Fire Door Regulation Essentials

What Are the Regulations Governing Fire Doors?

The Fire Safety Order (RRO) from 2005 is the primary regulation governing fire doors within the UK. In addition, regulation 38 of the Building Regulations 2010 also requires those working on a building to provide relevant information for buildings in accordance with the Fire Safety Order. As of 2022, the government is currently in the process of updating the Fire Safety Order with new regulations, including the Fire Safety Act 2021, adding additional duties for building owners and managers. Fire doors will need to have a UKCA mark on them, either on the product or packaging, showing that they meet UK regulations and are suitable for sale. Previously CE markings were used, but as a consequence of Brexit, these rules have changed.

What Makes up a Regulation Fire Door?

A fire door will need to be built by a certified manufacturer such as Sentry Doors, and designated to offer a certain length of fire resistance, typically 30 or 60 minutes. Every element of a fire door set will need to correspond to that fire rating. A fire door will need to close automatically, and can only be kept open through a retainer, which will automatically close the door in the event of a fire. Each side of the door should be fitted with an intumescent strip and cold smoke seal, which will prevent the passage of smoke around it. Fire doors will need to have official fire door signage on both sides, alongside fire exit signage if they form part of an escape route.

Fire Door Gap Regulations

When installing a fire door, the gap between the door and frames will need to be between 2mm and 4mm, which is thin enough for the door to be effective but also wide enough for the intumescent strips to activate. To ensure the fire door gap meets building regulations, companies like Sentry Doors will supply door sets pre-hung, with doors already attached to their frames.

Fire Door Hinges Regulation

Fire doors will need to have 3 hinges, which must be certified to the same level of fire resistance as the door itself, either 30 minutes or 60 minutes. These hinges will be marked with a fire identification stamp. For FD30 doors the hinges are usually made from either brass or steel, but FD60 doors will require steel hinges.

Fire Door Glazing Regulations

Glazed vision panels can be included within a fire door, either for aesthetic benefits, or to help light pass through a building. All glazing panels will need to offer the same level of fire resistance as the door they are installed within, marked by the ratings EW30 and EW60.

Fire Door Frame Regulations

The fire door frame is a vital aspect of its performance, and as such it will need to offer the same level of fire resistance as the door itself. Fire doors will always be sold with their frames.

Can Regulation Fire Doors Have Locks?

Fire doors used for escape routes in communal areas should not have locks, as it’s important that anyone within a building can use them. Flat front doors should of course have locks, but they should open without keys from the inside, to allow anyone within a flat to escape without a key in the event of a fire. All locks, latches, and handles will need to be at the same fire rating as the door.

Fire Exit Door Regulations

Fire doors and fire exit doors are different products that serve different purposes within a building. While fire doors are a part of the escape route, they also need to offer fire resistance. Fire exits, however, are the final part of the route leading to the exterior of a building. As such, they do not need to be fire rated, and must be openable without a key. Sometimes called fire escape doors, these are separate products that play an important role in aiding evacuation.

What Are the Fire Door Regulations in a Domestic Building?

Residential buildings of more than two stories or houses of multiple occupancies (HMOs) will require a fire door separating each habitable room from a stairwell. For instance, in a block of flats, the entrance door to each flat would need to be a fire door. In addition, a door connected to an integral garage would need to be a fire door, as would a door to a converted loft. If a domestic property is joined to a commercial one, the dividing door will need to be a fire door. In order to determine the ideal fire rating and location of fire doors within a domestic building, a fire risk assessment should be carried out by a trained specialist. All properties covered by the Fire Safety Order will need to appoint a “Responsible Person”, whose job it will be to ensure that the correct fire doors are installed, that they meet all building regulations, and that they are adequately maintained. Currently, the recommendation is to check each fire door every six months, though that is changing to quarterly checks for some under the new fire door regulations. Registered FDIS inspectors are available to ensure each door is thoroughly tested.

What Are the Fire Door Regulations in a Commercial Building?

The guidance for fire doors in commercial buildings, be they public buildings or offices, is split into two sections based on constructing horizontal and vertical escape routes. A vertical escape route will look to move people towards a stairwell and out of the building, while a horizontal escape route will look to move people to a safer area within their floor. Whichever route is recommended by a fire risk assessment will need to be fully covered by fire doors, with the rating of each door determined by the assessment. The fitting and maintenance of fire doors within a commercial building will be up to the “Responsible Person”. To ensure a fire door complies with regulations, it is recommended that inspections are carried out six monthly. Again, hiring a professional FDIS inspector can help to ensure the performance of each door.

Fire Door Installation Regulations

While the correct installation of fire doors is vital to their performance, there are actually no specific legal requirements governing who can install them, with the Fire Safety Order merely requiring a “Competent Person”. In order to ensure the safety of a building’s residents, you can hire an accredited installer, with several different courses offered in the UK.

Fully Compliant Bespoke Fire Door Sets From Sentry Doors

Sentry Doors produces fully certified fire doors for clients across the housing industry, with a focus on social housing. We build both Internal Flat Entrance door sets and Communal Entrance door sets, with bespoke dimensions and a range of design and colour options including fire-rated vision panels. As a company we prioritise third-party certification, demonstrating the fire performance of all door sets and the security of our Flat Entrance doors. Each door is supplied fully finished, pre-hung in its frame with fire-rated door hinges, handles, and letter plates. Whether looking for FD30 or FD60 doors, our team will work with you, producing products of the highest quality with a consistent 6-8 week lead time.

If you are looking for quality fire doors fully compliant with regulations, or just want to know more about our product range, speak to a member of our team now.