FD30 or FD60? Choosing fire-rated door sets for an office fit-out
What the ratings actually mean, where each one is required, and how to keep a fire door looking like bespoke joinery rather than a compliance item.
FD30 and FD60 refer to the number of minutes a door set resists fire in a standard test — thirty and sixty respectively. The rating belongs to the whole assembly: leaf, frame, intumescent seals, hinges, closer and latch. Change one component on site and the certification no longer applies.
Where each rating is used
FD30 covers most doors onto a protected corridor in a low-rise office. FD60 is generally specified for doors onto protected stairs, plant and riser cupboards, and compartment walls in taller or higher-risk buildings. Your fire strategy report, not the joiner, sets the requirement.
A customer's project specification may request different ratings across a floor. Confirm the required performance and compatible detailing for each door set with the responsible designer or fire-safety specialist before ordering.
Coordinating doors and panelling
Door and panelling finishes can be coordinated, but veneers, mouldings, seals and other details must remain within the applicable door-set evidence and installation requirements. Have the proposed configuration checked before manufacture or installation. This article is general guidance, not confirmation that MV Global supplies or has installed a certified FD30 or FD60 assembly.
What to hand over
Every door set should arrive with certification covering the tested configuration, an ironmongery schedule, and installation instructions. Ask for these at order stage — retro-fitting paperwork after a build is painful, and building control will ask.
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