What Is Fire Door Installation?
Fire door installation in London is a specialist trade — not a standard carpentry job. A fire door is a certified assembly: the door leaf, the frame, the intumescent strips, the smoke seals, the hinges, the self-closer, and the ironmongery must all be specified together and installed to BS 8214 to achieve the required fire and smoke rating. Get any element wrong and the door may not perform as rated. This is why Doorz only installs fire doors — we don't carry out general building work on the side.
A Wrongly Installed Fire Door Is Not A Fire Door
A fire door that is fitted by someone who doesn't understand the assembly — wrong gap tolerance, missing smoke seals, hinges at wrong centres, self-closer not set correctly — will not provide its rated protection. It will also fail inspection. In London, where council enforcement teams actively inspect HMOs and apartment buildings, this is both a legal and a safety failure.
The Complete Fire Door Installation Process
Survey & Specification
We visit, measure all openings, assess the existing frame condition, and specify the correct door assembly for your property type and legal requirement. A worn or non-standard frame often needs replacing — this is identified at survey, not discovered halfway through fitting.
Supply at Trade Price
We order certified door leaves, matching fire-rated frames where required, intumescent kits, smoke seals, CE-marked hinges and self-closers from trade suppliers. We show you the invoice — you pay trade price, not retail. No markup on materials.
Frame Preparation
The existing frame is checked for squareness, condition and fire rating. If the frame is non-standard, deteriorated or non-rated, we install a new fire-rated lining. This step is often skipped by non-specialists — a fire-rated door in a non-rated frame does not provide rated protection.
Door Fitting & Hardware
The door leaf is hung, planed and adjusted for correct gap tolerance (maximum 3mm on sides and top, 10mm maximum at threshold). Intumescent strips and smoke seals are fitted into the door edge and/or frame rebate. Hinges are morticed at the correct centres. Self-closer is fitted and adjusted for correct closing force.
Certification
On completion, we issue a written certification document confirming the door specification, frame details, hardware installed, gap tolerances measured, and BS 8214 compliance. Accepted by all London councils for HMO licence applications.
What A Compliant Fire Door Installation Must Include
- Certified door leaf — CERTIFIRE, BWF or BM TRADA label must be visible and intact
- Fire-rated frame — the frame is part of the assembly; it must also be rated
- Intumescent strips — fitted into door edge or frame rebate, expand in fire to seal the gap
- Cold smoke seals — brush or rubber seals, mandatory in all residential applications
- Minimum 3 CE-marked fire-rated hinges — at the correct centres (typically 150mm from top and bottom, one in middle)
- BS EN 1155-compliant self-closer — required for HMOs, flats and most residential fire doors
- Correct gap tolerance — 3mm maximum on sides and top; 10mm maximum at floor level
- Fire-rated glazing — if glass panels are present, must be rated to match the door
In our experience inspecting non-compliant fire doors across London, the most common failures are: gaps exceeding 3mm (often because the door wasn't planed correctly for the opening), missing cold smoke seals (fitted with intumescent only), self-closer not adjusted to ensure full latching, and certification label removed or painted over. All of these are preventable — none should happen when the job is done correctly.
FD30S vs FD60 Installation — What's Different?
FD30S installation (the most common London requirement) uses a 44mm door leaf with intumescent and smoke seals, three rated hinges and a self-closer. FD60 installation uses a heavier door (typically 54mm), upgraded hinges, heavier intumescent specification and in many cases a floor spring or overhead concealed closer rather than a surface-mounted unit. FD60 doors are significantly heavier — the frame and wall construction must be able to support them. Doorz installs both, and advises at survey which is required for your specific building and location.
How Long Does Fire Door Installation Take In London?
A single fire door replacement (door leaf only, existing frame reused where compliant) typically takes 2–3 hours. A full replacement including new fire-rated frame takes 3–5 hours. An HMO package of five to eight doors is usually completed in a single day for a London property, including full certification issued on the day.
Fire Door Installation Across All London Boroughs
Doorz installs fire doors across all 32 London boroughs. Same-day response to enquiries. We can usually schedule within 3–5 working days — faster for urgent compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need For Full Compliance
Get A Fire Door Quote Now
Call or WhatsApp for a free, no-obligation quote. We respond within 1 hour and include a free survey visit on every job.
Mon–Fri 7am–6pm · Sat 8am–5pm · Free survey visit included
The information on this page is provided as general guidance only. UK fire safety law, building regulations and enforcement practice change regularly. Nothing on this website constitutes legal, professional or regulatory advice. Always verify compliance requirements with a qualified fire safety professional. If you find anything incorrect please contact us — 020 3488 0262 or info@doorzlondon.com.