FD30 describes a fire door assembly tested to resist fire for 30 minutes under test conditions. FD60 describes an assembly tested to 60 minutes. The figures relate to tested performance of the complete doorset, not to the leaf on its own.

Is FD60 always better than FD30?

Not necessarily. The rating required comes from the fire strategy and compartmentation design for that building, set out in the fire risk assessment, building information or specialist advice. Fitting a heavier FD60 doorset where FD30 is specified can also introduce practical issues with frames, hinges and closers.

How do I find out which rating my doors should be?

The specification should come from the building's fire strategy, fire risk assessment, an inspection report, original building records or advice from a competent professional. It should not be assumed from the look or thickness of the existing door.

Can an FD30 door be upgraded to FD60?

Upgrading is not simply a matter of adding components. Performance is a property of the tested assembly, so where a higher rating is required the usual route is a doorset supplied and installed to that specification, rather than modifying an existing leaf.

Do the seals, glazing and ironmongery need to match the rating?

Yes. Intumescent and smoke seals, hinges, closers, latches, letterplates and any glazing and beads all form part of the assembly. Components need to be compatible with the doorset and installed in line with the product information supplied with it.

What does FD30S mean?

The 'S' indicates the doorset also incorporates smoke control provision, typically through cold smoke seals. Where smoke control is required — commonly on doors onto escape routes — that requirement comes from the building's fire strategy or assessment rather than from the fire resistance figure alone.

Guide

FD30 vs FD60 Fire Doors: What's the Difference?

What the two ratings describe, where the requirement for a particular building comes from, and why the doorset, seals, glazing and ironmongery all have to work together. This guide is general information, not a specification for your building.

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What the Ratings Actually Describe

FD30 and FD60 refer to fire resistance demonstrated by testing a complete door assembly — leaf, frame, seals and ironmongery together — for 30 or 60 minutes respectively. The figure is not a property of the leaf alone, which is why swapping components for non-matching items, or fitting a leaf into an unsuitable frame, undermines the basis of the rating.

Comparison of FD30 and FD60 fire doorsets
Consideration	FD30	FD60
Tested performance	30 minutes of fire resistance under test conditions	60 minutes of fire resistance under test conditions
Where it is typically seen	Frequently specified for doors within dwellings, flat entrances, HMO bedrooms and general escape routes, depending on the building's fire strategy	More often associated with higher-risk compartmentation, plant and service rooms, and certain commercial or multi-storey arrangements
Leaf construction	Usually a lighter core and thinner leaf than an equivalent FD60	Typically heavier and thicker, which affects hinge, frame and closer selection
Seals	Intumescent seals suited to the tested detail; smoke seals where an S rating applies	Intumescent provision to the tested detail, often more substantial; smoke seals where required
Ironmongery	Hinges, closers and latches compatible with the tested assembly and the leaf weight	Heavier-duty hinges and closers are commonly needed for the increased leaf weight
Glazing	Only glazing, beads and seals matching the tested detail for that doorset	Only glazing, beads and seals matching the tested detail for that doorset, generally to a higher specification

Where the Specification Comes From

The rating a particular door needs is a building-specific question. It follows the compartmentation strategy for that property, not the appearance or thickness of what is already hanging there. We confirm the requirement from documentation before pricing replacement doorsets.

The building's fire strategy and compartmentation design
The current fire risk assessment and any action list
An existing fire door inspection report
Original building or refurbishment records and product information
Advice from a competent fire safety professional where the requirement is unclear

Why Guesswork Is a Poor Basis

Choosing a rating by eye creates two problems. Under-specifying leaves a door that does not match the building's strategy. Over-specifying brings a heavier leaf that the existing frame, hinges and closer may not suit, and can cause closing and latching problems that lead to the door being propped open.

Where a formal fire door inspection report is required, this can be arranged through a specialist fire door inspection contractor. Parsec Fire Doors assesses doors on site to confirm the scope and cost of remedial or replacement work, and works from the specification recorded for the building.

Practical Points When Replacing a Doorset

Whichever rating applies, the installation detail decides whether the doorset performs as intended once it is in the opening.

Structural opening size, frame condition and how the frame is fixed
Leaf weight and the hinges, closers and latches needed to suit it
Threshold detail, floor finishes and the resulting undercut
Any glazing, vision panels or air transfer requirements
Access, occupancy and making the opening secure between visits
The records and product information you will hold afterwards

What you should end up holding afterwards is covered in our guide to installation and handover documentation. If the existing door has faults rather than the wrong rating, our guide to common fire door defects may be the better starting point.

Fire door installation Flat entrance fire doors HMO fire doors Commercial fire doors

Need replacement doorsets priced?

Tell us the door sizes, quantities and the specification recorded for the building, and we will come back with a costed proposal.

· Property type and site postcode
· Approximate number of doors
· Any inspection report or FRA action list
· Photographs of the doors in question

Already have a fire door inspection report or FRA action list? Attach it securely to the enquiry form and we will price the remedial or replacement work door by door.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Talk Through Your Door Schedule

Send the specification, door schedule or inspection report you already hold and we will price the supply and installation work required.

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