At Metador, we specialise in fire rated steel doors for both internal and external applications. Our products are engineered to protect people, property, and critical evacuation routes – while delivering durability, security, and long-term performance.

Our fire rated doorsets are designed to support compartmentation and maintain protected escape routes. Each configuration is independently tested in accordance with relevant UK standards and European test methods (BS EN), appropriate to its intended application.

Whether you are upgrading an existing building or specifying a new project, our fire rated steel doors can support compliance with fire safety requirements when correctly specified, installed and maintained.

What choosing Metador for fire rated steel doors means:

• Up to 120 minutes fire integrity (E30 / E60 / E120) depending on configuration
• Made-to-measure single and double doorsets
• Internal and external solutions
• Wide range of hardware, vision panels, and louvre options, subject to test evidence
• External doorsets UKCA marked in accordance with EN 16034 where applicable.
• Tough, low-maintenance galvanised steel construction, built to handle real-world use

Enquire about our fire rated doors

Internal Fire Rated Steel Doors

Our custom internal fire rated doorsets provide up to 120 minutes of fire protection for internal use due to their superior strength.

Features include:

• Independently tested to BS EN 1634-1:2014 + A1:2018
• Available with E30, E60, or E120 integrity ratings, depending on tested configuration
• Manufactured from galvanised steel throughout, with a mineral wool core and internal steel strengtheners
• Available with a wide range of hardware, glazing and louvre options, where supported by test evidence.

Typical applications include:

• Protected stair cores
• Escape routes and corridors
• Plant rooms and service risers
• Compartment walls between higher-risk areas and circulation spaces

Enquire about our internal fire rated steel doors

Talk to our team about your fire strategy, compartmentation layout and door schedule. We’ll help you match the correct Fireshield configuration and rating to each opening.

External Fire Rated Steel Doors

Where fire protection is required on the building envelope, external fire rated doorsets must meet both fire and environmental performance requirements.

Metador external doorsets are:

• Manufactured in accordance with BS EN 14351-1:2006+A2:2016 and EN 16034:2014.
• UKCA marked where required for external fire doorsets
• Tested for fire resistance to E30, E60 or E120 in both opening directions, depending on configuration.
• Available as standard with a U-value of 2.2 W/m²K, upgradeable with our Thermaguard technology, improving thermal performance down to 1.5 W/m²K, which can support compliance with Part L, subject to overall building design and specification.

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Typical uses for external fire doors include:

• External doors on protected escape routes
• Access doors into stair cores and lobbies
• External plant rooms and substation doors
• Perimeter doors where both security and fire resistance are required

Enquire about our external fire rated steel doors

Our technical team can advise on external exposure, thermal performance and the right fire rating for each opening.

Steel versus Non-Steel Fire Rated Doors

Fire rated doors are available in a range of materials, including timber and steel.

Non-steel (typically timber) fire rated doors:

• Commonly specified as E30 or E60 for 30–60 minutes fire resistance
• Well-suited to low-risk domestic interiors and lighter-duty settings
• May be more susceptible to impact, moisture, and warping over time, especially in high-traffic or humid environments

Steel fire rated doors:

• Routinely achieve longer fire resistance periods, up to E120, depending on tested configurations.
• Offer higher structural integrity, meaning they are less likely to deform under heat or heavy use
• Can combine fire performance with security and thermal upgrades in a single doorset
• Are ideal for commercial, industrial and high-risk areas where downtime, damage and premature replacement are costly

For a specifier or building owner comparing options, the decision between steel or non-steel fire rated doors depends on:

• Building use, risk level and occupancy – number of people, complexity of evacuation routes
• Required fire rating
• Durability and impact resistance – especially in plant rooms, service corridors, and external doors
• Whole-life cost – steel doors outlast timber alternatives when properly maintained

Performance, Certification and Compliance for Fire Rated Doors

Metador fire rated steel doorsets are tested and manufactured in accordance with relevant UK standards and European test methods.

Fire resistance performance is established through full-scale testing in accordance with BS EN 1634-1, with additional configurations, hardware options and dimensional variations supported, where applicable, by Extended Application (EXAP) assessments in accordance with EN 15269.

These EXAP assessments allow the results of fire resistance tests to be applied to a defined range of variations, such as door sizes, glazing configurations, and hardware, within the limits set out in the relevant standard and supporting test evidence.

