A certified fire door has been tested by an independent body. A label on the door links it to its certificate. This guide explains how to check if a fire door is certified and what to look for in the certificate behind the label.

For more on the certification schemes themselves, see our guide to UK fire door certification.

What Does Third-Party Certification Check For?

Third-party certification means an independent body checks the door’s design, its fire resistance performance, manufacturing process and quality assurance. The manufacturing and quality are checked through independent audits of the manufacturer. For example, BM TRADA, a certification body, assesses manufacturers on an ongoing basis under its Q-Mark certification schemes. This includes audits of the factory’s production controls and periodic testing of products. The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Fire Door Alliance says standard products are retested regularly to confirm the original test was not a one-off. It suggests asking how old a test is to help keep track of when to test.

Where Do You Find the Certification Label?

The label’s location depends on the certification scheme. Here are two of them:

BWF Fire Door Alliance – The label is on the top edge of the door. On a doorset, it may be in the frame instead.

BM TRADA Q-Mark – The door carries a plug or QR code label 

What Does A BWF Label Show?

• The name and phone number of the certified company
• The certificate number, where applicable. A door manufacturer’s certificate number is called the CF number
• A unique serial number, which allows the door to be traced
• The fire rating 

A door can be modified after it is made. When a licensed Door Processor, a company licensed to modify doors, makes a change, the door is then given a second label. It shows the processor’s name, certificate number, contact details and a unique number.

A BWF label should never be removed from a door. If one is lost, a replacement has to match the original details and must contain the certificate number or supplier invoices.

What Does A BM TRADA Plug or QR code Show?

A BM TRADA plug or QR code shows the company’s unique identification number, which BM TRADA says helps specifiers source documentation and verify the original specifications. 

How Do You Check the Certificate?

Note the number on the label, plug or QR code
Write down the certificate number, the company’s indentification number and the door’s unique serial number, where shown.

Look up the certificate
BWF says certificates under CERTIFIRE, the warringtonfire scheme, can be searched on the Warringtonfire website, and certificates under BM TRADA’s Q-Mark scheme on the BM TRADA website.

Check the certificate covers your door
The door should be the type shown on the certificate. Any glazing should be within the scope of the test evidence. Two single doors fitted as a pair may not be covered.

Ask about the test
BWF suggests asking whether the test was independent, who carried it out, how old the test certificate is, whether the sample was representative of what the manufacturer

BWF says it’s not enough to simply obtain a certificate or a photocopy of one. The certificate has to be relevant to the door and components that were fitted. 

When Does A Fire Door Certificate No Longer Apply?

A certificate only covers the doors as it was at the time of testing. If the door is changed, the certificate may no longer cover it. The BWF Fire Door Alliance gives some examples of changes:

Cutting a glass opening on site
Apertures, the openings for glass, should never be cut on site. A Licensed Door Processor can add one instead. The door then gets a second label with the processor’s own certificate number.

Glazing the certificate does not cover
The certificate should show that the glazing is within the scope of the test evidence. Glazing should only be done by the door manufacturer or an authorised, certified company.

Fitting two single doors as a pair
The test evidence may not cover this. Check that the certificate covers pairs of doors.

Changing the hardware
The certificate lists the seals, hinges, closers and other ironmongery that are permitted. Check that any hardware on the door is on that list.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a fire door FAQ document for local authorities and housing associations which notes that small differences in detail can significantly affect performance. This includes glazing apertures or intumescent strips (strips that expand with heat to seal the gap around the door). They also say you should not rely solely on certification. Test evidence should be checked carefully against the door as installed. 

What Should You Ask A Supplier?

• What is the certificate number, and which scheme does it come from?
  
• Can I have a copy of the certificate and the test evidence? They should cover my door type, glazing and how the doors are fitted.
  
• Which body audits the manufacturer, and is it accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)? The MHCLG FAQs say a UKAS-accredited certification body can give landlords and building owners greater assurance on the performance of the doors.
  
• Does every door carry a label, plug or QR code that can be traced back to the certificate?
  
• Is the installer certified? FIRAS, for example, is an installer certification scheme

Talk To Us About Your Project or to Check if a fire door is certified.

We manufacture FD30 and FD60 (30 & 60 minute) fire doors in-house at our Kent facility. Our fire door surveys include checking for signage and certification marks.

If you need certification evidence for your doors, or want your existing doors checked, get in touch with us or call 0800 035 6827.

You can also read more about our fire door manufacture.