Understanding Fire Ratings: What You Need to Know When Choosing the Right Fire Doors

Date Posted: 30th September 2024

When it comes to fire safety, understanding the role of fire-rated doors is essential for ensuring the protection of both life and property. Fire doors are vital components in passive fire protection systems as they help to contain fire and smoke, protect escape routes, and slow the spread of flames. For any commercial property in the UK, the appropriate fire-rated doors are not only a legal requirement, but also a key measure in safeguarding occupants. At Pendle Doors, we are proud to be one of the leading fire door manufacturers in the UK, specialising in a wide range of fire-rated doors that adhere to the strictest British standards. When selecting the best fire door solution for you, it’s important you understand what the ratings actually mean.

What Are Fire Door Ratings?

Fire door ratings are assigned based on the number of minutes a door can withstand fire and smoke penetration before failure. The most common ratings in the UK include FD30, FD60, FD90, and FD120. The higher the rating, the longer the door will hold up under fire conditions, which provides additional time for safe evacuation and reduces the potential spread of fire within a building.

FD30 Fire Doors

FD30 fire doors are designed to resist fire for at least 30 minutes. These are the most commonly installed fire-rated doors in both residential and commercial buildings in the UK and provide a cost-effective solution for areas where a lower level of fire protection is sufficient, such as internal doors in offices or flats.

At Pendle Doors, we manufacture bespoke FD30 fire-rated doors that not only meet the required safety standards but are also tailored to complement the aesthetics of your building. Available with a range of facings, including real wood veneers and laminate finishes, our FD30 doors offer the perfect balance between safety and style.

FD60 Fire Doors

For areas requiring more robust fire protection, FD60 doors provide 60 minutes of fire resistance. These doors are typically installed in higher-risk areas, such as corridors, stairwells, or entrance doors in apartment blocks, where additional protection is vital to ensure that fire is contained and escape routes remain clear.

At Pendle Doors, our FD60 fire doors are manufactured using advanced core materials, including our Graduated Density Chipboard (GDC) and Solid Laminated Timber Core, ensuring greater performance in high-traffic environments. These fire doors are ideal for places that experience intense usage, whilst still offering an impressive fire rating.

FD90 & FD120 Fire Doors

For properties with even more strict fire protection requirements, FD90 and FD120 fire-rated doors are the highest-rated options, offering 90 and 120 minutes of fire resistance. These doors are often required in industrial settings, large commercial buildings, or specialised facilities where the risks posed by fire are especially high.

At Pendle Doors, our FD90 and FD120 fire-rated doors are manufactured with a mineral core, which provides enhanced fire resistance, durability, and strength. These doors are suitable for environments that demand the highest level of fire protection, which ensures the safety of occupants and the building’s structure for an extended period.

Why Fire Door Ratings Matter

The selection of the correct fire door rating is important in ensuring compliance with UK fire safety regulations. By not complying with regulations, you run the risk of severe penalties, not to mention increased risk to lives and property.

As leading fire door manufacturers, our fire-rated doors are tested to BS EN 1634-1:2014, the British Standard for fire resistance testing. We also adhere to the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturing Scheme, providing our clients with the reassurance that every fire-rated door we supply has undergone extensive quality and safety testing.

Bespoke Fire Doors from Pendle Doors: UK Fire Door Manufacturers

At Pendle Doors, we offer bespoke fire door solutions tailored to the unique needs of each project. Whether you need an FD30 fire door for a residential block or an FD120 door for a high-risk industrial facility, our team ensures that every door we manufacture meets the highest UK fire safety standards.

With a wide selection of finishes and veneers available, including laminates from market-leading suppliers like Formica and Polyrey, or traditional real wood veneers, we balance safety with aesthetic appeal. Our doors are crafted to provide fire resistance alongside acoustic performance, security, and durability.

Explore our full range of doors or get in touch with us to discover how we can deliver a solution that meets your requirements.

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