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 It superseded BRE Digest 320, which was withdrawn.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.