How to Select the Right Sealants for Your Fire Door Installation

24 September 2024

How to Select the Right Sealants for Your Fire Door Installation 

Ensuring the proper installation of fire doors is a critical part of enhancing building safety, as they play a vital role in containing fire and smoke during emergencies. A key aspect of installing fire doors is selecting the right sealants to close the gaps between the door frame and the surrounding structure. Choosing the right fire-rated materials ensures compliance with fire safety regulations and provides optimal protection. 

In this guide, we’ll cover the essential factors you need to consider when selecting fire door sealants and how to ensure they meet the necessary British Standards.  

 

Why Fire-Rated Sealants Matter 

Fire doors are specifically designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke for a certain period, typically 30, 60, or 120 minutes. However, the gaps between the door frame and the surrounding wall can become weak points if not sealed with the appropriate fire-resistant products. Using the wrong materials can compromise the integrity of the fire door assembly, rendering it ineffective in an emergency. 

 

Key Considerations for Selecting Fire Door Sealants 

When selecting fire door sealants, it is important to verify that the products have been tested as part of a fire door assembly in accordance with British Standard BS 8214:2016. Here’s what to look for: 

 

  • Approved Fire-Resistant Mastics and Silicones
    Both fire rated mastic and fire rated silicone should be approved linear gap joint seals. They must be successfully tested according to BS 476-20 or BS EN 1366-4, providing the required level of fire resistance. These products are essential for sealing the joints between fire doors and their frames. 

 

  • Expanding Foam for Fire Door Gaps
    Expanding fire rated foam is an excellent solution for sealing gaps between fire door frames and surrounding walls, but it must meet the same testing standards—BS 476-20 or BS EN 1366-4—and provide at least 30 minutes of fire resistance. 

 

  • Testing in Fire Door Assemblies
    All fire sealants—whether mastic, silicone, or expanding foam—should be tested within fire door assemblies (typically timber-based) to ensure at least 30 minutes of fire resistance. Products should comply with standards such as BS 476-22 or BS EN 1634-1. Installers should also be aware that from March next year the BS 476 20 & 22 reaction to fire standard will be withdrawn from Approved Document B and BS EN 1634-1 will become the main test criteria under the BS EN 13501 classification. All  FAS Fire Door Sealants have been tested to these standards. 

 

Our advice is to always request test evidence if this information isn’t displayed. 

 

FAS Fire Door Sealants: Tested and Certified

Our range of FAS Fire Door Sealants includes Fire Door Foam™, Fire Door Intumescent Acrylic Sealant, and Fire Door Silicone, all of which have been independently tested and certified to meet these fire safety standards. These products offer up to 60 minutes of fire protection and are suitable for sealing gaps around internal fire-rated doors. 

 

Additionally, Fire Door Silicone is suitable for external applications, including flat entrance doors and external timber screens. 

 

Here’s a quick overview of how our sealants can be used: 

  • Fire Door Foam™ can seal gaps on FD60 doors (rated for 60 minutes of protection) and replaces traditional mineral fibre wool, significantly speeding up installation. 

 

Application Guidelines for Fire Door Sealants 

To ensure the fire door sealants perform as expected, it’s essential to apply them correctly. Here are some key tips for application of FAS products: 

  • For Gaps Up to 30mm: Use Fire Door Foam™ for FD30 (30-minute fire doors). For FD60 (60-minute fire doors), use the foam for gaps up to 25mm. This foam replaces the need for mineral wool, saving you time during installation—about 12 minutes per doorset. 
  • All three products have been thoroughly tested for use with standard plastic and timber packers. 

 

Conclusion 

Properly sealing the gaps around fire doors with certified fire-rated sealants is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the fire door assembly. Always check that the products have been tested to meet British Standards and are suitable for the specific fire door rating. By using high-quality, certified sealants such as those in our FAS Fire Door Sealants range, you can ensure optimal protection in case of fire. 

 

For detailed installation instructions, refer to our website’s installation guides or watch the instructional videos for more information.   

 

For more information or advice get in touch with our team.