Certifying a Fire Door. Who is Responsible?

Certifying a Fire Door. Who is Responsible?

When it comes to fire safety in a building, fire doors play a critical role, but understanding who is responsible for certifying them can be confusing, especially for those not familiar with the process. In this article we discuss how fire door certification works and who’s involved at each stage.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the key roles:

1. Door Manufacturer
The process starts with the door manufacturer. This is the company that designs and builds the fire-rated door system. For example, Tekta manufactures fire doors that are designed to meet specific fire safety requirements. However, it’s not enough for a manufacturer to just say a door is fire-rated, they need to prove it through testing and certification.

2. Test Laboratory
To prove a door’s fire performance, it’s tested at an independent test lab. The lab will conduct a fire resistance test in line with the BS EN 1634-1 standard and produce a test report based on the results. This report shows how the door performed, but it doesn’t mean the door is certified just yet.

3. Certification Body
Next comes the certification body, an impartial third party that reviews the fire test reports from the test lab. These organisations are independent entities to test laboratories which allows them to give an unbiased judgement of the test reports. It also allows them to assess test reports from multiple labs where required. Their job includes producing direct and extended application assessments. The extended application helps show how the door can be used in different configurations or sizes, beyond just the exact version that was tested.

4. Responsible Person
Finally, the “responsible person”, often someone overseeing fire safety on a project, (i.e. a fire engineer) is tasked with reviewing the certifications and ensuring the fire door system is compliant and suitable for the intended building use.

In summary, fire door certification is a multi-step process involving several independent parties. While Tekta may manufacture a fire-rated door, it’s the test labs and certification bodies, working independently, that validate that doors performance.

If you’re specifying fire doors and need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Tekta team for support!