Growing awareness of security risks and building safety has increased the demand for doors that can offer both protection against attack, plus compliance with fire safety regulations.
Rob Mottram, Head of Product and Compliance at steel door manufacturer Robust UK, looks at how fire doors can meet modern security needs while still maintaining certified fire performance.
Why is steel suitable for fire doors?
“Steel has become the preferred material for fire doors due to its exceptional strength, durability and resilience. Unlike other alternatives, steel maintains its structural integrity even under extreme heat, making it a popular choice for fire doors. During a fire, steel fire-rated doors are designed to resist warping, cracking and structural failure, allowing them to act as an effective barrier that slows the spread of flames, smoke and hot gas.
In addition to their fire-resistant properties, steel fire doors provide superior impact resistance and long-term durability. Their robust construction allows them to withstand heavy use in high-traffic environments such as commercial buildings, hospitals and schools. Unlike timber doors, which can weaken at joints or degrade over time and may require regular repainting, treatment and refinishing, steel is less susceptible to wear, moisture damage and deformation, maintaining both performance and safety over time.
Made from Magnelis® steel, our doorsets require minimal maintenance and do not compromise on appearance, allowing customers to also meet brand aesthetics and architectural design specifications. The anti-corrosion warranty of up to ten years provides additional reassurance that the door will not degrade prematurely and remain in excellent condition for the long term. As a result, steel fire doors offer a dependable combination of fire protection and security, making them a practical choice for meeting today’s building safety requirements.
Combining fire resistance with security performance
Steel doorsets can be tested to EN 1634-1 and certified for up to 240 minutes of fire resistance, helping to maintain safe evacuation routes and effective compartmentation within a building. These tests measure a door’s ability to maintain integrity over a period of time. Where both fire resistance and enhanced security are required, selected steel doorsets can meet both requirements within a single fully tested solution.
Yet, these requirements cannot be achieved by simply combining individual fire-rated and security-rated components. A doorset must be tested, assessed and certified as a complete system to ensure both fire and security performance are maintained, as a weakness in either can compromise the overall integrity of the door.
There is a range of fire-rated steel doorsets available to suit different application needs. For example, our market-leading steel fire exit solution, OUTA-DOR, provides up to four hours fire resistance, delivering maximum fire protection and ensuring safe escape routes during emergencies. OUTA-DOR THERM offers up to 60 minutes’ fire resistance while delivering a thermal performance of 1.5 W/m²K. This combination makes it well-suited for external applications where both certified fire protection and enhanced insulation performance are required.
Delivering more than compliance
Choosing steel fire doors can offer more than just meeting Building Regulations.
By selecting fully tested doorsets that combine fire resistance, high security, durability and the appropriate hardware, fire doors can enhance both safety and long-term building performance.”
For more information on fire-rated steel door solutions, third-party tested to achieve up to 240 minutes fire resistance, visit: www.robust-uk.com/product-category/fire-doors
