WINDOWS, DOORS AND ENTRANCE SYSTEMS
The transition from BS 476 to EN standards has come into greater focus over the past 18 months. Architects, specifiers, contractors, installers and building owners all have a role to play in understanding how fire performance is tested, classified and evidenced under EN standards.
BS 476 is the long-standing British series of fire test standards, with Part 22 covering the fire resistance of non-load-bearing elements, including fire doors. In England, references to BS 476 are being removed from Approved Document B from 2 September 2029 – a move away from parallel classification systems to a clearer European testing and classification route, including BS EN 1634-1 for testing and BS EN 13501-2for classification.
For specifiers, this means considering not only whether a door meets the performance requirements of a project, but also whether the supporting test evidence and certification are appropriate for the intended application. Contractors also need to understand the limitations of the evidence behind the fire doors they are installing, ensuring the specified product, configuration and installation all align with the tested application.
In specification terms, this means moving from familiar language such as FD30 or FD60 towards EN classifications such as E30, E60, EI30 or EI60, depending on whether the requirement is integrity only or integrity and insulation. Where required, smoke control should be specified separately, for example through SA or S200 classifications. BS EN 1634- 1 uses different and more demanding test conditions than BS 476-22. This means fire doors passed under BS 476-22 may not meet compliance under BS EN 1634-1. When working on new projects, specifiers must consider which standards and fire classifications are used to assess fire doors, ensuring the products specified meet the relevant compliance requirements.
NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION
One of the biggest challenges is whether existing specifications remain suitable for future projects. The transition does not automatically mean existing BS 476-tested doors must be replaced. Fire doors already in place will stay fit for purpose as long as they continue to meet safety requirements. For new projects likely to be approved, procured or completed beyond the transition period in England, EN test evidence and classification should be considered early, subject to the project’s approval route and local requirements.
Customers need confidence that the products they specify today will remain compliant and support the long-term needs of the building, seeking clarity around what supporting documentation they should be requesting and how product performance is demonstrated under EN standards. Architects should ask for third-party test evidence and certification that matches the full doorset being specified. They should confirm the rating required by the fire strategy, the wall construction, the door size, the leaf arrangement, glazing, louvres, hardware, smoke control and intended use.
As door manufacturers, the important principle is that fire doors should be supplied as a complete, fully tested system, not a collection of interchangeable parts. At Robust we have been testing to EN standards for many years, which means we are in a position to help customers understand what the changes mean in practice and make informed decisions.
START THE CONVERSATION EARLY
Architects, specifiers and contractors should start standards and compliance discussions now to ensure a smooth transition. By engaging with manufacturers early in the design process, they can ensure specifications are aligned with future requirements and confirm that the requested configurations meet EN fire testing standards and classification from the outset.
Specifications being designed now may still be procured, installed, inspected or maintained after the change. For Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, customers should check the local building guidance and project approval route, because each jurisdiction may adopt or reference standards differently. New specifications should be reviewed carefully if the project is likely to run beyond 2029.
The transition should not be viewed as a challenge to overcome at the last minute. It is an opportunity for the industry to improve consistency, transparency and confidence in the way product performance is demonstrated and specified. www.robust-uk.com