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.
A complete door assembly has to be tested in a furnace and be able to hold back the fire for a minimum period in order to be rated and certificated.
Fire doors are rated over a range from 30 minutes to 2 hours and there are four different ratings.
An assembly which provides at least 30 minutes fire protection is designated a rating named FD30. An FD30 door, which performs in a test, for up to 59 minutes will still be designated FD30. Similarly, a door which provides at least 60 minutes fire protection and up to 89 minutes is designated FD60
All fire doors require intumescent seals to be fitted between the door leaf and the frame.
Other fire door assemblies/doorsets 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.