on them; and stand the test of time whenever an inspector or an insurer calls by.