Fire doors

What this covers

FD30S fire doors for HMOs, flats and small commercial premises. That is a thirty minute fire door with smoke seals, which is the specification most licensed HMOs and blocks of flats are held to.

Supplied and fitted, or fitted to doors you have already bought.

Why this changed in 2026

Two things landed together. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 are now fully enforced, and BS 8214, the standard covering fire door installation, was substantially revised in March 2026. Installs that passed before that revision do not all pass after it.

If you are the Responsible Person for a building, the liability is personal. That is the reason this work gets done, and it is worth saying plainly.

What actually fails an inspection

Rarely the door itself. It is almost always the gap, the ironmongery or the seals.

The gap around the leaf has to be consistent, normally 2mm to 4mm, and a door that has dropped fails on it. Hinges have to be CE marked and there are normally three. Intumescent strips have to be continuous and unpainted. The closer has to shut the door onto the latch from any angle, not just from wide open.

What you get on handover

The door and frame specification, the ironmongery used, and photographs of the installation before anything is covered. That is the paperwork an inspector asks for and most installs cannot produce.

Where we stop, and this matters

Ashwood fits fire doors to the manufacturer's specification and hands over the documentation for what was installed. Ashwood is not a third party certificated installer under a scheme such as FIRAS or BM TRADA, and does not issue certification of its own.

If your insurer or your licensing officer requires third party certificated installation, ask us before you book and we will tell you straight rather than after the job.

Common questions

How many doors does a typical HMO need?

Every door onto the escape route, which usually means each bedroom, the kitchen and the door onto the stairwell. A five bed HMO is commonly six to eight doors.

Can you fit fire doors into existing frames?

Sometimes. The frame has to be sound, square and deep enough to take the intumescent strip. If it is not, the lining gets changed with the door, and that is the honest answer rather than the cheap one.

How long does a set take?

Usually a day for four to six doors, assuming the frames are staying. Add time if linings are being changed or if closers need adjusting once the doors have settled.

Do you work with letting agents and managing agents?

Yes. Tell us how many properties and how many doors and we will come and measure before quoting anything.