Above left: Robust evidence reinforces the reliability of timber fire doors tested to the British Standard Above right: Helen Hewitt, BWF chief executive
Here I unpack what the transition means for the industry, and how we can provide clarity and support to our customers and those responsible for fire doors.
WHAT PROMPTED THE CHANGE? The government’s decision to adopt a single classification system aligns with the recommendations of the Hackitt Report, which called for greater consistency and transparency in building safety. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, scrutiny of fire resistance testing intensified, particularly concerning reaction-to-fire performance in external insulation and cladding. Yet, fire doors tested under British Standards (BS 476-22) were found to meet the required safety criteria, with no concerns raised about their performance. That said, there have been instances where composite fire doors, which claimed compliance with BS 476, were later found to provide only 20 minutes of fire resistance instead of the required 30 minutes. This consequently led to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) investigation into the reliability of fire doors.
This has resulted in some confusion, with concerns about fire door reliability being wrapped into broader issues and the overall transition to European Standards. It is crucial to separate these areas and reaffirm the reliability of timber fire doors tested to British Standards.
REASSURING THE FIRE DOOR SUPPLY CHAIN AND CUSTOMERS British Standards will remain in place until the European classification system is implemented in 2029. Throughout the four- year transitional period, it is important to provide clear and factual reassurance to fire door specifiers and those responsible for fire door maintenance that products tested to British Standards remain compliant and effective.
Government testing by MHCLG following Grenfell confirmed that timber fire doors performed consistently, passing the 30-minute fire resistance test in both directions. In fact, for BWF members whose products were included in the investigation, test results exceeded the required 30-minute threshold, with fire resistance times averaging 46 times. This robust evidence reinforces the reliability of timber fire doors tested to the British Standard and should be shared with industry stakeholders to provide reassurance and instil confidence.
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES IN FIRE TESTING
While there are similarities between the two testing standards, such as them both using the same time temperature curve from ISO 834-1 to control the temperature within the furnace, there are areas in which the fire resistance tests differ: 1. BS 476-22 uses unshielded thermocouples to monitor the furnace temperature. EN 1634-1 uses shielded thermocouples which are less responsive to changes in temperature, resulting in increased heating energy in the early stages of the test.
2. The neutral pressure plane is positioned lower in BS EN 1634-1 tests (500mm from the notional furnace floor level, compared to 1000mm in BS 476-22). This means there’s an increased chance of hot gases and flames on the unexposed side due to higher positive pressure at the top of the door.
By providing insight into the similarities and nuances between the two standards, we can support our customers and those responsible for fire doors through this transition.
SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY THROUGH TRANSITION To ensure we are supporting our customers and those responsible for fire doors, we are working with industry stakeholders and
partners to provide clarity, guidance and reassurance throughout this transition. We are also engaging regulatory bodies, including the National Standards Body (BS) and the European Standards Body (CEN), to give our members a voice and shape the future standards so that they maintain the highest levels of safety and reliability. Through ongoing content and communications as well as industry collaborations, we aim to keep manufacturers, specifiers, and fire door customers informed about developments, while reinforcing confidence in existing British Standard-tested fire doors.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Although the government has set 2029 as the target for transitioning to the European fire door testing standard, regulatory changes could still affect the timeline.
For example, the European Commission may develop new product standards for fire doors under the EU Construction Product Regulation (CPR) which could be introduced before 2029. If the UK decides to align with these standards, this could further influence the transition. Similarly, updates to UK Building Regulations or the UK Construction Products Regulations may also impact the process. As an industry we need to prepare for the transition, but we also need to support our customers and the wider supply chain through the upcoming changes. At this stage, it is important to stress that there is no requirement to replace fit-for-purpose fire doors that comply with the British Standard. ■
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information, visit:
https://www.bwf.org.uk/
www.ttjonline.com | March/April 2025 | TTJ
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