FD30 vs FD60 Fire Doors: Which Does Your Devon Property Need?

When specifying fire doors for a Devon property, one of the first questions is always: FD30 or FD60? Get it wrong and you may have a door that looks compliant but doesn't meet the requirements of your fire risk assessment or Approved Document B. Here's how to choose the right rating.

What do FD30 and FD60 mean?

The rating refers to how long a fire door can resist the passage of fire and smoke under test conditions:

• FD30 — 30 minutes of fire resistance
• FD60 — 60 minutes of fire resistance

Both ratings are tested to BS 476 Part 22 or EN 1634-1. The "FD" prefix indicates the door is a fire door (as opposed to a fire-resisting partition or screen).

When is FD30 sufficient?

FD30 is the standard specification for most residential and commercial applications, including:

• Flat entrance doors in blocks of flats (where the building is under 18 metres)
• Common area doors in HMOs and residential buildings
• Internal doors in commercial premises where the fire risk assessment permits
• Doors between a domestic garage and the main dwelling

For the majority of Devon landlords managing blocks of flats or HMOs, FD30 will be the correct specification — but always confirm against your fire risk assessment.

When do you need FD60?

FD60 is required in higher-risk situations where occupants need more time to evacuate, including:

• Buildings over 18 metres in height
• Stairwell enclosure doors in certain building types
• Doors to high-risk areas such as plant rooms, electrical intake rooms and bin stores in taller buildings
• Where specified by a fire engineer or your fire risk assessment

If your building has had a fire risk assessment that specifies FD60, that specification is binding — you cannot substitute FD30 without a formal reassessment.

The importance of the full door set

The fire resistance rating applies to the complete door set — door leaf, frame, intumescent strips, smoke seals, hinges and closer. Fitting an FD60 leaf into an FD30 frame, or using the wrong hardware, invalidates the rating. This is one of the most common compliance failures we see on Devon properties.

Getting the specification right

If you're unsure which rating your property requires, the starting point is your fire risk assessment. If you don't have one, or it's out of date, you'll need one before specifying any fire doors.

FireShut installs both FD30 and FD60 certified fire doors across Devon. We'll advise on the correct specification for your building and provide full documentation — including the door schedule and installation records — to satisfy your insurer and local fire authority.

Find out more about fire door installation in Devon or call us on 07857 494 552 for a free, no-obligation consultation.