Fire door installation means fitting a certified fire doorset, with frame, seals, hinges, closer and ironmongery that were tested together, so the door performs as certified. In London this most often means FD30S doors for flat entrances, HMO bedrooms and communal routes. BritCertify supplies and installs fire doors across London, priced by written quote after a site survey.
When does a fire door need replacing rather than repairing?
When it cannot be shown to be a certified fire door, or when damage, gaps or alterations go beyond what compatible repairs can put right. Most replacement work starts with a fire door inspection, which tells you exactly which doors need attention and which can be repaired.
- No certification label or other evidence of the fire rating.
- Gaps far beyond tolerance after years of planing, warping or settlement.
- Holes cut for letterplates, cat flaps, spyholes or old locks without fire-rated parts.
- Split, delaminated or badly damaged leaves.
- Ordinary glass fitted in place of fire-rated glazing.
- A damaged frame, or one that is not properly fixed to the wall.
- Flat entrance doors replaced by leaseholders with doors that have no fire rating.
What is a certified fire doorset?
A doorset is a door leaf, frame, seals, hinges and other components manufactured and tested together, supplied with installation instructions and evidence of its fire rating. Because the whole assembly was tested, the installed door has the best chance of performing as certified.
Fitting a new fire-rated leaf into an old frame is sometimes possible, but the frame, gaps, seals, hinges and closer all form part of what was tested. If the existing frame is the wrong section, damaged or out of square, a new leaf alone will not give you a reliable fire door. In London conversions, where openings are rarely square and floors are rarely level, a complete doorset is often the more dependable choice.
| Rating | Meaning | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| FD30S | 30 minutes’ fire resistance with smoke seals | Flat entrance doors, HMO bedroom and kitchen doors onto the escape route, communal corridor and stair doors |
| FD30 | 30 minutes’ fire resistance without smoke seals | Some internal doors where the fire strategy does not call for smoke control |
| FD60 / FD60S | 60 minutes’ fire resistance, with or without smoke seals | Locations where the fire strategy or building control specifies longer protection |
Why does third-party certification matter?
It gives independent evidence that the door product, and the way it was installed, meet the performance claimed. That is what a fire risk assessor, licensing officer, insurer or buyer’s surveyor will look for.
- Product certification: a label or plug on the door, traceable to the manufacturer and the certification scheme, confirming the fire rating.
- Installation: a third-party certified installer is audited against the scheme’s rules and records each installation, so the door’s performance does not rest only on the fitter’s word.
- Components: closers, hinges, locks and seals with data showing they are suitable for the door’s rating.
Before any installer starts, including us, ask how the doorset and its installation are certified and what paperwork you will receive for each door. We set this out in writing with every quote.
What affects the price of fire door installation?
Every installation is priced after a site survey, because no two openings are the same. These are the main factors.
| Factor | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Full doorset or leaf only | Replacing the frame adds materials and labour, but avoids the problems of an unsuitable old frame |
| Size and rating | Non-standard sizes, double doors and FD60 doors cost more than standard FD30S doorsets |
| Glazing | Vision panels need fire-rated glass and a tested glazing system |
| Ironmongery | Flat entrance doors may need security locks, letterplates and spyholes, all compatible with the fire rating |
| Making good | Plastering, architraves and decoration around a new frame |
| Access and logistics | Upper floors without lifts, restricted parking and working around residents |
What does fire door installation involve?
- Survey: we measure each opening and check the frame, wall construction, floor level and existing hardware.
- Specification and quote: the doorset, rating, glazing and ironmongery for each door, with the manufacturer’s lead time.
- Installation: the old door and frame are removed, the new frame fixed and the gap between frame and wall sealed with suitable fire-stopping materials, then the leaf is hung and gaps set to the manufacturer’s tolerances.
- Checks: the closer is adjusted so the door closes fully into its latch from any angle, and seals and signage are fitted.
- Records: each door is recorded with its location, rating and product details.
On occupied buildings we plan the order of work so that no escape route is left without a door at the end of the day, and residents are told in advance when their door will be changed.
How long does a fire door installation take?
There are two parts: manufacture and fitting. Made-to-measure doorsets have a manufacturing lead time, which we confirm with the quote, so allow for it if a licence deadline or enforcement notice is driving the work.
Fitting is planned door by door. We do not remove a door unless the new one can be hung and closed the same day, so a flat or bedroom is never left open overnight. In blocks, we agree a programme with the managing agent and give residents notice of the day their door will be changed.
How should a new fire door be looked after?
