Performance requirements

A well installed timber fire door will delay the spread of fire and smoke and allow safe escape from the building in the event of a fire. It will also prevent further damage to other parts of the building until the fire and rescue services arrive.

Every fire door must act as a barrier to the passage of smoke and / or fire for a required duration, depending upon its location in a building and the fire hazards or escape requirements associated within the building.

All fire doors, (designated FD fire doors) require intumescent seals to be fitted between the door leaf and the frame.

Other fire doors may have to also resist the passage of cold smoke as well as spread of fire – These are designated as FD(S) fire doorsets and should also be fitted with additional smoke seals or combined fire and smoke seals.

A door which provides at least 30 minutes fire protection is designated FD30 (see example CERTIFRE label).

A doorset which provides the same protection and protects against cold smoke is designated FD30S.

Similarly, a door which provides at least 60 minutes fire protection is designated FD60 – or FD60S if the doorset also provides protection against cold smoke.

Fire doors are rated over a range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.