When outfitting a commercial property, residential block, or public building with fire doors, you’ll quickly encounter two standard ratings: FD30 and FD60.
But what do these numbers actually mean, and more importantly, which one does your specific building require by law? In this guide, we break down the key differences to help you make an informed decision for your premises in South Wales.
What Does the ‘FD’ Rating Mean?
The ‘FD’ simply stands for Fire Door. The number that follows indicates the minimum number of minutes the door is certified to withstand a fire, assuming it is installed correctly with all the appropriate hardware and intumescent seals.
- FD30: Certified to resist fire for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- FD60: Certified to resist fire for a minimum of 60 minutes.
Note: You may sometimes see an ‘S’ added to the end (e.g., FD30S). The ‘S’ means the door is also fitted with cold smoke seals, which prevent lethal smoke from passing through the gaps before the heat has expanded the intumescent seals.
FD30 Fire Doors: The Standard Solution
For the vast majority of standard commercial and residential applications, an FD30 door is the baseline requirement.
Thirty minutes might not sound like a long time, but in the context of a fire, it provides a crucial window for evacuation and for emergency services to arrive.
Where are FD30 doors typically used?
- Internal doors in domestic dwellings (above two storeys).
- Offices and standard commercial buildings.
- Flat entrance doors leading into internal corridors.
- Corridors functioning as escape routes.
FD30 doors are typically 44mm thick and are usually lighter and more cost-effective than their heavy-duty counterparts.
FD60 Fire Doors: High-Risk and Commercial
An FD60 fire door offers double the protection time. Because it needs to withstand fire for a full hour, an FD60 door is thicker (typically 54mm) and significantly heavier, requiring heavy-duty hinges and specialized frames.
Where are FD60 doors typically used?
- High-risk commercial environments.
- Server rooms or areas storing highly combustible materials.
- Major dividing walls in large buildings designed to compartmentalize fire.
- Buildings where evacuation might be slow (e.g., hospitals, care homes).
Which Door Does Your Building Need?
You should never guess which fire door rating your building requires. The required fire rating for any specific doorway will be detailed in your building’s Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).
If you install an FD30 door where an FD60 is specified, you are breaking fire safety regulations and putting lives at risk. Conversely, installing FD60 doors everywhere “just to be safe” can lead to unnecessary structural strain (due to their weight) and inflated costs.
Installation is Everything
Whether you need FD30 or FD60 doors, the most important factor is installation. A premium FD60 door installed with incorrect gaps or the wrong hinges will fail in minutes, not an hour.
At VYR Doors, we specialize in the precise, compliant installation of both FD30 and FD60 fire doors across Cardiff, Swansea, and the wider South Wales area. Every door we install is fully documented with a digital audit trail.
Contact our expert team today to discuss your fire door requirements.