Internal fire rated doors (Defender Fireshield)

• Tested to BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018
• Available in E30, E60 and E120 ratings (integrity only) as single or double doorsets with a wide range of hardware and glazing options.
• Variations supported by EXAP assessments where applicable.

External fire rated doors (Defender FireshieldX)

• Manufactured in accordance with EN 16034 and BS EN 14351-1as required under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR)
• UKCA marked where applicable
• Fire resistance to E30, E60 and E120 (integrity only), established through testing bi-directionally for fire exposure from either side of the door
• Supported by a Declaration of Performance where required

All products are supplied with supporting test evidence and documentation, enabling specifiers, contractors and building control bodies to understand the scope and limitations of each configuration.

Design, Hardware and Finish Options for Fire Rated Doors

Because every project is different, our fire rated steel doors are fully configurable:

Door types

• Single and double doorsets, with side or over panels where supported
• Options for thermal performance upgrades

Customisable Ironmongery

• Door closers
• Locks and latches
• Lever handles and pull handles
• Panic hardware for escape doors
• Hinges

Glazing and louvres

• Wide variety of vision panel configurations, from multiple small decorative layouts, to very large ‘full-door’.
• Single or double glazing options, with optional security upgrades.
• Variety of in-door, side and over panel louvres available where supported by test evidence

Finishes

• Galvanised steel construction as standard
• Polyester powder-coat finishes in a wide range of RAL colours

We’ll work with you to ensure hardware and detailing align with both your performance requirements and the architectural setting.

Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance

Even the best fire rated doors will fail to perform if they are installed incorrectly or poorly maintained.

Metador supplies detailed installation guidance and recommends that all fire rated steel doorsets are:

• Installed by competent, experienced installers in line with tested methods.
• Commissioned and checked for leaf clearances, closer operation and hardware function
• Included within the building’s fire door inspection regime, with regular checks to ensure nothing has been modified that could affect performance

If you are responsible for fire safety in your building, our team can advise on how our fire rated doorsets fit into your overall fire strategy and ongoing maintenance plans.

Enquire About Our Fire Rated Steel Doors

Whether you need internal fire rated doors for protected stairwells, external fire rated steel doors on escape routes, or a project-wide schedule covering multiple openings and ratings, we can help.

• Support with specification and door schedules
• Advice on choosing the correct fire rating and configuration
• Custom, made-to-measure steel doorsets to suit your openings

Enquire today to discuss your fire-rated steel door requirements with the Metador team.

FAQs – Fire Rated Steel Doors

What is a fire rated door?

A fire rated door is a doorset tested as a complete assembly to resist fire for a defined period – typically 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. It is designed to contain fire and smoke within a compartment, protecting escape routes and giving occupants time to evacuate.

Can fire rated doors also provide thermal performance?

Yes. Certain configurations can achieve thermal performance values that may support compliance with Building Regulations Part L, subject to building design and door specification.

What fire ratings do Metador steel fire doors offer?

Our internal and external fire rated doors are independently fire tested across all ranges, with third-party certification for external doorsets, and can achieve E30, E60, and E120 fire ratings, depending on configuration.

Can I use fire rated steel doors externally?

Yes. The Defender FireshieldX, for instance, is specifically designed as an external fire rated steel doorset, and meets the performance requirements of EN 14351 including UKCA marking (where applicable).

What’s the difference between a fire rated door and a fire exit door?

A fire rated door is designed to resist fire for a specified period. A fire exit door is focused on allowing people to escape quickly and safely, typically using panic hardware, and may or may not have a fire rating. In many buildings, you will need both, often in different locations; in some cases, a door can be both a fire exit and fire rated, provided it has been tested and specified correctly.

Can fire rated steel doors have glass vision panels?

Yes – provided the glazing system has been tested as part of the fire rated doorset. Metador offers a range of glazed fire rated doors with approved vision panel sizes and configurations, all backed with primary test evidence.

Do I legally need fire rated doors in my building?

Most non-domestic buildings in the UK require fire doors as part of their compartmentation and fire safety strategy under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, Building Regulations and associated guidance. Stair cores, corridors, plant rooms, and high-risk areas will almost always require appropriately rated doors. Your fire risk assessor or designer can confirm the exact requirements set out in a Fire Strategy Report, and we can help you choose the right Metador doors to match.

How much does a fire rated steel door cost?

Costs depend on size, rating, hardware, glazing, and whether the door is internal or external. Because our steel fire doors are made to measure, we’ll provide a project-specific quotation based on your needs.

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