FD30 vs FD60 Fire Doors:
Which Do You Need?
What the ratings mean, what the S suffix does, where each rating is required under UK law, and the most common specification mistakes that leave buildings non-compliant.
Resists fire for 30 minutes. The standard minimum for most residential fire doors in the UK — including HMO bedroom and kitchen doors, flat entrance doors in lower-rise buildings, and internal compartmentation in lower-risk commercial premises.
+ S = smoke control includedResists fire for 60 minutes. Required on protected escape stairways in high-rise buildings, flat entrance doors where the fire strategy demands enhanced performance, plant rooms, electrical switchrooms, and other high-risk areas.
+ S = smoke control includedFD30 vs FD60 — Side by Side
Every meaningful difference between the two ratings — construction, hardware requirements, certification, cost, and where each is used.
Specifying the Right Rating for Your Building
The correct specification depends on building height, occupancy type, the specific location of the door, and the fire strategy for the building. These are the most common applications in UK residential and commercial property.
Where FD30S Is Typically Required
FD30S is the standard minimum for most fire doors in multi-occupied residential buildings. Approved Document B specifies FD30S for habitable rooms opening onto escape routes in HMOs and converted houses. Flat entrance doors in low-rise and mid-rise blocks, and all HMO bedroom and kitchen doors opening onto corridors and stairwells, typically require FD30S as a minimum.
Where FD60 Is Typically Required
FD60 is required where 30-minute protection is insufficient — typically on protected escape stairways in high-rise residential buildings over 18m, flat entrance doors where the fire engineer's strategy specifies 60-minute performance, plant rooms, electrical switchrooms and service risers, certain healthcare and care home occupancies, and wherever the fire risk assessment or fire engineer specifies it.
Why the S Suffix Almost Always Applies
The majority of fire fatalities in the UK result from smoke inhalation rather than direct flame contact. A door rated FD30 (without the S) will resist fire for 30 minutes but allows cold smoke to pass through the gaps from very early in a fire. In any occupied residential building, FD30S is the correct minimum — not FD30. Never specify FD30 without S for residential use unless the fire risk assessment specifically requires fire resistance only.
When Your FRA Overrides Approved Document B
Approved Document B provides the default minimum specifications but the fire risk assessment can — and frequently does — require a higher standard. If your FRA specifies FD60 where Approved Document B would normally require FD30, the FRA takes precedence. Always confirm the required specification with your fire risk assessor before ordering replacement doors. Getting this wrong is a compliance failure, not just an under-specification.
How to Confirm a Door Is Certified
Every fire door installed in the UK must carry permanent evidence of its certified performance. Knowing how to find and interpret this evidence is essential for any inspection or compliance review.
The certification plug: On every certified fire door you should find a plug — an intumescent label or manufacturer's certification insert — on the hinge edge of the door leaf. This mark should survive the life of the door. If it is absent, painted over, sanded off, or illegible, the door's compliance cannot be confirmed without specialist assessment. This is one of the most common findings in older residential stock — present in 21% of all doors we inspect.
BS 476: Parts 20 & 22
Traditional UK testing standard for fire doors. Still widely referenced on older installations. Tests the door assembly in a furnace at specified temperatures. Results quoted as "E" (integrity) and "I" (insulation) periods — fire door ratings are based on integrity performance.
BS EN 1634-1
European harmonised testing standard — increasingly the preferred standard for new installations. More onerous than BS 476 in certain respects. The test methodology differs, so direct comparison between BS 476 and EN 1634-1 results requires care. New installations should generally specify EN 1634-1 tested products.
Third-Party Certification
BM TRADA Q-Mark, Certifire (Exova/Efectis) and similar schemes confirm that a manufacturer consistently produces doors to the tested specification. Third-party certification is not legally required but significantly strengthens the compliance case — and is increasingly expected by insurers and fire authorities.
Specification Mistakes That Fail Inspection
These are the most common specification errors found during FDIS-certified inspections — mistakes that leave buildings non-compliant even when the responsible person believed they had specified correctly.
Specifying FD30 Without the S Rating
In occupied residential buildings, cold smoke control is almost always required. FD30 (without S) provides no protection against cold smoke and is rarely the correct specification for any flat entrance or HMO bedroom door. Always specify FD30S as a minimum in residential applications unless the FRA explicitly states otherwise.
