Fire Doors in Exeter

FD30 denotes a fire door that provides 30 minutes of integrity protection — it resists the passage of flames and hot gases for that period when tested to BS EN 1634-1. FD30S additionally provides smoke control: the S suffix indicates the door has been tested to restrict the passage of cold smoke, using a cold smoke seal (usually a brush or compression seal) in addition to the intumescent seal that swells under heat. In most modern commercial buildings, the fire strategy requires FD30S or FD60S doors to corridors forming part of an escape route, as smoke is frequently more dangerous than flame in the early stages of a fire.

Only hardware that forms part of the tested and certificated assembly can be used without invalidating the fire rating. This includes hinges, latches, locks, closers, and intumescent seals. If specific hardware is required — for example, a particular lever handle design or an access control strike — we check whether it has been assessed for compatibility with the door assembly's certification. In many cases, hardware manufacturers hold supplementary test evidence demonstrating compatibility with common fire door assemblies. We advise on this at the specification stage.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that all fire safety equipment — including fire doors — is maintained in an effective condition. The FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme) and the guidance in BS 8214:2016 recommend a minimum annual inspection of all fire doors by a competent person, with a quarterly visual check by the building's responsible person or a nominated deputy. High-traffic fire doors — those in corridors or stairwells used multiple times daily — benefit from six-monthly inspection. We offer a fire door inspection and maintenance service structured around these requirements.

Yes. Every fire door must be fitted with a certified overhead closer (rated to BS EN 1154) that closes and latches the door from any open position. A fire door held open by a wedge, hook, or fire extinguisher is an illegal and dangerous arrangement that could result in enforcement action by the fire authority. Where it is operationally desirable to hold a fire door open, we install an electromagnetic hold-open device linked to the building's fire detection and alarm system, which releases the door automatically on a fire signal so that it closes under the action of the overhead closer.