A certified door only stays certified if nobody alters it. After installation:
- do not paint over the intumescent or smoke seals, or the certification label;
- do not fit hooks, door wedges, extra locks, letterplates or cat flaps that were not part of the specification;
- do not trim the bottom of the door to clear new flooring without advice;
- check monthly that the door closes into the latch from any angle, and report damage straight away.
Add each new door to your inspection schedule. In buildings over 11 metres, communal fire doors must be checked every quarter.
Who is responsible for replacing flat entrance doors?
The lease decides who owns and repairs the door. Either way, the Fire Safety Act 2021 means the freeholder’s fire risk assessment must consider it. Freeholders and managing agents should identify failing doors through the communal fire risk assessment and door inspections, then write to the leaseholders concerned. Leaseholders replacing their own door should choose a certified doorset and check whether the lease requires the freeholder’s consent.
In HMOs the landlord is responsible for every door, and the HMO fire risk assessment and licence conditions set which doors must be fire doors. Request a survey for a door-by-door quote. We hold £5 million public liability insurance.
Fire door installation pricing (inc. VAT)
| Option | Price (inc. VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Internal FD30S doorset | Quote | Depends on size, glazing, ironmongery and whether the frame is replaced |
| Flat entrance doorset | Quote | Fire rating plus security locks, letterplate, spyhole and finish |
| FD60 and specialist doors | Quote | Higher fire rating, double-leaf doors or vision panels |
| Multiple doors or block programmes | Quote | Number of doors, access and phasing around residents |
Every installation is priced after a site survey, because door sizes, frame condition and ironmongery vary. Quotes include VAT. Central London parking or Congestion Charge may be added; we always confirm before booking.
Book this serviceWhat's included
- Site survey and door-by-door specification
- Written quote inc. VAT before anything is ordered
- Supply of certified fire doorsets or leaves
- Installation to the manufacturer's instructions
- Fire stopping between frame and wall
- Self-closer, seals, hinges and signage fitted and checked
- Door-by-door handover record
How it works
Site survey
We measure each opening, check the frame, walls and floor, and note the fire rating, glazing and ironmongery each door needs.
Written quote
You receive a door-by-door quote inc. VAT, with the doorset specification, lead time and the paperwork you will receive.
Installation
Doors are fitted to the manufacturer's instructions, with gaps set, frames fire-stopped and closers adjusted to close fully from any angle.
Handover records
Each door is recorded with its location, rating and product details for your fire risk assessment and future inspections.
Fire Door Installation: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a fire door in London?
It depends on the door, so we price every installation after a site survey. The main factors are whether you need a full doorset or a leaf only, the size and fire rating, glazing, ironmongery, making good and access. You receive a written, door-by-door quote including VAT before anything is ordered, and any Central London parking or Congestion Charge is confirmed in advance.
Can a fire door be fitted into my existing frame?
Sometimes. The frame must be compatible with the new leaf in section, material and condition, and the gaps, seals, hinges and closer must match what the door was tested with. In older London properties, frames are often damaged, out of square or too slight, so a complete certified doorset is usually the more reliable route. The survey confirms which applies.
Do HMO bedroom doors need to be FD30S fire doors?
In most London HMOs of three or more storeys, and in bedsit-style lets, LACORS guidance and licence conditions expect 30-minute fire doors with self-closers on rooms opening onto the escape route, usually with smoke seals. Smaller two-storey shared houses can sometimes be treated differently. Your fire risk assessment and licence conditions decide, and we specify doors to match them.
Can fire doors have glass panels?
Yes, provided the glass and the glazing system are fire-rated and were tested with the door. Vision panels are useful on corridor and stair doors so people can see someone on the other side. Never replace a cracked fire-rated pane with ordinary glass: it can fail early in a fire, and the door will fail its next inspection.
Does every fire door need a self-closer?
Doors on escape routes, flat entrance doors and HMO bedroom and kitchen doors normally need a self-closing device that closes the door fully into its latch. The main exception is a cupboard or riser door that is kept locked shut and signed accordingly. If a self-closer makes a door hard to use, it should be adjusted or replaced, never removed.
What paperwork do I receive after installation?
A door-by-door record listing each door's location, fire rating, product and certification details and the ironmongery fitted, together with the manufacturer's information where supplied. Keep it with your fire risk assessment: your assessor, a licensing officer or a buyer's solicitor may ask for it, and it gives the next fire door inspection a reliable starting point.
Sources and official guidance
Written and checked by the BritCertify technical team. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.