Fire Door Standards are Changing
What building owners and managers should do now
From 2 September 2029, England’s fire safety guidance will change the way the fire resistance of fire doorsets is specified and evidenced for building work. A doorset is the complete assembly, including the door leaf, frame, seals and hardware. If you manage a commercial building or estate, this matters when planning refurbishments, alterations and fire door replacements.
2029 may seem some way off, but two things deserve attention now.
- Existing fire doors must remain suitable and in good condition today.
- If you are planning a refurbishment, alteration or replacement project, checking the fire door requirements early gives you time to obtain the right evidence, plan the work and budget for it.
What is changing, and when?
Approved Document B is the government’s fire safety guidance supporting Building Regulations in England. It currently refers to both the British BS 476 fire resistance testing route and a European system. From 2 September 2029, references to BS 476 for fire resistance will be removed from that guidance. The European approach includes testing fire doorsets to standards such as BS EN 1634-1 and classifying their performance under BS EN 13501-2.
For commercial and public buildings, as well as residential premises such as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), this affects the specification and evidence for doorsets proposed as part of relevant building work. The project team will need to demonstrate suitable performance under the guidance that applies. BS 476 evidence alone will no longer be the specification route set out in Approved Document B after the change takes effect.
The change can be relevant to work on existing buildings as well as new developments. If you are planning to replace doors, ask the project designer or building control adviser whether the proposed work falls under Building Regulations and which guidance applies. Transitional arrangements may allow qualifying projects to continue under the earlier guidance, so work planned around September 2029 needs particular attention.
What should you do now?
A useful first step is to gather the information you already have:
- Inspection reports: When were the doors last inspected, what was found and which actions have been completed?
- Door register: Do you have an accurate record of the doors across your building or estate?
- Fire risk assessment: What does it say about the suitability of the doors, and are any actions outstanding?
- Known defects: Have damaged doors, poor closing or alterations been reported?
- Planned work: Are there refurbishments, alterations or replacements for which a fire door specification will be needed?
If you need help establishing any of this, get in touch with FMS. You do not need to have a complete set of records before starting the conversation. [hyperlink to contact form]
Next, identify any unresolved safety concerns and arrange for them to be assessed. Do not hold current defects over until 2029. If the records are incomplete or you cannot establish the condition and suitability of the doors, a competent specialist fire door survey can provide the evidence needed to decide what happens next.
What does this mean for fire doors already in use?
The 2029 change does not set a date by which existing fire doors that remain suitable and meet the requirements applicable to them must gain a European classification or be replaced. An existing door must be maintained so that it continues to perform its intended role. Its condition, any alterations and the building’s fire risk assessment all matter.
If an assessment finds that a door is inadequate, or a defect develops, action may be needed now. Depending on the findings, that could mean maintenance, a suitable repair or replacement.
If a door is later replaced as part of relevant building work, the project team should check its specification and supporting evidence against the guidance that applies to that work at the time.
Turn findings into a workable programme
Inspection reports are only useful if the findings lead to action. Separate urgent safety defects from work that can be scheduled, then set out the scope, costs and timescales. For a larger estate, this helps you plan expenditure and arrange access around the way each building operates.
FMS can support you with this level of planning. Book a review with an FMS project manager to discuss the findings, priorities and practical requirements across your building or estate.
Where a survey identifies remedial work, obtain a properly scoped quotation, agree the next action and set a follow-up date. Keep the door register and work records updated so you can see what has been resolved and what remains outstanding.
Check the specification before work begins
For upcoming refurbishments, alterations or replacements, involve the project designer or building control adviser early. Confirm the fire performance required for each location and which version of the guidance applies.
Ask suppliers what suitable EN-tested and classified doorset options they can provide. Check that the supporting evidence applies to the proposed complete assembly, including its hardware and glazing, rather than the door leaf alone. Check that the specialist contractor can demonstrate appropriate competence, and retain the specification, product information, installation and handover records.
How FMS can help
FMS can support you from the first review of your position through to a planned programme of work. We can help you bring together the records you have, identify gaps and outstanding actions, arrange competent specialist surveys, scope and quote for repairs, and coordinate replacements where needed.
For buildings with multiple doors or sites, an FMS project manager can help prioritise the work, plan costs and access around your operations, coordinate specialist contractors and put ongoing inspection and maintenance arrangements in place. This gives you one point of contact as the work moves from findings to action.
Book a fire door review with an FMS project manager using the form below. The first conversation covers your building, any concerns and any work you are planning. Do not have a door register, recent inspection reports or a clear picture of outstanding actions? We can help you establish what information is missing and arrange the right specialist input.
From there, your project manager can help agree the next step, whether that is a survey, a quotation for identified repairs, necessary replacements or a longer-term programme.