Quick answers
What do fire door ratings like FD30 and FD60 mean?
The rating shows how long the door set held back fire in a standard test. FD30 means 30 minutes, FD60 means 60 minutes, FD90 means 90 minutes and FD120 means 120 minutes.
Which Indian standard applies to fire doors?
The current BIS standard is IS 3614:2021, Specification of Fire Doors and Assembly. It replaced IS 3614 Part 1 and Part 2, which have been withdrawn.
Which fire door rating is used in factories and warehouses?
Sites with flammable materials or hazardous processes usually need higher ratings such as FD90 or FD120, to allow more time for escape and for the fire brigade to arrive. The exact rating is set by the fire plan and local rules.
When should a fire door be replaced?
When it is damaged beyond repair, will not close and latch properly, or fails an inspection. A renovation, a change of use or new fire rules can also mean new or upgraded doors.
Walk down the staircase of most office buildings or high-rise societies and you will pass a heavy door with a closer at the top. Often it is propped open with a brick or a fire extinguisher. That is a fire door, and propped open it does nothing.
A fire door holds back fire and smoke for a set time, so people can get down the stairs and the fire brigade can work. Here is what the ratings mean, which Indian standard applies now and how to tell whether the doors in your building will do their job.
What the ratings mean
Fire doors are rated by how long they held back fire in a standard test. You will often see these labels:
- FD30: 30 minutes of fire resistance
- FD60: 60 minutes
- FD90: 90 minutes
- FD120: 120 minutes
The “FD” labels are widely used in the trade. Indian drawings and test certificates often give the rating simply in minutes or hours, so go by the rating on the certificate, not a sticker. Which rating a door needs depends on the building and where the door is, and is set by the National Building Code of India 2016, your local fire rules and the approved fire plan.
Indian standards for fire doors
An earlier version of this page listed IS 3614 Part 1 and Part 2. Both have since been withdrawn. BIS replaced them with IS 3614:2021, “Specification of Fire Doors and Assembly”, a revision of the two older parts. If a supplier still quotes the old parts, ask why.
A rating belongs to the whole door set: the leaf, frame, hinges, glazing, seals, closer and other hardware that were tested together. Change one part, and the rating may no longer hold.
Where fire doors are used
In offices, schools, hotels, hospitals and residential towers, fire doors split the building into compartments and protect staircases and lobbies. A fire on one floor then stays on that floor for longer, and the stairs stay clear of smoke while people get out.
Factories and warehouses with flammable materials or hazardous processes usually need higher ratings, such as FD90 or FD120, to give more time for escape and for the fire brigade to arrive. The exact rating is a design decision for your fire consultant and the fire authority.
Keeping fire doors working
A fire door is only as good as its last check. Hinges sag, closers fail, seals get painted over and someone drills a hole for a cable. Look at each door regularly:
- It swings shut and latches on its own from any open position.
- Nothing is holding it open: no wedge, hook, brick or chair.
- The seals round the frame are in place and not painted over.
- The gaps between door and frame are no wider than the maker allows.
- There are no holes, ordinary glass panels or damage on the door.
- Doors that must stay shut carry a “Fire door, keep shut” sign.
When to replace a fire door
Replace a fire door if it is damaged beyond repair, will not close properly or fails an inspection. A renovation, a change in how the space is used or new fire rules can also mean new or upgraded doors. Never swap a fire door for an ordinary door during interior work.
Check one door today
Open the fire door on your floor or staircase and let go. It should swing shut and latch by itself. If it does not, or if you find it wedged open, write to your building manager or society secretary today.
What needs attention
- A fire door holds back fire and smoke for its rated time only if it is closed
- Ratings describe how long a door set resisted fire in a test; higher-risk areas need longer ratings
- IS 3614 Part 1 and Part 2, quoted in the earlier article, have been withdrawn and replaced by IS 3614:2021
- A door wedged open, with a broken closer or gaps round the frame, gives little protection
- Door frame, hinges, glazing, seals and closer must all be part of the tested set
Controls that reduce risk
- Buy fire doors with test certificates for the rating you need, and ask which standard they were made to
- Have them installed with the matching frame, hinges, seals and closer
- Check every month that each fire door closes and latches on its own
- Repair closers, seals and damaged doors quickly
- Put "Fire door, keep shut" signs on doors that must stay closed
- Review fire doors after any renovation or change of use
Common unsafe practices
- Wedging fire doors open for convenience
- Removing or disconnecting the door closer
- Cutting holes for cables or fitting ordinary glass panels
- Replacing a fire door with an ordinary door during renovation
- Buying a door without test certificates for the full set
- Ignoring gaps, damaged seals or a door that does not latch
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