The Importance of Fire Doors and Fire-Resisting Doors
- R2B Routes 2 Branching
- Aug 30
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 6
In England, if you’re responsible for a building—whether as a landlord, business owner, or designated fire safety lead—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by fire safety regulations.
Many people ask: What counts as a "fire door"? Why do I keep hearing about “fire resisting doors”? What exactly do I need to check, and am I legally compliant? These are important questions, and it’s perfectly normal not to have all the answers at once.
The good news is that understanding fire doors doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right knowledge and support, you can make sure your building is both compliant and well protected.
What Are Fire Doors and Fire-Resisting Doors?
Fire doors are specially designed to withstand fire, heat, and smoke for a set length of time—typically 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. They are constructed from fire-resistant materials and are fitted with key components such as:
Intumescent strips - thin pieces fitted around the edge of a fire door. They look simple, just a flat strip, but they do something powerful. If there’s a fire, the heat causes the strip to swell up and expand, filling any gaps between the door and the frame. This helps stop fire and smoke from getting through.
In everyday terms: they stay quiet until there’s danger, then they grow bigger to block the fire. It’s like a safety sponge that activates only when needed.
Picture showing an intumescent strip
Cold smoke seals are added to stop smoke from slipping through the edges of the door before the fire gets hot enough to activate the intumescent strip. They often look like soft brushes or rubber fins.
Think of them like a soft barrier—they don’t block fire, but they keep smoke from sneaking through. This is important because smoke can be just as dangerous, especially in corridors or stairwells where people need to escape safely.
Picture showing a cold smoke seal (brushes)
The image shows a close-up of a timber fire door edge with a white intumescent strip fitted flush into a routed groove, featuring an integrated black brush seal. Self-closing devices (self-closers) are small metal arms or hidden parts, normally at the top of a fire door. They make sure the door closes by itself after someone walks through. This is important because fire doors only work properly when they’re shut.
If a fire starts, a closed fire door helps keep the fire and smoke in one area, giving people more time to escape and helping firefighters do their job. If the door is left open, fire and smoke can spread quickly through the building.
So, in simple terms: these devices stop people from accidentally leaving fire doors open, which helps protect everyone in the building.
Picture showing a self-closing device (self-closer)
Tested frames, hinges and glazing that work as part of a complete certified doorset. It’s the whole set of parts that work together. That includes the wooden frame around the door, the metal hinges that help it swing open and shut, and any glass panels (called glazing) built into the door.
All of these parts are tested together as one complete system, called a “doorset.” This means they’ve been checked in a fire test to make sure they work properly when there’s heat, smoke, or flames.
If you change one part—like using different hinges or adding new glass—the door might not work the same way in a fire. That’s why it’s important to use the right parts and follow the test results. In simple terms: every piece matters, and they all need to match the tested design to keep people safe.
It’s worth noting a common misconception: while all certified fire doors are fire-resisting, not every fire-resisitng door is a certified fire door. Some older timber doors may delay fire spread for a short time, but without testing and certification, their performance in fire conditions cannot be guaranteed.
This is why certified and properly installed fire doors are essential. They are tested under strict conditions to British and European standards:
BS 476 Part 22 has been the longstanding UK testing method.
BS EN 1634-1 is the European standard, offering more rigorous testing, especially around smoke leakage. From September 2029, this will be the only accepted standard for new fire door installations in England.
Each fire door is tested as a full system (door, frame, glazing, seals, and hardware). If any part is altered, the certification may no longer apply. That’s why third-party certification and correct installation are crucial, a fire door works only as well as its weakest component.
In real emergencies, these doors are lifesavers. They buy precious time for people to escape safely, for emergency services to respond, and for fires to be contained before becoming more severe.
Legal Responsibilities You Might Not Know You Have
In England, where R2B Fire Doors operates, general duties relating to fire safety sit under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended).
Article 8 requires the responsible person, i.e. the person legally responsible for safety of others on or around the premises (within its close proximity), to:
"Take such general fire precautions as will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the premises are safe.” [emphasis added]
Article 4(1) further explains “general fire precautions” to include:
“(c) Measures for securing that, at all material times, the means of escape can be safely and effectively used.” [emphasis added]
Moreover, Article 14(2)(b) and (c) of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out clear requirements for emergency evacuation:
“(b) In the event of danger, it must be possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible.”
“(c) The number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits must be adequate having regard to the use, equipment and dimensions of the premises and the maximum number of persons who may be present there at any one time.”
Why Fire Doors Are Legally Required
Fire doors are a crucial part of the means of escape. They protect routes such as corridors, stairwells and lobbies from the spread of fire, heat and smoke. If fire doors are damaged, wedged open, missing or otherwise defective, the integrity of the escape route is compromised. Occupants may be exposed to hazardous smoke or flames while evacuating, which breaches the legal duty to keep escape routes safe and usable.
In short: where required, fire doors are a legal obligation. Failure to install them, where technically required, could amount to a criminal offence under the law.
Maintenance and Replacement Duties
Once we recognise that fire doors are legally required, but only where technical fire safety requires them to be put in place, the next question is: who is responsible for their upkeep?
Under Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure all fire safety equipment, including fire doors, is kept in good repair and efficient working order:
“17.—(1) Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided… are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.” [emphasis added]
If fire doors are faulty or damaged, they cannot perform their life‑saving function. Regular inspection, maintenance and timely replacement are not optional, they are a statutory requirement designed to preserve the integrity of escape routes, protect occupants from smoke and fire, and ensure compliance with the law.
Why Maintenance Matters And Why It’s Okay to Ask for Help
If that sounds like a lot to manage, you’re not alone. Many people feel unsure about what’s legally and technically required or how to check whether their fire doors are compliant. That’s why we offer Fire Door Inspections and Checks, and support services tailored to your needs.
Our Team of friendly specialists includes former legal and technical professionals who understand both the technical and emotional weight of fire safety.
We’ll help you understand what’s legally required, contact residents on your behalf, identify any issues with your doors, create a clear plan for compliance, and provide information to all residents about the importance of fire doors. Fire safety isn’t just about regulations. It’s about protecting lives, creating peace of mind, and making sure you’re never left wondering what to do next.
Need Support or Advice?
If you have questions or want to hear more on a specific topic, leave a comment below.
For fire safety queries or to book a survey, visit our Fire Door Inspections and Checks service page.
Stay safe,
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