Fire doors are a critical part of a building’s passive fire protection, holding back fire and smoke to protect escape routes and to keep a building divided into safe compartments. A fire door is far more than a heavy door: it is a complete, tested assembly of door, frame, seals and ironmongery that together resist fire for a rated period, commonly thirty or sixty minutes. To perform, it must be correctly specified, installed and maintained. MEP supplies, installs and inspects fire doors across the UK.
A fire door works as a certified set in which every component matters. Intumescent seals around the door expand in heat to close the gaps and block flame and hot gases, while smoke seals limit the spread of cold smoke. The correct hinges, closers and locks keep the door functioning and self-closing so it is shut when a fire occurs. Even small details, such as the gaps around the door and the type of glazing, affect performance, which is why fire doors must be installed exactly as tested.
A fire door only protects a building if it is kept in good working order, and the Building Safety Act and Fire Safety Order place clear duties on those responsible for buildings to inspect and maintain them. Common faults, such as damaged seals, incorrect gaps, propped-open doors or unsuitable ironmongery, can stop a door doing its job. We supply and install certified fire doorsets, and carry out fire door inspections and remedial work, so your doors remain effective and your obligations are met.
Get in touch with our team of fire protection experts to discuss your requirements and receive a tailored solution.
A fire door is a complete tested assembly of door, frame, seals and ironmongery that resists fire and smoke for a rated period, such as thirty or sixty minutes.
They indicate the fire resistance rating of a doorset: FD30 resists fire for thirty minutes and FD60 for sixty minutes, when correctly installed and maintained.
A fire door can only hold back fire and smoke when it is shut, so it must be self-closing and never propped open.
Yes. Those responsible for buildings have a duty to inspect and maintain fire doors so they remain effective, which we can carry out.
Common problems include damaged or missing seals, incorrect gaps, unsuitable ironmongery, damage to the door, and doors being propped open.
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