Q-mark fire doors provide the highest level of assurance when it comes to fire safety building regulations in England. In 2029, EN (European standards) are replacing BS 476, meaning that for a fire door to qualify as being legally fire safe, it would need to meet the new standards. BM Trada are a third party company who issue Q-mark certifications. They offer state of the art testing facilities in the construction and aerospace industries to certify the safety of products from different manufacturers.
Table of Contents:
- Q-Mark Colour Codes and Door Plugs
- Plugs
- Trees
- How a Fire Door Meets Q-Mark Certifications
- Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturers
- Final Thoughts
Q-Mark Colour Codes and Door Plugs
A fire door can qualify for a Q-mark plug once it passes fire resistance and smoke control tests. Each plug has a combination of different colours that reflect its level of protection against fire and smoke. Firstly, let’s remind ourselves of each fire door type and what it means.
- FD30 – Resists fire for 30 minutes
- FD60 – Resists fire for 60 minutes
- FD90 – Resists fire for 90 minutes
- FD120 – Resists fire for 120 minutes
You’ll often find FD30 and FD60 doors in residential and commercial properties. You can expect to see FD90 and especially FD120 doors in larger commercial buildings where you might need extended fire protection. For example, you’d need this in large store rooms holding flammable substances or materials
With this information in mind, we can now break down the colour codes…
Plugs
This is the outer layer of the plug that indicates the amount of time the door can protect against fire and smoke.
Yellow
- FD30
- Protects against fire and smoke for 30 minutes
- Most common in residential properties
Blue
- FD60
- Protects against fire and smoke for 60 minutes
- Common in both residential and commercial properties
Brown
- FD90
- Protects against fire and smoke for 90 minutes
- Most common in commercial and industrial properties
Black
- FD120
- Protects against fire and smoke for 120 minutes
- Most common in industrial properties
Trees
The tree symbol inside the outer layer tells us how much of the door and what parts of it qualify for the Q-mark.
Silver
- Certified pre-hung doorset (includes just the frame and door panel)
- Approved for fire only
- The factory and manufacturer have checked the door panel and frame as a pair in order to pass checks
Red
- Certified door panel and/or frame
- FD30 and FD60 only
- Does not include intumescent strips
- Door panel and/or frame may be unfinished
- The door panel or frame is certified to FD30 or FD60, but the intumescent strips are either not included or not certified
Green
- Certified door panel and/or frame
- Door panel and/or frame may be unfinished
- Intumescent strips are either provided or attached and are certified
- If the insumescent strips are not attached, the door must be fully prepared for them to be installed, including around the perimeter gap
Orange
- Certified pre-fitted factory glazing
- Additional plug to the standard required plugs
- Indicates that Q-mark certified glazing has been fitted by the manufacturer
Gold
- Additional plug to all other plugs required
- For installation
- Indicates that the doorset has been fitted by a Q-mark approved installer or supervised by one
How a Fire Door Meets Q-Mark Certifications
Where fire doors previously had to meet BS476, they will have to meet EN standards by 2029. If a manufacturer has had their products tested to EN 13501-2 standards and passed BM Trada’s fire resistance and smoke control tests, they can then be given a Q-mark. But what does the process actually look like? Below is a summary of considerations:
- The product family is defined according to its design and performance
- The manufacturer confirms what evidence they need
- Evidence is generated
- Results are checked so that they cover the requirements for the product family
- An EXAP is generated (Extended Field of Application) this is an official fire safety report that allows manufacturers to extend approval of a product beyond the means of a single, physical fire test. This means modifications including sizing, lipping, and hardware are all taken into consideration
- Once all tests are passed (including fire and smoke) and the requirements are met for the product families, the classification can be issued
Once this process is complete, BM Trada can issue the Q-mark. This provides manufacturers with confidence that the doorset is capable of achieving the stated fire performance.
Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturers
Deanta is a popular brand who offer a range of Q-mark doors, and you can purchase them here at Door Superstore. We also stock our very own Door Superstore brand which is Q-mark certified. There is a wide range of doors in this collection, including cottage, panelled, and Victorian styles as well as a range of finishes, materials, and glazing options.
Final Thoughts
You should now be clear on what gives a fire door a Q-mark classification. With the new legislation being introduced in 2029, now is a better time than ever to make sure that all of your fire doors are up to the legal standard, giving you peace of mind and paramount safety.
If you still have any questions, please feel free to give us a call on 01752 422 501, and we can even provide you with a free quote on all of the materials you need for your next project. You can also discuss bespoke door options if you can’t find the exact size you need.
