Fire Door Standards & Regulations

This article will provide you with a working understanding of the CE Mark and how to read the product classification code.

EN Standards for Building Hardware

The CE Mark is a mandatory requirement for construction products placed on the market after 1 July 2013. The CE Mark is only applicable, however, where there is a relevant European standard for the particular component.

Product Classification Code

The applicable EN standard classifies the product characteristics of each type of building hardware used on fire doors by using a multiple digit coding system. A similar classification applies to all building hardware product standards so that complementary items of hardware can be specified to, for instance, a common level of corrosion resistance, category of use, etc. Each digit refers to a particular feature of the product measured against the standard's performance requirements.

The multiple digit coding system assists in the selection of building hardware that is compatible with the configuration of the fire door assembly on which it is intended to be used. For example, in selecting a suitable hinge, the following product characteristics might be selected as most suitable for the intended application from the eight categories available in BS EN 1935:
The above selection would be represented by the following eight digit product classification code:



The entry in the first box of the product classification code is referred to as Digit 1, the entry in the second box is referred to as Digit 2, etc. The 8 digits in the code correspond to the following 8 categories:
Each category will have a grade that is denoted by a digit. This digit forms part of the 8-digit code.

Digit 1 - Category of use
Four categories of use are identified:

• Grade 1: light duty
• Grade 2: medium duty
• Grade 3: heavy duty
• Grade 4: severe duty

A medium duty hinge is provided in this example, so ‘2’ is the digit in the first box of our 8-digit code.

Digit 2 - Durability
Three grades are identified for single-axis hinges manufactured to this European standard:

• Grade 3: 10,000 test cycles, for light duty hinges on windows only
• Grade 4: 25,000 test cycles, for light duty hinges on windows and doors
• Grade 7: 200,000 test cycles, for medium, heavy and severe duty hinges on doors only

A medium duty hinge for use on doors only is provided in this example, so ‘7’ is the digit in the second box of our 8-digit code. This procedure is continued for the remaining 6 digits in the box.

Digit 3 - Test Door Mass
Eight door mass grades related to single-axis hinges are identified in this European standard.

• Grade 1 - 10 kg
• Grade 2 - 20 kg
• Grade 3 - 40 kg
• Grade 4 - 60 kg
• Grade 5 - 80 kg
• Grade 6 - 100 kg
• Grade 7 - 120 kg
• Grade 8 - 160 kg

Digit 4 - Suitability For Fire/Smoke Door Use
Two grades of suitability are identified for single-axis hinges:

• Grade 0: not suitable for fire/smoke resistant door assemblies
• Grade 1: suitable for fire/smoke resistant door assemblies

Digit 5 - Safety
Single-axis hinges are required to satisfy the essential requirements of safety in use. Therefore, only grade 1 is identified. Digit 6 - Corrosion resistance
Five grades of corrosion resistance are identified in accordance with EN 1670:

• Grade 0: no defined corrosion resistance
• Grade 1: mild resistance
• Grade 2: moderate resistance
• Grade 3: high resistance
• Grade 4: very high resistance

Digit 7 - Security
Two grades of security are identified for single-axis hinges:

• Grade 0: not suitable for use on burglar-resistant door assemblies
• Grade 1: suitable for applications requiring a degree of security

Digit 8 - Hinge Grade
Fourteen grades are identified in this European standard but only 4 are suitable for use on fire doors: