Fire Doors (DG 524)
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
Fire Doors (DG 524) was written by Norman Macdonald and Andy Russel, and was published by BRE on 21 February 2012. It superseded BRE Digest 320, which was withdrawn. Fire door assemblies now use a wide range of different designs, and so simplified guidance on their construction is no longer appropriate.
To provide adequate means of escape in case of fire, and to provide structural fire protection, different parts of a abuilding may need to be separated by fire-resisting construction. Any openings within these enclosures for the passage of people or large objects will need to be closed off by doors (or shutters) that prevent excessive transmission of products of combustions and maintain the effectiveness as a fire barrier of the wall or partition in which they are located.
DG 524 explains the role played by fire doors and smoke control doors, as well as methods that can be used to assess their performance and applicable regulations and codes of practice. The importance of third-party certification for manufacture, installation and maintenance of fire doors is highlighted, and key performance requirements for fire doors and smoke control doors are summarised.
The 8-page digest will be of interest to specifiers, manufacturers, installers and approval authorities such as building control and insurers.
Its contents are:
- Regulatory requirements.
- Determination of performance.
- Installation.
- Maintenance.
- Modifications.
- Problems in use.
- Renovation.
- Conclusion.
- References.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets.
- Approved document B.
- Automatic release mechanism.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Fire Door Inspection Scheme.
- Fire doors.
- Fire in buildings.
- Fire protection engineering.
- Fire.
- Free-swing door closer.
- Hold-open device.
- Installing fire doors and doorsets (GG 86).
- Means of escape.
- Self-closing device.
- Types of door.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.