Collection: Fire Doors

The range of fire doors from Leader Online

Our internal fire doors limit the passage of fire and smoke in a number of ways, you have a huge variety of styles and finishes to choose from:

• Oak Fire Doors - The safety of an FD30 fire door with the classic oak effect. A fire door doesn’t have to be boring.
• Glazed Fire Doors - Yes, you can get a fire door with glass, our glazed fire doors use toughened fire safety glass.
• Walnut Fire Doors - For a darker look than oak, same FD30 resistance.
• Laminate Fire Doors - Easy to clean and maintain, laminate is quickly becoming a popular material for fire doors.
• White Fire Doors - Our white fire doors are primed, ready to paint to your liking. Remember not to paint over the hinges, frame and strips.
• Black Fire Doors - Fully finished, ready to hang in shine or matt effects.
• Grey Fire Doors - An excellent way of achieving an ash wood effect.
• Made to Measure Fire Doors - For when a standard size fire door won’t fit. Custom sizes available up to 2400mm (h) x 1200mm (w).
• Fire-Rated Pocket Doors - When space for a door opening is limited, a pocket fire door is a great alternative.

What makes a door a fire door in the UK?

Fire doors are constructed of materials that can withstand heat and resist fire for the duration of their rated period. These include solid or engineered timber, particleboard, and flaxboard.

Also known as fireproof doors, they are designed to prevent the passage of fire and smoke for a minimum of 30 minutes, hence why they have an FD30 rating.

FD30 = Fire Door 30(minutes)

Furthermore, they are fitted with a self-closing device, which enables them to close shut automatically once they’ve been opened. This stops fire and smoke from spreading, minimising the risk to people and property.

They also require an intumescent seal, situated around the edges of the door. This seal expands when temperatures reach beyond 200°C to prevent the spread of fire.

Your fire door must not contain gaps of more than 4mm between door and frame. Ideally, the gap should be 3mm, or approximately the width of a £1 coin.

In order for a fire door to be legally compliant with fire safety standards, it needs:

• Fire Rated Hinges (all fire doors, including FD30 doors, must have a minimum of three certified fire-rated hinges.)
• A Fire Door Frame/Lining with Intumescent Strips installed.
• A door closer.

How often should fire doors be inspected?

You should check the condition of your fire doors at least twice a year as a minimum.

When carrying out an inspection, you must ensure that the fire retardant seal is not compromised and the door functions as it should. There should be no cracks, bowing, or damage to the door or frame, and the self-closing device should be in working order.

If you’re the landlord, managing agent, or building owner of a multi-occupied block of flats that is over 11 metres in height in England, you’re a ‘responsible person’. This means you’re legally obliged to undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts under The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. You must also check all flat entrance doors into common or communal areas, including self-closing doors, on a best endeavour basis every 12 months.

Where should a fire door be installed?

Fire doors are most commonly installed in kitchens and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

They can also be found in garage-to-home entrances, boiler cupboards, hotels, schools, and blocks of flats (i.e., entrance doors to individual flats and doors leading to communal stairwells).

If you live in a new-build house that has three or more floors, you must have a fire door fitted to every habitable room that leads from a stairwell (excluding bathrooms and WCs). This law also applies if your home contains a loft conversion where a third storey has been added to a two-storey dwelling.

What is the maximum trim allowance on a fire door?

Trim allowance varies according to the manufacturer and must be verified for each specific fire door.

As a rule of thumb, you must not trim the top of a fire door, as this is where the certification label is located and where the door seals against the frame. Generally speaking, though, you can trim no more than 3mm to 5mm from the sides and up to 10mm from the bottom.

However, always check the manufacturer's specification before trimming, as if you exceed their allowance, this will not only invalidate the door's FD30 certification but also compromise its performance in the event of a fire. All Leader Online fire doors have trimming allowances in the specification tables on each page.

What are the regulations for fire doors in the UK?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires responsible persons — typically HMO landlords or property managing agents — to have adequate fire safety measures in place in the common parts of their property.

These measures include ensuring fire doors protecting escape routes are properly installed, maintained, and compliant. Additional fire door requirements inside the property (such as to individual bedrooms) are imposed separately through HMO licensing under the Housing Act 2004.

Under the Building Regulations 2010 (Approved Document B), there are several circumstances in which residential properties must be fitted with fire doors. These include:

• An internal door between an integral garage and the house.
• Doors protecting escape routes in dwellings of three or more storeys.
• Entrance doors to individual flats.

Although this is not a legal requirement, we also recommend that you install fire doors in rooms where fires may be likely to originate, such as your kitchen or any rooms with a fireplace or where flammable materials may be stored.

For more guidance on fire door regulations, check out our complete guide to internal fire doors.

Do fire doors need to be self-closing?

Yes, a fire door is legally required to be self-closing in most public, commercial, and multiple-occupancy residential buildings.

Self-closing devices aren't always legally required in private homes, but they're recommended for doors protecting escape routes or leading to rooms like kitchens or integral garages.

Can fire doors have glass in them?

Yes, we sell a range of Glazed Fire Doors that are still FD30-rated. These doors contain panels made of specially toughened, fire resistant glass.

Fire doors with large glazed panels are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer the perfect balance of style and safety while remaining compliant with fire safety regulations.

Can I paint a fire door?

Yes, but if you do this, you must ensure that this doesn’t compromise the fire doors' resistance. Avoid painting over hinges, hardware and intumescent seals, as this will affect the fire door's ability to resist fire. Apply in thin coats to avoid the door sticking.

Unfinished fire doors give you complete creative freedom. You can paint them so that they match your existing interior or paint them in a bold statement colour, as long as you follow the above guidance.

Why buy fire doors from Leader Online?

You should buy fire doors from us because:

• We have over 20,000 verified five-star Trustpilot reviews and decades of experience in delivering exceptional customer service.
• We won’t be beaten on price. If you find FD30-rated fire doors for cheaper elsewhere online, we’ll match it.
• We’re the only Door retailer that offers in-home delivery. Your doors can be carried inside into a ground-floor room of your choice.
• You will receive your order in as little as 48 hours, on a day of your choice when placing your order.

At Leader Online, we help you create spaces you love without compromising on quality or value. If you have any questions or want to find out more about our FD30-rated fire doors, call our customer service team on 01429 241 270.