Fire-resistant doors play a key role in the safe compartmentalisation of buildings. But what exactly are the requirements of the Building Regulations for such doors? In this blog, we explain the legal obligations, including the standards, areas of application and points of attention for architects and contractors.
Building regulations: fire safety across the UK
Fire safety in buildings across the United Kingdom is governed by national building regulations. While the overall principles are similar, each country within the UK has its own legal framework and guidance documents.
- England and Wales: The Building Regulations 2010, particularly Approved Document B (Fire Safety), form the legal basis for building safety.
- Scotland: Fire safety is regulated under the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, supported by the Technical Handbooks (Domestic and Non-Domestic).
- Northern Ireland: The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 apply, with detailed guidance provided in Technical Booklet E – Fire Safety.
These regulations set out the minimum fire-safety requirements for:
- New buildings and refurbishment projects
- Residential, commercial, industrial, educational, and healthcare facilities
- Doors, walls, frames, and other compartment boundaries within a building
The main objective across all UK nations is the same: to limit the spread of fire and smoke and to ensure safe escape routes for building occupants.
Fire compartments and protected escape routes
In UK building design, fire safety is achieved by dividing a structure into fire-resisting compartments. Each compartment is designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke to adjacent areas for a specified period of time. The enclosing elements—such as walls, floors, and fire-resisting doors—must provide the required level of fire resistance as set out in Approved Document B (England & Wales), or the corresponding Technical Handbooks and Booklets in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In addition to main fire compartments, certain areas such as protected escape routes or stair enclosures require an enhanced level of fire and smoke protection to ensure safe evacuation.
Where compartments or protected routes meet, fire-resisting doors are mandatory. These doors are classified according to their tested performance, for example:
- EI 30 – 30 minutes integrity + insulation
- EI 60 – 60 minutes
- EI 120 – 120 minutes (for high-risk or industrial applications)
These classifications follow BS 476-22 or BS EN 1634-1, depending on the applicable national standard.
Applicable standards in the United Kingdom
Fire-resisting doors in the UK must comply with nationally recognised test standards to demonstrate their performance and classification. The main standards are:
- BS 476-22 – Traditional British standard for determining the fire resistance of doors and other building elements.
- BS EN 1634-1 – European test standard for fire resistance of doors, shutters, and openable windows (also accepted in the UK).
- BS EN 13501-2 – Classification system that defines performance levels as E (Integrity), EI (Integrity + Insulation), or EW (Integrity + Radiation control).
- BS EN 1634-3 – Test method for smoke control performance, leading to classifications such as Sa and S200.
In the UK, the classification EI is used without the European subdivision into EI₁ and EI₂. The specified rating (e.g. EI 60) applies equally to fire-resisting doors used for escape routes, compartment boundaries, and industrial applications.
Required fire-resistance ratings in the UK
The level of fire resistance required for a door depends on the function of the building, its location, and the position of the door within the fire strategy. Guidance is set out in Approved Document B (Fire Safety) for England and Wales, and in the corresponding Technical Handbooks and Booklets for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
| Application | Minimum recommended rating |
| Separation between fire-resisting compartments | EI 30 – EI 60 |
| Between a protected corridor and an escape route | EI 30 or EI 60 + Sa |
| Stair enclosure or protected route in residential buildings | EI 30 + smoke control (Sa or S200) |
| Car park beneath an occupied building | EI 60 – EI 90 |
| Industrial compartment or high-risk area (> 1000 m²) | EI 60 – EI 120 |
In practice, the exact fire-resistance requirement is usually specified in the fire strategy, building specification, or planning approval documents.
Self-closing, smoke-control and certified performance
In the United Kingdom, a fire-resisting door must meet specific functional requirements set out in Approved Document B (England & Wales) or the equivalent Scottish and Northern Irish standards. A compliant fire door must:
- Close automatically in the event of a fire or alarm activation (via an approved self-closing device).
- Be correctly installed by a competent and certified installer, following the manufacturer’s test evidence.
- Hold valid third-party certification confirming that the door, frame, and hardware have been successfully tested to BS 476-22 or BS EN 1634-1.
- Where applicable, provide smoke control performance, tested to BS EN 1634-3 and classified as Sa or S200.
- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, doors should carry a UKCA mark (previously CE) together with supporting documentation and test reports.
These measures ensure that the door performs as designed during a fire, limiting the spread of flames and smoke and allowing occupants to escape safely.
Smart combination: Compact door + fire curtain
UK Building Regulations, as outlined in Approved Document B (Fire Safety), set clear requirements for fire resistance and compartmentation. In practice, however, it can be challenging to find a solution for public or industrial buildings that combines:
- Sufficient fire resistance (for example, EI 60 or EI 120).
- Aesthetic integration with the building design (glass, pass doors, colour finishes).
- Ease of daily operation.
- Compatibility with limited installation space.
A practical solution is to combine a Compact door with a fire curtain:
➡️ The Compact door provides everyday functionality, insulation, and space efficiency.
➡️ On the fire-rated side of the wall, a certified fire curtain (up to EI 120) ensures full compliance with the UK fire-resistance requirements.
This combination meets the relevant standards under Approved Document B and BS EN 1634-1 / 13501-2, while offering greater design freedom — particularly in renovation projects, car parks, and industrial buildings where space or structural constraints make traditional fire doors impractical.
By choosing a tested, certified, and intelligently designed solution — such as the combination of a Compact door with a fire curtain — designers and contractors can achieve full compliance with UK fire-safety standards while maintaining both functionality and architectural flexibility.