Replacing Components With Non-Certified Parts
Replacing a certified hinge, closer, lock or vision panel beading with a physically similar but non-certified equivalent technically invalidates the door's certified performance — even if the original door leaf remains. Every component replacement must use certified equivalents compatible with the original test evidence.
Assuming Standard Timber Doors Are Fire Doors
A solid timber door — regardless of its thickness or apparent robustness — is not a fire door unless it carries a certification mark confirming it was tested and certified to a specific fire resistance standard. Pre-1992 doors and DIY-store replacements frequently lack any fire door certification.
Not Upgrading Specification After Building Changes
If a building is extended, converted, or its occupancy changes — including a change from commercial to residential — the fire strategy may require an upgrade from FD30S to FD60S. Specification must be reviewed by a competent fire risk assessor following any significant building works. The original specification no longer applies.
FD30S and FD60S Supply & Installation Costs
Indicative costs for supply, delivery and installation across London and the South East, 2024/25. All prices include a post-installation inspection and updated compliance certificate.
| Door Set | Indicative Cost (supply, deliver, install) |
|---|---|
| FD30S — standard residential (44mm leaf, certified frame & hardware) | £400 – £650 |
| FD30S — communal corridor standard (heavier duty) | £500 – £750 |
| FD30S with certified vision panel (glazing included) | £500 – £800 |
| FD60S — escape route or high-rise specification | £650 – £950 |
| FD60S with certified vision panel | £700 – £1,050 |
| Full door set and frame replacement (complete opening) | £700 – £1,200+ |
| Volume discount (10+ doors in one visit) | Typically 10–20% reduction — contact us |
Get the specification confirmed before you order. Ordering FD30S where FD60S is required means the installation is non-compliant from day one — and the doors will need to be replaced again at your cost. We provide free specification advice as part of our inspection and survey service. If you are unsure which rating your building requires, contact us before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between FD30 and FD60?
FD30 doors are certified to resist fire for 30 minutes. FD60 doors are certified to resist fire for 60 minutes. Both ratings refer to the performance of the complete certified assembly under standard furnace test conditions — not just the door leaf. FD60 requires a denser, heavier core, enhanced hardware specification, and typically costs 30–50% more than an equivalent FD30 set.
What does the S mean in FD30S or FD60S?
The S suffix means the door also controls cold smoke — in addition to its fire resistance rating. This is achieved through a cold smoke seal fitted in a groove around the door leaf edge. In occupied residential buildings, the S suffix is almost always required because most fire fatalities result from smoke inhalation rather than direct flame. FD30 without S is rarely the correct specification for a residential fire door.
Can an FD30 door be upgraded to FD60?
No. A door can only achieve the rating it was tested to as a complete certified assembly. Adding components to an FD30 door — thicker hinges, additional seals, a new closer — cannot convert it to FD60. If FD60 performance is required, the entire door set must be replaced with a certified FD60 assembly that has been tested as a complete unit.
How do I confirm what rating my existing fire doors are?
Look for the certification plug on the hinge edge of the door leaf. This is typically a coloured intumescent plug or a manufacturer's label recessed into the wood. If it is present and legible, it will confirm the tested rating. If it is absent, painted over, or illegible, the rating cannot be confirmed without specialist assessment — which our FDIS-certified inspectors can carry out.
Does my building need FD30S or FD60S for flat entrance doors?
For most residential buildings under 18m, FD30S is the standard minimum for flat entrance doors. For high-rise buildings over 18m — or where the fire strategy specifies enhanced performance — FD60S may be required. The definitive answer is in your building's fire risk assessment and fire strategy documentation. If you do not have these, contact us for a specification review.
We replaced a hinge on an FD30S door — is it still compliant?
It depends on whether the replacement hinge is a certified equivalent compatible with the door's test evidence. If a standard (non-fire-rated) hinge was used — which is very common during routine maintenance — the door's certified performance can no longer be guaranteed. The hinge should be replaced with a certified fire-rated equivalent. This is one of the most common findings on inspection and is straightforward to remediate.
Not Sure Which Rating You Need? We’ll Tell You.
The complete reference covering legal framework, inspection process, frequencies and costs.
Full door set replacement from 400 (FD30S) to 950 (FD60S), supply, delivery and install included.
The 10 most frequent defects found on inspection, including the most common specification mistakes.
Which rating your residential property requires and how inspection frequency varies by building height.