What the Withdrawal of BS 476 Means for Fire Door Specification

The Withdrawal of BS 476 and the Future of Fire Door Specification

More than 60% of projects progressing through Gateway 2 are already being specified using EN fire test evidence. Despite this, much of the fire door market continues to operate within a dual-standard environment in which both BS 476-22 and EN 1634-1 remain acceptable routes to demonstrating fire performance. That position will change on 2 September 2029 when references to national fire resistance tests are removed from Approved Document B and BS 476-22 is withdrawn. For architects, specifiers and Responsible Persons, the implications extend beyond compliance and into the practical realities of specification, certification and product selection. 

The Introduction of EN 1634-1

The withdrawal itself is straightforward. BS 476-22, the long-established UK test method for determining the fire resistance of non-load-bearing building elements, will no longer be recognised as a route to demonstrating compliance for new products. In the future, fire-resisting door sets will require classification in accordance with EN 13501-2, based on test evidence generated in accordance with EN 1634-1.

The change has often been presented as a simple transition from one standard to another. In practice, the situation is more nuanced. What is changing is not merely the test method used to expose a door to fire conditions, but the framework through which performance is evidenced, classified and extended beyond the original test specimen.

The Difference Between Testing and Certification

For many specifiers, the distinction between testing and classification has not always been particularly important. A door set that achieved an FD30 or FD60 rating was covered by third-party certification and, therefore, could be specified with reasonable confidence. The new European framework now separates these functions more clearly.

EN 1634-1 is a test standard. It establishes how fire-resisting door sets are tested in furnaces and how their performance is measured. EN 13501-2 is a classification standard. It takes the results generated during testing and assigns classifications based on specific performance criteria, including integrity, insulation and smoke leakage.

New Fire Door Designations

The familiar FD30 and FD60 designations will be replaced by classifications that describe performance in greater detail. Integrity will be expressed as E: this measures the door's ability to prevent the passage of flames and hot gases. Insulation will be expressed as I: this measures the ability to limit the temperature rise on the door's unexposed face. In addition, smoke performance will now be identified separately through classifications like Sa for ambient temperature smoke leakage. So, for example, a door set classified as E30Sa provides 30 minutes of integrity alongside cold smoke control. 

From a technical perspective, this approach provides a much more detailed - and helpful - picture of a door set's performance. It will align the UK with the wider European classification system already used for many other construction products. The practical consequences, however, are likely to be felt elsewhere.

The Availability of Fire Door Products

One of the more significant questions concerns the future availability of fire door products. The current market benefits from a substantial body of historical test evidence, technical assessments and certification schemes that support a wide range of door configurations. Manufacturers have been able to offer extensive combinations of dimensions, glazing arrangements, finishes and hardware while maintaining compliance through established assessment methodologies.

As manufacturers develop new EN-based evidence portfolios, some of those assumptions may change. The industry does not yet know the full scope of products that will ultimately be available under the new regime. Manufacturers are undertaking extensive testing programmes, but the process is costly and time-consuming. Decisions inevitably have to be made about which products, configurations and variations justify investment in testing and classification. As a result, some products currently available may not reappear in exactly the same form once EN evidence becomes the sole route to compliance.

For projects currently in design, the challenge may be less about achieving compliance and more about maintaining specification continuity. A door set selected today may not have an identical equivalent available under EN classification in five years. This is unlikely to affect most projects currently on site, but it could become a consideration on long-term frameworks, phased refurbishments and estate-wide upgrade programmes where consistency of specification is often important.

What the Withdrawal of BS 476-22 Means for Responsible Persons

For organisations managing large estates, there may also be implications for future maintenance and replacement strategies. A door specified today could remain compliant throughout its service life, but sourcing a like-for-like replacement in the future may become increasingly dependent on the availability of supporting test evidence and on the field of application.

This is where Extended Application reports, commonly known as EXAPs, become more important. A fire test applies to a specific specimen under defined conditions on a particular day. But testing every possible variation of a door set would be impractical and prohibitively expensive, possibly stifling innovation and limiting choice. EXAPs provide a structured, controlled methodology for extending the scope of tested products beyond the exact specimen tested. They establish where variations in dimensions, glazing, hardware, or construction, for example, can be permitted while maintaining the required fire classification.

The concept is not new, but its importance is likely to increase as manufacturers seek to maximise the value of their testing programmes. EXAPs allow a broader range of products to be supported from a limited number of physical tests while maintaining a recognised and standardised approach to risk management.

