All commercial buildings in England and Wales are subject to the RRO. Under this legislation, a designated Responsible Person — typically the employer, building owner, or occupier — is legally required to ensure that appropriate fire doors in commercial buildings are installed, maintained, and regularly inspected.

Key fire door requirements for commercial buildings include:

• Fire doors must be installed on all escape routes and in areas of identified fire risk.
• Doors must be rated FD30 (30-minute resistance) or FD60 (60-minute resistance) as determined by a fire risk assessment.
• All fire doors must self-close and must not be propped open.
• Fire doors must carry appropriate signage on both sides.
• All components, including hinges, seals, closers, and glazing, must be certified to the same fire rating as the door.
• Regular inspections can be carried out using Gerda’s G-Smart fire door management software, which supports digital compliance records for responsible persons.

For a detailed guide to fire door regulations in commercial buildings, see our article on fire safety in commercial buildings.

FD30 Commercial Fire Doors

FD30 fire doors provide 30 minutes of fire resistance and are the most common specification for commercial internal fire doors in offices, retail, and light industrial settings. Available in glazed and solid configurations, our FD30 doorsets are pre-hung in certified frames and ready for installation.

FD60 Commercial Fire Doors

FD60 doorsets provide 60 minutes of fire resistance and are required in higher-risk commercial settings, including stairwells, high-rise offices, warehouses, and plant rooms. Our FD60 fire door sets are manufactured to the same exacting standards as our residential range, with full third-party certification.

Commercial Fire Doors with Glass

Glazed commercial fire doors are a popular choice for reception areas, open-plan offices, and corridors where natural light and visibility are important. All glass panels in our glazed fire doorsets are certified to EW30 or EW60 standards under the European classification system BS EN 13501-2, providing fire resistance without compromising on design. Under this system, E stands for integrity, I for insulation, and W for radiation control, with the number indicating minutes of resistance.

Double Commercial Fire Door Sets

For high-traffic areas, loading bays, and accessible entrances, our double fire door sets provide a wider opening whilst maintaining full fire certification. Available in FD30 and FD60 ratings with Equality Act-compliant configurations.

• UK manufacturer with over 30 years’ experience in fire safety for commercial buildings 
• Full third-party certification — BM TRADA, Certifire, Secured by Design, and UKCA marked.
• Bespoke manufacturing made to measure for complex commercial layouts.
• FD30 and FD60 options across solid, glazed, single, and double configurations.
• Dedicated business development team working alongside architects, contractors, and property managers.
• Digital compliance support via G-Smart fire door management software 
• Certified fire door installer service.

Are fire doors required in commercial buildings?

Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all commercial premises in England and Wales are legally required to have appropriate fire doors in commercial buildings on escape routes and in areas of fire risk. A risk assessment determines the specific rating and placement. 

Do I need fire doors in a commercial building?

Yes, in most cases. If your commercial building has two or more floors, contains high-risk areas such as kitchens or plant rooms, or has escape routes that pass through internal spaces, fire doors will be a legal requirement. The exact specification — including fire rating and placement — is determined by a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person. Failure to comply with the RRO can result in enforcement action, prosecution, and unlimited fines.

What is the difference between FD30 and FD60 commercial fire doors?

FD30 and FD60 refer to the fire resistance rating of the door — 30 minutes and 60 minutes, respectively. FD30 commercial fire doors are the standard specification for most internal commercial applications, including offices, corridors, and retail units. FD60 doors are required in higher-risk areas or where additional escape time is needed, such as stairwells, plant rooms, and high-rise office buildings. Where European classifications apply, FD30 and FD60 correspond broadly to EI30 and EI60 under BS EN 13501-2.

The correct rating for your building will be specified in your fire risk assessment.

Can commercial fire doors include glass panels?

Yes. Commercial fire doors with glass — also known as glazed fire doorsets — are widely used in offices, reception areas, and open-plan environments where natural light and sightlines are important. The glazing must be certified fire-rated glass, tested to EW30 or EW60 standards, and must not compromise the overall fire resistance of the doorset. Gerda Security manufactures a range of commercial fire doors with glass in both FD30 and FD60 ratings, in single and double configurations.

How often should commercial fire doors be inspected?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure fire doors are maintained in good working order. The recommended frequency is a full inspection every six months by a competent person, with monthly visual checks by building staff. Signs to look for include damaged seals, gaps around the door frame, doors that fail to self-close fully, and missing or illegible signage. Any defects should be repaired immediately — a fire door that fails to function correctly provides no protection.