Fire door ratings in the UK show how long a door can resist fire and smoke, whether that’s 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or more. Under legislation like the Fire Safety Order and Building Regulations, different levels of fire protection are required depending on your building type and usage. Choosing the right rating for your building is vital for compliance and safety.
At About Security, we deliver quality fire rated doors for UK businesses. In this article, we’ll break down common ratings, discuss who needs them, and give more details on how to stay compliant.
Browse our certified fire rated doors >
Common Fire Door Ratings
Fire door ratings follow a simple code. They’re made up of two things: the letters ‘FD’, meaning fire door, and a number, which is equivalent to the number of minutes of resistance against smoke and fire.
To obtain a fire rating, fire doors must go through stringent testing and verification, ensuring all fire ratings are backed by certified test evidence.
Choosing the right rating for you depends on your building size, layout, and risk assessment – always consult with an expert before making a decision.
FD30
This is the UK’s most common fire door rating, providing a standard 30 minutes of fire resistance. This is enough time to protect escape routes and slow the spread of fire/smoke in small-medium buildings.
You’ll typically see FD30-rated doors being used in:
- Residential properties
- Small commercial units
- Flats
- Internal corridors
- Loft conversions
FD60
FD60 is a higher standard of fire door rating for higher risk environments, providing a full hour of fire resistance. This gives emergency services more time to respond, and is essential in protecting critical escape routes. FD60-rated doors are often required in commercial premises, high-occupancy buildings, stairwells, and plant rooms, though you may also see them in:
- Offices
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Industrial sites
- Multi-storey buildings
FD90 & FD120
Offering 90 or 120 minutes of protection respectively, these high-grade fire doors provide ample protection to high-risk environments with complex evacuation needs. These aren’t typically seen in general construction projects, usually only being required for industrial facilities, warehouses, or specialised building zones. Other key uses include:
- Chemical storage areas
- Large commercial complexes
- High-risk plant rooms
Who Needs to Know About Fire Door Safety?
Fire door safety is a topic with a lot of specific regulations, and different responsibilities depending on how you relate to the management of a building. As such, it is vital to understand who needs to know about fire door safety to ensure compliance and keep responsibility in the right hands.
Businesses: All businesses are responsible for ensuring their fire doors meet required ratings and are properly maintained. Fire safety experts can help align chosen doors with fire rating requirements, while maintenance contractors can keep your doors in top shape.
Landlords: For communal areas and apartment escape routes, the landlord is legally accountable for fire safety. This means they are required to consult on, implement, and maintain fire doors to match their occupancy and building type.
Homeowners: Certain home improvements may require fire rated door installation, such as for loft conversions or internal garages – particularly if they’re going to be used as additional or rented accommodation.
What are Responsible Persons?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, a Responsible Person must be designated for any non-domestic premises or communal residential space in the UK. This could be the landlord or business owner themselves, or a designated individual or entity.
The Responsible Person must ensure fire risk assessments are carried out, and that fire doors meet safety standards. Likewise, they are accountable for the ongoing inspection, maintenance, and installation of fire-rated doors – and can work with external contractors like About Security to ensure these factors are met.
Certified Fire Safety Solutions
When choosing your fire rated doors, it is important to consider options with third-party certifications like CE, UKCA, or additional fire test reports. These certifications show that the product will do what it says, and ensure your building’s doorways offer adequate protection against fire and smoke.
The key benefits of a certified fire door system include:
- Proven performance
- Legal compliance
- Building insurance protection
Quality Steel Fire Doors
Steel fire doors are a highly durable and secure solution for commercial and industrial environments. They offer consistently high fire resistance ratings, typically between FD60–FD120, making them suitable for high-traffic areas, emergency exists, and security-focused premises.
Other factors like the frames, seals, and installation quality all play a role in your steel fire doors’ overall safety. At About Security, we aim to ensure every part of your fire rated door installation is handled with care and precision.
UK Fire Rated Doors from About Security
Fire door ratings are fundamental for compliance and safety, and are a mandatory part of overseeing a non-domestic building in the UK. Choosing correctly rated, certified doors will keep you compliant and ensure you’re spending the right amount.
At About Security, we’re experts in fire-rated doors, offering a range of quality products to match any need. To find out more, request a quote today.
Protect your building further with our fire shutters and smoke curtains >
