Fire doors play a vital role in protecting both people and property. If you’re considering having them installed or replaced, you’ll want to fully understand how long fire doors last, both in terms of their lifespan and the length of time they resist a fire.
Our complete guide covers those two critical areas and supplies all the information you need. Read on to get the lowdown on fire protection ratings, when to replace old fire doors, UK regulations and legal requirements, and more.
What Are Fire Doors?
First things first, what is a fire door? It’s a door that has been designed, manufactured, and certified to resist fire more effectively than a normal door. It’s not the same as a fire exit door, which is simply a door that’s been designated as an emergency escape route in the event of fire.
How Long Does a Fire Door Last in a Fire? Fire Door Protection Ratings Explained
Fire doors are designed to resist and contain fire in order to slow its spread and maintain safe escape routes for people within the affected property. They’re composed of various different fire-resistant elements and features, such as intumescent seals, which allow them to withstand fires.
Precisely how long a fire door will contain fire depends on its fire protection rating:
- FD30 fire doors – Are designed and certified to resist fire for 30 minutes
- FD60 fire doors – Are designed and certified to resist fire for 60 minutes
- FD90 fire doors – Are designed and certified to resist fire for 90 minutes
- FD120 fire doors – Are designed and certified to resist fire for 120 minutes
- FD240 fire doors – Are designed and certified to resist fire for 240 minutes
Differently rated fire doors are suitable for and used in different locations, depending on the level of fire risk in those locations. If your property has fire doors, you can usually find a label affixed to them which tells you their protection rating.
How Long Does a Fire Door Last? Overall Lifespan and Longevity
So, assuming there isn’t a fire, what is the lifespan of a fire door? Generally speaking, assuming a good quality door, originally manufactured to high standards, a fire door should last anywhere between 10 and 35 years.
Internal fire doors will typically last longer than external fire doors. That’s because the latter are often exposed to the elements, which can more quickly compromise their integrity and fire resistance. And that’s just one of several factors that affect a fire door’s longevity:
What Factors Affect the Lifespan of a Fire Door?
There are a few things that impact how long a fire door will last, including:
- Usage volume – Fire doors that are constantly opened and closed will likely need replacing sooner than others. That’s because the continually heavy usage can stress and eventually wear out their mechanical components.
- Extreme temperature fluctuations – This is part of the reason external fire doors typically don’t last as long as internal ones. When subject to widely varying temperatures, some materials expand and contract. Over time that can create gaps and misalignment.
- Exposure to moisture – If moisture gets into the material of a fire door, particularly a wooden or metal one, it can cause it to swell, warp, rot, or corrode. Again, this typically affects external doors more but can be an issue for internal fire doors in cool, damp areas like bathrooms or cellars.
How Can You Tell When a Fire Door Needs to be Replaced?
Firstly, if a fire door is exposed to flames, you should replace it with a new one. Even if it isn’t destroyed or even appears undamaged.
Besides that, here are a few things to look out for if you’re trying to tell whether to replace an old fire door:
- Visible signs of wear or damage – If you can see scratches, cracks, warping, or other obvious signs of damage, then you need to replace your fire door.
- Worn out or missing seals – If the crucial intumescent seals around the door are worn out or damaged, then it’s ready for a replacement.
- Difficulty opening or closing – If the opening and closing mechanism is compromised and you struggle to either open or close the door, or both, it’s time for a change.
If you do find you need your fire doors replacing or new ones installed, you should only trust reliable, professional installers. If fire doors aren’t fitted correctly, they’re not as effective as they should be.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Fire Doors in the UK?
Whether and where fire doors are necessary in the UK is determined by UK building regulations and legislation including the Fire Safety Act 2021.
External doors don’t typically have to be fire rated for bungalows, houses, and other similar residential properties. They are often required, on the other hand, in the case of main entries and exits of commercial properties and HMOs.
When it comes to internal fire doors, they’re needed in properties of multiple occupancy or other buildings where maintaining safe escape routes is crucial. That includes workplaces, schools, and hospitals.
There are also legal requirements for the inspection and maintenance of fire doors in certain properties. For instance, in multiple occupancy buildings over 11 metres tall, fire doors in communal areas must be inspected once a quarter and each residence’s entrance door should be check annually.
Looking for External or Internal Fire Doors?
If you’re looking for the perfect internal or external fire doors for your property, Door Warehouse can help. We offer a range of top-quality fire doors in a variety of materials and styles. Pop to our Deeside showroom to check them out or get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your options.
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