ASSA ABLOY Door Group is drawing attention to a critical update in fire safety standards that significantly impacts the design and specification of steel fire doorsets.
A new UK National Foreword has been published alongside the revised version of the extended application (EXAP) standard EN 15269-2, following concerns raised within the industry about potentially unsafe design practices previously permitted under the standard.
Industry testing revealed that the addition of a threshold to a steel fire doorset – previously allowed without further evidence under EN 15269-2 – can compromise fire performance, particularly when used with certain core constructions commonly specified in the UK.
While this concern arose too late to influence the technical content of the revised standard, the UK voted against its publication due to these safety implications.
Despite this, the revised EN 15269-2 proceeded following broader European consensus, with only a limited amendment stating that thresholds should be constructed from fire-resistant material.
To address the resulting gap and guide industry best practice, BSI has now issued a UK National Foreword. Although non-normative, it provides an explicit advisory that thresholds should only be included where supported by direct fire testing evidence to EN 1634-1.
This foreword reflects growing awareness and internal industry discussions on the risks posed by assumptions in fire doorset design, and aligns with guidance currently being communicated to members by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF).
Brian Sofley, managing director at Door Group, said: “ASSA ABLOY Door Group welcomes this clarification and strongly encourages manufacturers, specifiers, and contractors to act on the guidance now available. Ensuring fire doorsets are supported by robust test evidence is essential for protecting lives and meeting compliance expectations.”
In line with this, ASSA ABLOY Door Group confirms that its Powershield range of steel fire doorsets meets the most rigorous fire testing requirements, including full compliance with EN 1634-1. This ensures that Powershield doors not only meet regulatory standards but also provide a high level of assurance in real fire conditions.
