Getting FD30 fire doors right in Caterham
From the CR3 postcode district outwards, we take on FD30 fire doors across Caterham for homes, blocks and workplaces.
Buildings in and around Caterham range from small offices to family homes after loft conversions and small blocks of flats. Whatever the building, the standard is the same: certified products, correct gaps, seals and closers, and a frame sealed to the wall.
In Caterham, FD30 doors are the usual choice for escape-route corridors, stairs and kitchen doors where the fire strategy asks for 30 minutes. Each FD30 leaf we supply for Caterham is sized for the opening, rather than trimmed beyond what its certification allows.
Where are FD30 doors used?
FD30 is the rating most buildings rely on. You will find it on flat entrance doors, doors onto escape corridors and stairs in houses in multiple occupation, kitchen doors in HMOs, and most internal doors on escape routes in offices, schools, surgeries and shops. Where smoke control matters too, the door is specified as FD30S (E30Sa), which adds a smoke seal and a tighter threshold.
The rating your building needs comes from its fire strategy or fire risk assessment, not from the door supplier. If you are unsure whether a door should be FD30 or FD60, we check the drawings, the risk assessment and what is installed now before we price anything. Our FD30 vs FD60 guide explains the difference.
Each installation includes:
- Certified FD30 or FD30S leaf, or full doorset
- Overhead closer set to close and latch
- Survey of the opening, frame and existing ironmongery
- Intumescent strips and smoke seals to the certification
The regulations behind fire doors in Caterham
In Caterham, as elsewhere in England, the starting point is the Fire Safety Order 2005: whoever controls a workplace or the shared parts of a residential block must make sure its fire doors work. When doors are replaced, the Building Regulations and Approved Document B set the standard the new work has to meet.
Blocks above 11 metres have a specific routine under regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: quarterly checks of communal fire doors and annual best-endeavours checks of flat front doors. If your Caterham building is a higher-risk building under the Building Safety Act 2022, we confirm the approval route with the Principal Accountable Person before any work is ordered.
Who needs FD30 fire doors in Caterham?
From care homes to HMOs, the requirement for FD30 fire doors in Caterham comes from the fire strategy or risk assessment for the building. We work from that document, or help you interpret your inspection report, before quoting.
The steps on a Caterham installation
- 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
Budgeting for FD30 fire doors in Caterham
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 Caterham 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 Caterham
Nearby towns we cover include Coulsdon, Purley and Redhill. Distance from Caterham does not change our guide prices, and the survey and quote are free.
Common questions
Is Caterham within your coverage area?
It is. We cover Caterham in Surrey and neighbouring towns such as Coulsdon. There is no charge for the survey.
What happens on a survey in Caterham?
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.
Can a new FD30 door go into my old frame?
Sometimes. The frame has to be sound, square, securely fixed and compatible with the new leaf's certification. Many older frames are not, especially softwood linings or frames altered for previous doors. We check each frame on the survey and recommend a doorset only where the frame cannot be relied on.
How long does it take to fit an FD30 door?
A leaf into a sound frame is often a few hours. A full doorset including frame removal, fixing, sealing and making good is usually half a day to a day per opening, depending on access and the wall construction.