FD30 fire doors in Exeter: what's involved
Our FD30 fire doors service in Exeter is simple: a survey, a fixed quote, certified products and an installation finished to the manufacturer's evidence.
Around Exeter, HMOs, industrial units and GP surgeries all depend on fire doors that close, latch and seal. We survey each opening and tell you plainly which doors need work and which don't.
Each FD30 leaf we supply for Exeter is sized for the opening, rather than trimmed beyond what its certification allows. In Exeter, FD30 doors are the usual choice for escape-route corridors, stairs and kitchen doors where the fire strategy asks for 30 minutes.
What does a correct FD30 installation include?
A typical timber FD30 leaf is around 44mm thick and hangs on at least three fire-tested hinges. The gaps between leaf and frame are set to the manufacturer's data, usually around 3mm. Intumescent strips, and smoke seals where needed, go in the frame or leaf edge as specified. The closer must pull the door shut and latch it from any angle. Every hole cut for a lock, latch or hinge is lined with intumescent material where the certification calls for it.
Then comes the part that is often skipped: sealing the gap between the frame and the wall with a tested material, as BS 8214:2026 now sets out in more detail.
What you get:
- Frame-to-wall gap sealed with an evidenced material
- Fire-tested hinges, latch or lock and intumescent pads
- Overhead closer set to close and latch
- Certified FD30 or FD30S leaf, or full doorset
What the rules say for Exeter
Fire doors in Exeter fall under English rules. New and replacement doors are covered by the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document B. In workplaces and the common parts of blocks, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as clarified by the Fire Safety Act 2021, puts the duty on the responsible person to keep fire doors suitable and maintained.
For residential buildings in Exeter above 11 metres, regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 adds checks: communal fire doors at least every three months and best-endeavours checks of flat entrance doors at least every twelve months. Higher-risk buildings of at least 18 metres or seven storeys also come under the Building Safety Act 2022, where works may need approval from the Building Safety Regulator.
Who needs FD30 fire doors in Exeter?
You are most likely to need FD30 fire doors if you look after offices, HMOs or schools. Whatever the building in Exeter, we survey each opening and tell you which doors need work and which do not.
Our process in Exeter
- Measure the opening, check the frame and confirm the rating needed
- Order a certified leaf or doorset to size, with matching components
- Remove the old door and assess the frame or structural opening
- Fix the frame and hang the leaf to the certified gap tolerances
- Fit seals, hinges, latch, closer and signage, then test close-and-latch
- Seal the frame-to-wall gap, make good and record the evidence
Guide prices in Exeter
As a guide, budget £300–£600 for a leaf into a sound existing frame; £650–£1,300 for a doorset, ex VAT for FD30 fire doors. The figure for your Exeter building depends on the number of doors, the rating, the condition of the frames, finishes, hardware and access. We confirm a fixed price after the free survey.
Nearby areas we cover from Exeter
Nearby towns we cover include Heavitree, Exmouth and Tiverton. Distance from Exeter does not change our guide prices, and the survey and quote are free.
Common questions
Do you work in Exeter?
Yes, we take on FD30 fire doors in Exeter and the surrounding area, including Heavitree and Exmouth. Send your postcode and a few details and we'll come back with survey dates.
What happens on a survey in Exeter?
We look at every door in scope: the leaf, frame, gaps, seals, hinges, closer, glazing and how the frame is fixed. You then get a written quote that prices each door separately.
What is the difference between FD30 and FD30S?
FD30S has been tested for smoke control as well as fire. It adds a smoke seal, usually a brush or blade, and needs a tight threshold gap. Flat entrance doors and doors onto protected escape routes are commonly specified as FD30S.
Do FD30 doors need a closer?
Most do. Doors on escape routes, flat entrance doors and doors in the common parts of buildings need a self-closing device that shuts and latches the door. Some doors inside houses and locked riser doors are exceptions, depending on the fire strategy.