Fire Door Regulations: What Tradesmen Need to Know

Fire doors play a crucial role in protecting homes and saving lives by helping to contain fires and provide safe escape routes. But for tradesmen working in domestic settings, understanding when and where fire doors are required - and how to ensure they’re compliant with UK regulations - is essential. In this guide, we’ll explore the key domestic fire door regulations in the UK, where these doors are required and how to ensure every installation meets the law.

Oak Internal Fully Finished Victorian Made-to-Measure FD30 Fire Door

Domestic Fire Door Regulations in the UK

When it comes to fire safety in domestic properties, compliance with building regulations is critical. The main legislation that covers fire door regulations for homes is Building Regulations Part B (also known as Approved Document B). This document sets out the standards for fire safety in residential buildings across England and it’s an essential reference for tradesmen.

Key Requirements Under Building Regulations Part B:

• Fire doors must be part of a fully certified fire door set, including the door leaf, frame, hinges and any required ironmongery.
• All components must be installed by a competent person to ensure the fire-resistance performance is not compromised.
• Installers and suppliers must provide clear evidence of compliance, including certifications and data sheets.

Where Are Fire Doors Required in Domestic Properties?

Understanding where fire doors are required in UK homes is a crucial part of your role. 

Here are the key locations and scenarios:

• Between an internal garage and the main house: This is a key requirement under internal garage fire door regulations to prevent the spread of fire from the garage.
• In three-storey homes (including loft conversions): Fire doors are required to create a protected escape route from the top floor down to the exit.
• Flats and HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation): If you’re working in flats or shared houses, fire doors are a legal requirement in certain areas, such as entrances to individual flats and shared escape routes.
• New builds, major refurbishments and conversions: Whenever there’s a significant change to the structure of a home, it’s important to review fire door requirements to ensure they remain compliant.

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Internal Fire Door Regulations Explained

So, are fire doors a legal requirement in every domestic home? Not always - but when they are required, it’s critical to ensure they meet the following standards:

• Fire resistance ratings: Fire doors are rated by the amount of time they can withstand fire - typically either FD30 (30 minutes) or FD60 (60 minutes).
  
  • FD30 fire doors are the most common and are generally required in most domestic settings.
    
  • FD60 fire doors are used in higher-risk areas, such as larger buildings or where enhanced protection is needed.
    
    
• Correct placement and compartmentation: The goal of an internal fire door is to compartmentalise the home, preventing fire from spreading and allowing safe escape.
  

Compliance Tips and Final Checks

To ensure your fire door installations meet the building regulations for fire doors, follow these key steps:

• Inspection and certification: Always check that the fire door, frame and ironmongery are fully certified and compatible.
• Provide evidence of compliance: This includes certifications, product data sheets and installation instructions that demonstrate the fire door meets the required standards.
• Regular inspections and maintenance: After installation, periodic checks help ensure ongoing compliance. In larger domestic projects, work with fire safety assessors to verify that all installations meet the regulations.

 

Conclusion

Understanding fire door regulations for domestic properties in the UK is not just about ticking boxes - it’s about protecting lives and ensuring legal compliance. From internal fire door regulations to fire door installation UK regulations, every detail matters. If you’re working on a domestic project, take the time to check the regulations, select certified products and document everything for full peace of mind.

Looking to order fully certified fire doors for your next project? Explore our extensive range of fire doors.