Communal & Corridor Fire Doors at a glance
| Rating | FD30S typical; FD60S in some lobbies |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Singles, pairs and leaf-and-a-half |
| Glazing | Vision panels sized to the doorset's evidence |
| Hold-open | Alarm-linked magnetic hold-open or free-swing closers (BS EN 1155) |
| Accessibility | Opening forces and vision panels to accessibility guidance (Approved Document M in England) |
| Guide price | £1,600–£3,200 per pair, supplied & fitted, ex VAT |
Why communal doors matter so much
Cross-corridor doors stop smoke travelling the length of a corridor, keeping the route from each flat to the stair passable. Lobby doors protect the stair itself. A single wedged-open or damaged communal door can undo that protection for every resident.
Hold-open devices for busy corridors
Where doors are in constant use, alarm-linked hold-open devices let them stand open and close automatically when the fire alarm sounds. Free-swing closers behave like an open door until the alarm triggers. Both need a compatible fire alarm connection and must be listed in the doorset's evidence — we coordinate with your alarm contractor.
Vision panels and accessibility
Doors across corridors should let people see each other approaching. Approved Document M expects vision panels in such doors and sets limits on opening force. We specify glazing, closers and handles together so the doorset satisfies both fire and access requirements.
Where are communal fire doors used?
- Blocks of flats
- Sheltered and supported housing
- Student accommodation
- Hotels
Communal fire doors questions
How often should communal fire doors be checked?
In England, regulation 10 requires at least three-monthly checks in residential buildings with a storey above 11 metres. Good practice is regular checks in all buildings.
Can communal fire doors be held open?
Only with an approved hold-open or free-swing device linked to the fire alarm. Wedges and hooks are not acceptable.
Should communal doors be glazed?
Doors across corridors usually need vision panels so people can see who is on the other side. The glass must be tested in that doorset.
Do you replace doors while the building is occupied?
Yes. We phase work so escape routes are maintained, and plan each door to be removed and replaced the same day. If that isn't possible, the opening is made secure and we tell you in advance.
Related doorsets
Double & Leaf-and-a-Half Fire Doors
Pairs and unequal pairs for wide corridors, beds, trolleys and plant access.
View doorsetsFD30S Smoke Control Doorsets
30-minute doorsets with tested smoke seals for flats, corridors and stairs.
View doorsetsFire Door Ironmongery & Closers
Closers, hinges, hold-open devices, seals and signs — tested for the door.
View doorsetsStairwell & Escape Route Doors
Doors onto protected stairs and escape routes, specified to the fire strategy.
View doorsetsCommunal & Corridor Fire Doors near you
We supply and fit communal fire doors across the UK. Choose your area for local guide prices and the rules that apply there.
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Clwyd
- Dyfed
- Gwent
- Gwynedd
- Mid Glamorgan
- Powys
- South Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan
- Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
- Dundee & Angus
- Argyll & Bute
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries & Galloway
- Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow & Dunbartonshire
- Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire & Inverclyde
- Perth & Kinross
- Highlands, Moray & Islands
- Scottish Borders
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
