What makes a fire door a fire door? There are many components at play in protecting your home from fire damage. From the thickness of the door leaf itself (almost 10mm thicker than the average fire door) to the solid core to the architrave, intumescent strips and cold smoke seals that prevent heat and smoke from escaping through gaps between the door leaf and frame. It all contributes to the efficacy of the fire door, containing the fire for at least 30 minutes.

Nonetheless, the door hardware plays an important (and often overlooked) part in ensuring a fire door’s integrity and function. Here, we’ll answer all of your questions about fire door hinges. 

What are fire door hinges?

Fire door hinges are hinges specifically designed for use in a fire door. Most conventional interior door hinges are not designed to withstand the heat of a fire. As such, they will usually warp, and break upon reaching their melting point. This will cause the door leaf to shift its position within the frame, creating a gap through which heat and smoke could escape. Even if the door is equipped with intumescent strips and cold smoke seals. 

Fire door hinges are available with a range of different mechanisms, including washer butt, fixed-pin, ball-bearing butt or journal supported hinges. However, a fire door hinge differs from a regular door hinge in several ways:

• Size: Fire door hinges are typically  102mm x 75mm. Slimmer 102mm x 67mm are also available
• Composition: A fire door hinge must be made out of metal with a melting point of at least 800 degrees centigrade (such as brass, stainless steel or phosphor bronze)
• Fire door hinges cannot be made from combustible or thermally-softening materials like nylon or aluminium which are commonly featured in conventional door hinges
• Fire door hinges (like all other hardware used on a fire door) must be CE certified

How many hinges should a fire door have?

Not only do fire door hinges have a different composition to conventional hinges, you need to use more of them, too. A conventional internal door needs only two hinges. However, a fire door 

must have at least three to be considered a fire door. This ensures stability, and eliminates the risk of the door leaf moving within the frame in the event of a fire. 

Where should fire door hinges be positioned?

Fire door regulations include specific spacing and positioning of fire door hinges. In order to ensure that your fire door is compliant and provides optimal fire safety, hinges should be positioned as follows:

• The top hinge should be positioned with a margin of 120-180mm from the door’s head to the top of the hinge
• The bottom hinge should be positioned with a margin between 200 and 250mm from the foot of the door to the bottom of the hinge
• The middle hinge, or hinges, should be either equal in distance between the top and bottom hinge, or between 200 and 250mm beneath the top hinge

What are the regulations regarding fire door hinges?

The regulations surrounding fire door hinges also have specific rules about which hardware can be used. 

The Construction Products Regulation were first introduced in early 2011, making changes that came into effect in the summer of 2013. From this point, CE marking has been mandatory for all products with a consistent standard applicable to all door hardware in Europe. Although Britain is no longer in the EU, the CE mark is still required for compliance. 

The CE mark is applied to all forms of door hardware, with each covered by a different BS (British Standard) number. For instance, hinges are covered by BS EN 1935. However, locks are covered by BS EN 12209, while door closing devices are covered by BS EN 1154, and emergency exit devices by BS EN 179.

If you’re unsure about whether your fire doors meet the required fire safety standards you can book an inspection with a certified professional through the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.

How do I install fire door hinges?

Unfortunately, self-installation is not an option for those who want their fire doors to be legally compliant. In the UK, regulations state that fire doors and fire door hinges must always be fitted by a certified professional. This includes a trained joiner or carpenter. Fire doors need to be installed to a very specific standard, and there is a lot that can go wrong if they are installed by an amateur (however experienced they may be in DIY). 

Even the tiniest inconsistency in the gaps between the fire door and its frame, or intumescent seal misplacement could seriously undermine a fire door’s capabilities. Even if the proper door hardware is used. 

Take a look at our FD30 rated fire doors

Are you looking for the perfect internal fire door for your home? Look no further. At Doors & More, we don’t just carry the necessary hardware for fire doors. We also stock a fantastic range of FD30 rated fire doors from some of the UK’s most trusted manufacturers. Take a look at our selection to see how you can upgrade your fire safety without compromising on style.