What is a Fire Doorset?
Fire doorsets are critical to a building’s safety, helping protect people, property, and escape routes in the event of a fire. As a first line of defence in passive fire protection, a properly installed fire doorset can prevent flames and smoke from spreading, giving people more time to exit safely. These life-saving doors are highly important to include in a building especially in high-occupancy or multi-unit properties.
Fire doorsets are specially constructed to contain fire and smoke for a set period of time, typically 30 or 60 minutes. This protection is achieved through components like a fire-resistant core, a frame built to withstand high heat, and intumescent seals that expand to close gaps. These doorsets undergo rigorous testing to meet UK safety standards and regulations.
Fire doorsets are an essential part of any fire safety strategy. They help provide a safe escape route and reduce the spread of fire and smoke. In buildings such as apartments, hospitals, hotels, schools, and workplaces, they are a legal requirement under UK fire safety regulations. Fire doorsets also support emergency services by allowing safe and effective access during a fire.
FD fire ratings are classifications of performance on how long a door can resist a fire. The required ratings are commonly FD30 or FD60 to indicate how many minutes a doors structure on integrity will resist the passage of fire.
For example:
FD30: The door has been shown to resist the passage of fire for at least 30 minutes.
FD60: The door has been shown to resist the passage of fire for at least 60 minutes.
These doors must be tested and certified to meet performance standards. It is also important to use the same ironmongery that was used in the tests as this could change the performance of the door. Correct installation can also play a part in this, so it is just as important as the rating itself.
When planning a new build or refurbishment, it’s essential to understand UK fire door regulations and where fire doorsets are required. Improper installation or non-compliance with legal requirements can significantly increase the risk to occupants and property. Some regulations may vary depending on building type, so it key to understand what regulations your building has. If you are not following the correct regulations, this will mean your building isn’t compliant and could lead to a deadly fire. The overall goal of the UK regulations is to ensure everyone involved is safe and that people have access to an exit in the event of a fire. The main people who roles are to ensure a building is complaint could be landlords, building owners, developers or facilities managers.
Fire doorsets are commonly required in:
- Residential settings: between stairwells and hallways, or in flat entrances
- Commercial buildings: protecting plant rooms, riser cupboards, and escape routes
Always consult the latest regulations and your fire strategy for accurate placement.
Overall, fire doors play a crucial part in the building’s safety ensuring protection and providing a set escape route. When looking at a design and you spot fire doors you can see they have complied with the UK regulations while balancing safety and design. We understand that choosing the right fire door can be hard, here at Modulo we have a dedicated team who will help specify the best door for your development or help with any questions you may have relating to fire ratings.