A Guide to Buying Internal Fire Doors

When it comes to safety, there are very few investments as essential as internal fire doors.

They don’t just provide an attractive finish to your living areas and rooms – they are specially designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke. Whether you’re renovating, replacing doors in a new build, or complying with internal fire door regulations in flats, it’s important understand your options before you buy.

Therefore, we’ve created this blog to outline the dos and don’ts for buying internal fire doors, and to help our customers with what to look out for!

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What is an internal fire door?

An internal fire door is a specially manufactured door designed to resist fire for a set period, usually between 30 to 60 minutes. Unlike standard doors, they are made with fire-resistant cores, seals and heavy-duty hinges. By installing an internal fire door, you would be adding a vital layer of protection between rooms, corridors and stairs.

These doors are particularly important in:

• Flats and apartments
• Homes with loft conversions
• Rental properties

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What to consider when buying an internal fire door

Before purchasing a fire door, there are several factors to keep in mind:

• Certification – Always check for certification labels proving that the door meets British Standards for fire safety.
• Size and fit – Fire doors must be fitted correctly to maintain their structure. Even small gaps can affect performance.
• Style options – Modern fire rated internal doors come in a variety of finishes to compliment your décor.
• Glazing choices – If you want to allow light to flow through your house, consider internal fire doors with glass or that are glazed, which use fire-resistant glass.

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Choosing the right style

Fire doors no longer mean compromising on style. There are plenty of options to suit different interiors.

• Internal oak fire doors – Classic, timeless and warm – these are ideal for traditional and modern homes alike.
• White internal fire doors – Clean and contemporary, perfect for bright, minimalist spaces.
• Glazed internal fire doors – A practical option for darker areas such as hallways, offering both safety and light.

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Internal fire doors in flats – what are the regulations?

If you live in a flat or apartment, regulations apply specifically to those buildings. For example, internal fire doors in flats require doors leading from kitchens, living areas, and hallways to all be fire-rated.

A minimum of FD30S (30 minutes fire and smoke resistance) needs to be regulated for all fire doors in flats, as well as the need to be self-closing. Fire doors also require regular inspections, with flat entrance doors checked annually.

Likewise, in houses, if it was to have a loft conversion or three floors, legally they'd need to add fire doors for every door between the front door and the loft conversion door. 

These rules are in place to ensure residents have safe exit routes in case of an emergency.

Always consult your building manager or local authority to check which rules apply to your property!

Installing Internal Fire Doors

Professional installation is strongly recommended for fire rated internal doors. This is because it’s important to ensure the doors are fitted as intended, especially with fire and smoke seals.

If poorly fitted, even the best internal fire doors won’t provide enough protection from fire.

In conclusion

Buying internal fire doors is both a style and safety decision. From internal oak fire doors for a timeless finish, to white internal fire doors for a modern touch, you’ll find designs to suit any home.

By understanding your options, you can invest in a fire rated internal door that not only elevates your home’s design and aesthetic but can also provide essential protection for years to come!

If you have any more questions concerning internal fire doors, or you require any additional information about the fire doors sell at Howarth, please visit your local Howarth branch, or contact our customer services on 01472 907051.

You can also explore our range of internal fire door products here, and you can even visit us in branch for more information.