What Specifiers Need to Know

For specifiers, however, EXAPs introduce an extra level of complexity. The scope of one manufacturer's extended application cannot be automatically be transferred to another. Two door sets may look and seem similar, but the evidence supporting them may differ significantly. Hardware substitutions that are permitted within one field of application may fall outside another. This makes the specification process more dependent on understanding the limitations of the evidence supporting individual products, rather than on assuming equivalence across the wider market. 

This issue is particularly relevant when it comes to third-party certification. Certification schemes stipulate that the wording of the field of application be followed to the letter, and compliance is determined not by whether a proposed alternative appears similar, but by whether it falls within the scope permitted by the supporting documentation. If it doesn't, some additional assessment may be needed, possibly through a project-specific assessment or an updated field of application.

The industry is also seeking to establish greater consistency in how technical assessments are conducted. Work is currently underway on BS 8623, a new British Standard that will provide a structured methodology for assessing the performance of passive fire protection products. Scheduled for publication in 2027, the standard is expected to formalise principles that have been developing across the passive fire protection sector for some time and provide greater consistency in the application of technical assessments.

What Does This Mean for Existing Fire Doors

Of course, none of these changes means that existing in-situ fire doors suddenly become non-compliant now or even in 2029. Doors that were installed in accordance with the regulations and standards applicable at the time will still be acceptable throughout their service life. The withdrawal of BS 476 only affects future specifications, and building owners are not expected to replace existing compliant doors just because the testing framework has changed. Clear records of installation dates, certification and maintenance history will nevertheless become increasingly important as both standards continue to coexist during the transition period. 

For spcifiers, the immediate challenge is therefore not wholesale change but informed preparation. Questions about manufacturers' testing programmes, future product availability and the scope of supporting evidence are becoming increasingly relevant, particularly on projects with long design and construction programmes that may extend beyond the 2029 deadline.

The withdrawal of BS 476 is sometimes described as a regulatory milestone, and it certainly is. But its longer-term significance may lie elsewhere. As fire door specifications become more closely tied to defined fields of application, classification reports, and supporting evidence, the relationship between design intent and demonstrated performance is likely to be more tightly controlled than ever before. This seems like a good thing for every stakeholder in the fire door sector.

That is not necessarily a problem. Indeed, many would argue it is a logical consequence of the wider drive towards competence, traceability and evidence-based specification that has characterised the post-Grenfell regulatory landscape. It does, however, represent a significant shift in the way fire door performance is demonstrated, assessed and ultimately specified. For those responsible for translating regulatory requirements into practical design solutions, that conversation has already begun.

When is BS 476 being withdrawn?

BS 476-22 will be withdrawn on 2 September 2029, when references to national fire resistance tests are removed from Approved Document B. After that date, new fire-resisting doorsets will need classification in accordance with EN 13501-2 based on EN 1634-1 test evidence.

What replaces BS 476 for fire door testing?

BS 476-22 is being replaced by a European framework. Fire doors will be tested to EN 1634-1 and classified to EN 13501-2, which assesses fire integrity, insulation and smoke performance.

What is the difference between EN 1634-1 and EN 13501-2?

EN 1634-1 is the fire resistance test standard for doorsets. EN 13501-2 is the classification standard that assigns ratings such as E30 or EI60 using the results of EN 1634-1 testing.

Will existing BS 476 fire doors need to be replaced after 2029?

No. Fire doors installed in accordance with the regulations in force at the time of installation remain compliant throughout their service life. The 2029 changes apply to future specifications, not existing compliant installations.

What is an EXAP for a fire door?

An Extended Application (EXAP) allows a manufacturer to extend the scope of a fire test to cover defined variations in a doorset, such as size, glazing or hardware, without testing every possible configuration.

Why are EXAPs becoming more important?

As manufacturers move to EN fire testing, EXAPs will play a greater role in defining which door configurations and hardware combinations are supported by test evidence. They will become increasingly important when specifying compliant doorsets.

Will the withdrawal of BS 476 affect fire door specification?

Yes. Architects and specifiers may need to consider product availability, certification evidence, EXAPs and approved hardware combinations more carefully as manufacturers transition to EN classification.

Can I substitute ironmongery on an EN-tested fire door?

Not necessarily. Any hardware substitution must fall within the manufacturer's approved field of application or be supported by a suitable technical assessment. Products that appear similar may not share the same certification evidence.

Will FD30 and FD60 classifications disappear?

Traditional FD ratings are expected to be replaced over time by EN classifications such as E30, EI30 and E30Sa. During the transition period, both systems are likely to be encountered across the industry.

How to prepare for the withdrawal of BS 476?

Architects, specifiers, and Responsible Persons should begin discussing manufacturers' EN testing programmes, product availability, certification evidence and EXAPs, particularly on projects expected to extend beyond the September 2029 transition