BS 476-22 is the British fire test for doors, giving FD ratings such as FD30. BS EN 1634-1 is the European test, with results classified under BS EN 13501-2 as E30 or EI30. The government has confirmed that BS 476 classifications will be withdrawn from Approved Document B in favour of the European system, not before 2029. Existing compliant doors do not automatically need replacing.
What are the two test routes?
For decades, UK fire doors have been tested to BS 476-22, with results expressed as FD ratings such as FD30 and FD60. Smoke leakage has been tested to BS 476-31.1, adding the S suffix. Alongside this, the European route uses BS EN 1634-1 for fire resistance, with results classified under BS EN 13501-2 as E30, E60, EI30 and so on. Smoke control is tested to BS EN 1634-3, adding the Sa suffix.
The two systems grew up separately. The British Standards came first, and the European standards were developed later to give a common approach across Europe, so that a product tested in one country could be understood in another. The UK has run both in parallel for many years, which is why so many door schedules, certificates and specifications show two sets of figures.
Approved Document B in England has accepted both routes, giving requirements in the form E30Sa alongside the national equivalent FD30S, for example. Many manufacturers have tested their products to both, so their certification shows both an FD rating and a European classification.
How do the tests differ?
| Aspect | BS 476-22 route | BS EN 1634-1 route |
|---|---|---|
| Fire resistance rating | FD30, FD60 and so on | E30, E60, EI30 and so on, classified to BS EN 13501-2 |
| Smoke control | BS 476-31.1, S suffix | BS EN 1634-3, Sa suffix |
| Furnace conditions | The national method | A harmonised European method with different pressure conditions, generally regarded as more demanding |
| Classification | Expressed directly as test result | Formal classification report drawing on the test evidence |
| Variations from the tested door | Commonly covered by expert assessment | Typically covered by extended application rules in related standards |
The practical point is that a result under one route does not transfer automatically to the other. A door that passed BS 476-22 for 30 minutes may or may not achieve E30 under BS EN 1634-1, and vice versa. Only a test or classification under the relevant standard shows how it performs.
What has the government confirmed?
The government has confirmed that national classifications based on the BS 476 series will be withdrawn from Approved Document B, leaving the BS EN 13501 series as the basis for demonstrating performance. The withdrawal will not take effect before 2029, and the transition period is intended to give manufacturers time to test their products to the European standards where they have not already done so.
This guide does not give a precise date because the detail of the transition, including any arrangements for work already in progress, should be checked against the latest version of Approved Document B and government announcements at the time. The change applies to the statutory guidance in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own guidance documents and may follow different timetables, so check the position for the nation where your building is.
Do existing BS 476 fire doors need replacing?
No, not because of the transition alone. Building regulations apply to building work at the time it is carried out. A fire door that was correctly specified, certified and installed under the guidance in force at the time, and that has been properly maintained, does not automatically become non-compliant when the guidance changes.
What matters for an existing door is the same as it has always been: does it still match its evidence, and is it in good working order? A well-maintained FD30S door with a valid BS 476 certification remains a perfectly good fire door. If it fails an inspection, it may need repair or replacement, but that is because of its condition, not its test standard. Our guide on how long fire doors last covers when replacement makes sense.
What will change for repairs and replacements?
Repairs to existing doors should continue to use components that match the door's original evidence, whichever standard it was tested to. The bigger impact will be on new doors and replacements. Once the national classifications are withdrawn, new work will need to be supported by European classifications. In practice, many manufacturers already test to the European standards, so buyers may see little difference, but products tested only to BS 476 are likely to become less common.
Remedial work also needs care when the original evidence was BS 476 only. Replacement components should be those covered by the door's own certification, not parts chosen because they carry a European classification for a different door. Mixing evidence bases on one door is a common source of confusion at inspection.
For a programme of works spanning several years, it makes sense to specify products that already hold European classifications. That avoids a mid-programme change of product and keeps all the doors in a building on the same evidence base.
What should you specify now?
- Ask for both classifications where available, for example FD30S and E30Sa, so the door's evidence is valid under either route.
- Where a product has only one, prefer the European classification for new work, especially on projects that may complete close to or after the withdrawal date.
- Check the certification covers the exact configuration, size, glazing and ironmongery you need under the classification you are relying on.
- Keep the classification reports and certificates in the building's records alongside installation evidence.
- For higher-risk buildings in England, fire door works may need building control approval from the Building Safety Regulator, so confirm the route with the Principal Accountable Person before ordering.
Certified fire doorsets with dual classification are increasingly available for most common applications, including flat entrance doors and communal doors.
How do you read a European classification?
European classification strings can look intimidating, but each part has a meaning. E is integrity and I is insulation, followed by the number of minutes, so E30 means 30 minutes of integrity. Where insulation is claimed you may see EI1 or EI2, which reflect different ways of measuring temperature rise. Sa means smoke control at ambient temperature. A C followed by a number indicates the door is self-closing and shows how durable that function proved in cycle testing. In residential buildings, E30Sa is the classification most often seen where smoke control is required. Our glossary explains other common terms.
Frequently asked questions
When will BS 476 fire ratings stop being accepted?
The government has confirmed that BS 476 national classifications will be withdrawn from Approved Document B in England in favour of the BS EN 13501 series, with withdrawal not before 2029. Check the latest version of Approved Document B and government guidance for the confirmed date and any transitional arrangements.
Do I need to replace my FD30 doors because of this change?
No. Doors correctly specified, certified and installed under the guidance in force at the time, and properly maintained, do not automatically need replacing. They should be replaced if they fail inspection and cannot be repaired within their evidence, not simply because they were tested to BS 476.
Is E30 better than FD30?
Neither is simply better. They are results from different test methods. E30 comes from BS EN 1634-1, which is generally regarded as more demanding in some respects. A door that holds both classifications has shown it meets both, which is the most flexible position for specifiers.
Does the BS 476 withdrawal apply in Scotland?
The confirmed withdrawal relates to Approved Document B, which is guidance for England. Scotland uses the Technical Handbooks, Wales has its own Approved Document B and Northern Ireland uses Technical Booklet E. Each may handle the transition differently, so check the guidance for the nation where the building is.
This guide is general information about fire doors in the UK, not legal advice. Your fire risk assessor, the responsible person or building control has the final say for your building.