10 Common Questions About Fire Doors Answered

Fire doors are one of the most important elements of a building’s fire protection strategy. They’re more than just ordinary doors; they play a vital role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke, giving occupants more time to escape to safety.

Whether you own or manage a commercial premises, a residential block, or a public building, you may have some questions about these vital components of fire safety. Well we’ve put together 10 of the most common questions about fire doors to provide you with all the information you need to keep your building safe.

What is a fire door?

A fire door is a specially designed door that is capable of withstanding fire and smoke for a specified time. Unlike standard internal doors, fire doors are made from fire-resistant materials and are fitted with seals, closers, and hardware that work together to slow the spread of fire.

They’re not just about the door leaf itself – they should be part of a complete assembly, including the frame, intumescent seals, glazing (if needed), and compliant ironmongery. All of these components must be tested together and certified to meet specific fire ratings.

What is the purpose of a fire door?

As we’ve briefly mentioned, the purpose of a fire door is to contain fire and smoke within a specific area of a building, slowing down its spread and protecting lives and property. They’re also designed to:

• Preserve escape routes for occupants and fire services
• Reduce structural damage and limit disruption
• Support the overall fire safety strategy and compartmentation of a building
• Meet legal obligations as stated in UK fire safety legislation

Where are fire doors needed?

The location of where fire doors are needed will be dependent on a site-specific fire risk assessment as this will take into account various factors such as the building’s size, layout, occupancy, and potential fire risks.

In residential buildings, landlords and building owners have a legal duty to ensure fire doors are present where required. Again, a HMO fire risk assessment can help determine where fire doors are specifically needed in your building.

Fire doors are typically needed anywhere fire compartmentation is required to protect escape routes or separate high-risk areas. Some common locations include:

• Corridors and stairwells in commercial buildings
• Escape routes in offices, schools, hospitals, and hotels
• Plant rooms, riser cupboards, and electrical intake areas
• Kitchens and storage rooms
• Entrances to flats, especially in purpose-built blocks
• Shared communal areas in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

What is a fire door made of?

A fire door encompasses a range of key components, all of which are made from fire-resistant materials to limit the spread of fire and smoke. These typically include:

• The core construction – which is usually solid or composite timber, particleboard, mineral core, or steel
• The surface finish – typically veneer or laminate which is fire tested
• The seals – this includes both intumescent seals (which expand with heat) and smoke seals (which prevent cold smoke ingress)
• The glazing – if needed, this will consist of fire-rated safety glass with intumescent glazing beads
• The hardware – this includes components such as hinges, locks, latches, and closers which are all fire-rated
• The frame – which should also be fire-rated and compatible with the door leaf

All of these parts must be tested and certified as a complete unit to achieve the stated fire rating of the door (e.g. FD30 or FD60).

How often should fire doors be inspected?

Fire doors should be inspected regularly to ensure they are in full working order. There are several key pieces of legislation that recommend how often fire doors should be inspected, but the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 recommend:

• Monthly checks – for all self-closing doors in communal areas of residential buildings over 11 metres
• Six-monthly inspections – for all fire doors in commercial or high-traffic areas
• Annual inspections – for all areas that are low-risk or have low-traffic areas

At Pyrotec Fire Protection, we’d recommend inspecting your fire doors as per the above fire safety regulations to give you peace of mind that your building and people are continually protected.

It’s also important to note, that all fire door inspections and repairs should only be carried out by a certified professional that has the correct training, knowledge, and experience to inspect and repair fire doors in accordance with UK regulations and standards, like our specialists here at Pyrotec.

Can you lock a fire door?

You can lock a fire door but you must ensure it doesn’t obstruct a safe evacuation in the event of an emergency and the lock is suitable for fire doors.

In escape routes or communal settings, fire doors should be fitted with panic hardware (e.g. push bars or pads) that allow for a fast and keyless exit, electrically controlled locks (e.g. maglocks or strikes) that release upon fire alarm activation, or thumb turns on the inside of flat entrance doors to avoid dependency on keys.

Remember, all locks should be compatible with the door’s certification and not interfere with the self-closing or sealing function. If you’re unsure, you should consult a professional fire safety company, like Pyrotec, before installing or modifying locking mechanisms on fire-rated doors.

Do fire doors need to be self-closing?

Yes, all fire doors must be self-closing so that they automatically return to the fully closed position after use. An open fire door cannot perform its intended function in a fire situation.

Most fire doors are fitted with a door closer which may consist of overhead closers (mainly used in commercial settings), concealed closers (for when aesthetics are a priority), and electromagnetic hold-open closers, where you hold the door open during normal use and release when the fire alarm sounds (commonly used in hospitals and care homes for example).

How long can a fire door withstand fire and smoke?

The resistance time of a fire door will depend on its specific fire rating. The most common fire door ratings you’ll find include:

• FD30 – withstands fire for up to 30 minutes
• FD60 – withstands fire for up to 60 minutes
• FD90/FD120 – these are often specialist doors offering up to 90 or 120 minutes protection

The appropriate rating you’d need for a fire door in your environment will depend on your building’s fire strategy and the time it would take for a safe evacuation.

These ratings are based on controlled testing in accordance with BS 476-22 or BS EN 1634-1, but it’s important to note that performance may vary depending on the installation, maintenance, and how the fire door is used.

Why are fire doors important?

Fire doors are a fundamental component of any passive fire protection strategy as they help to compartmentalise fire and provide safe escape routes for building occupants. They’re also important for several other reasons including:

• They protect lives by maintaining safe escape routes
• They help control the spread of fire and toxic smoke
• They buy time for the fire service to respond
• They reduce property damage and business disruption
• They help buildings meet legal fire safety obligations

In order for fire doors to work as intended, proper installation, inspection, and maintenance is crucial. Neglecting this can have devastating consequences not only for your property, but also for your people.

Who should install and maintain fire doors?

Only competent, trained professionals should install, inspect, and maintain fire doors. Incorrect installation – even of certified components – can invalidate a door’s fire rating and put your building and occupants at risk.

There are some key things to look out for when choosing the right individual to install and maintain your fire doors including:

• Third-party certifications (e.g. BAFE, BSI, FIA)
• Proven experience working with commercial and residential fire doors
• The ability to issue certification and documentation for compliance purposes

At Pyrotec, our certified and fully qualified engineers carry out fire door inspections, remedial works, and installation using fully traceable components and in accordance with UK fire safety legislation.

Speak to us about your fire door requirements

At Pyrotec Fire Protection, we specialise in providing a full range of fire door services including, installation, inspection, maintenance and repairs, and replacement. Whether you own or manage a residential block, commercial building, or public premises, we can help you stay compliant with current fire safety legislation and ensure your fire doors perform when they’re needed the most.

We’re based in Brighton, Eastbourne, and Crawley, but thanks to the backing of the LS Fire Group, we can offer our services nationwide with the help of our partner brands, meaning no matter where you’re located, we can reach you.

If you have any further questions about fire doors, or to learn more about how we can support your building’s fire safety strategy, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.