Fire Doors Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fire door?

Fire doors are designed to limit the spread of fire and smoke in the event of a fire. There are several design features that make these different to standard doors and each model is subjected to stringent tests and assessments to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Where fire doors should be used

There are numerous applications that require a fire door by law. In residential or domestic dwellings more than two storeys high, a fire door must be used to separate every room from the stairwell with the exception of toilets and bathrooms. Fire doors are also required in loft conversions and as access doors that link a property to an integral connecting garage.

How do they work?

Fire doors hold back smoke and fire by using intumescent seals that expand when exposed to heat. These strips then seal the gap around the door and the frame to prevent the smoke and fire from spreading throughout the building.

Who can install a fire door?

When it comes to fire safety, the installation and maintenance of a fire door are as critical as the manufacture and original specification of the door set. Fire Risk Assessors often find poorly installed fire-rated doors, therefore all fire doors should only be fitted by qualified installers and regularly inspected and maintained to ensure the fire resistance of the door is not compromised.

Can I modify a fire door?

Fire Door Assemblies should never be modified, This includes the use of any hardware such as closing devices that were not included in the original tests and assessments.

Specifying Fire Doors

Bowater Doors supply a range of fully accredited and tested internal fire doors (FD30S). To help with specification and the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ these doors have also been created as Revit models for use in Building Information Modelling (BIM) projects. You can download them here.