Fire door installation and replacement
A certified fire door only performs if it's fitted exactly as it was tested. We install to the manufacturer's instructions and BS 8214:2026, and every door leaves with a certificate and a QR record.
Doorsets
Supplied complete from one source: leaf, frame, seals and hardware tested together. The simplest route to a door that matches its certification.
Door assemblies
Built on site from compatible certified parts. Every component has to be traceable to test evidence, so the paperwork matters as much as the fitting.
Flat entrance doors
Replacing flat front doors means checking the lease first, to see who owns and pays for each door, then planning resident access. We help with both before any door is ordered. More in our guide to flat front doors for leaseholders.
Commercial buildings
We also fit fire doors in offices, schools, healthcare, hotels, shops and warehouses. In busy buildings the hardware takes the strain, so we specify closers and hinges that suit the traffic and match the door's test evidence. See fire doors for businesses.
Fire door installation regulations
- Where fire doors are needed in new and altered buildings is set by the Building Regulations. In England the guidance is Approved Document B, and the building's fire strategy and fire risk assessment set the rating for each door.
- How they're fitted must match the door's test evidence and the manufacturer's installation instructions. A door fitted any other way may not perform as tested. BS 8214:2026 is the code of practice we follow.
- Paperwork at handover. On new and altered buildings, Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations 2010 requires fire safety information, including about fire doors, to be passed to the Responsible Person. Our installation certificate and QR record form part of that.
- Keeping them working. Once fitted, fire doors must be maintained in good repair under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. See maintenance and repairs.
Correct as of October 2026. Fire door regulations explained.
Fire ratings in plain English
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| FD30 | Holds back fire for 30 minutes when closed |
| FD60 | Holds back fire for 60 minutes when closed |
| S suffix (e.g. FD30S) | Also limits the spread of cold smoke |
The rating your building needs is set by the fire strategy and fire risk assessment, not by preference.
Installation certificate
For every door, recording what was fitted and how.
QR record from day one
The door's history starts the day it's fitted, ready for its first inspection.
Maintained after fitting
Add the door to an inspection and maintenance plan so it stays up to standard. Maintenance and repairs →
Questions we get asked
Do you install and maintain fire doors, or only inspect them?
All three. We inspect fire doors, maintain and repair them, and supply and install new or replacement doorsets. We also carry out fire stopping.
That means one firm can find the problems, fix them and keep the doors up to standard afterwards, with every visit added to the same QR record for each door.
Last reviewed October 2026
What is BS 8214:2026 and what changed?
BS 8214:2026 is the British Standard code of practice for fire and smoke control doors. It was published on 20 March 2026 and replaces the 2016 edition.
The 2016 edition covered timber doors only. The new edition covers timber, steel, aluminium and composite doors, and updates the guidance on smoke seals and under-door gaps. Reports written against the 2016 edition may be worth revisiting.
Last reviewed October 2026
Who owns and pays for a flat front door?
It depends on the lease. Some leases make the leaseholder responsible for their front door; others keep it with the freeholder. Either way, since the Fire Safety Act 2021 the Responsible Person’s duties cover flat entrance doors that open onto common parts.
If a flat door needs replacing, the lease decides who pays. It’s worth checking the lease before quoting or writing to residents.
Last reviewed October 2026
Can a fire door be held open?
Only with a suitable hold-open device that releases the door automatically when the fire alarm sounds. Wedges, fire extinguishers and door stops are never acceptable.
Hold-open devices need to be included in your fire risk assessment and tested along with the alarm.
Last reviewed October 2026
What do FD30 and FD60 mean?
FD30 means the door holds back fire for 30 minutes when closed; FD60 means 60 minutes. An “S” suffix, as in FD30S, means it also limits the spread of smoke. The rating each door needs is set by the fire strategy and fire risk assessment.
Last reviewed October 2026
What's the difference between a fire doorset and a door assembly?
A doorset is supplied complete from one source: leaf, frame, seals and hardware tested together. A door assembly is built on site from compatible certified parts. Both can be compliant, but an assembly depends on every part being traceable to test evidence.
Last reviewed October 2026
Can I fit a letterbox, spyhole or cat flap to a fire door?
Only using components tested for that specific door, fitted as its test evidence allows. Unauthorised alterations are a common reason doors fail inspection and can mean the door has to be replaced.
Last reviewed October 2026
Does a flat front door need a self-closer?
In most blocks, yes. A flat entrance door opening onto common parts should close on its own, so a fire in the flat doesn’t spread into the escape route. Residents shouldn’t remove or disconnect closers.
Last reviewed October 2026
Can I replace my own flat front door?
Check your lease and ask the building’s management first. Any replacement must be a certified fire door at least to the rating the building needs, fitted to the manufacturer’s instructions, with evidence kept for the Responsible Person.
Last reviewed October 2026
How long does a fire door last?
There’s no fixed lifespan. A well-made door that’s looked after can last many years, but how long it lasts depends on how heavily it’s used, how it’s treated and the manufacturer’s guidance.
The parts that move or seal usually wear first: closers, hinges, latches and seals. Most can be repaired or replaced like for like. A door needs replacing when it can no longer be brought back in line with its test evidence, for example after serious damage or unauthorised alterations. Regular inspections tell you which applies.
Last reviewed October 2026
Need doors replaced?
Tell us how many doors, where they are and what rating you need, and we'll arrange a survey and quote.
Get a quote