BS 476 to EN 13501: What the Changes Mean for Fire Door Testing

Following the UK Government’s announcement that the National Classes for fire testing (BS 476 series) will be withdrawn from Approved Document B, the fire door and hardware industry is entering a major transition.

From September 2029, evidence based on BS 476 fire door testing will no longer be accepted for compliance. Instead, manufacturers must demonstrate performance under the EN 13501 fire classification system, with BS EN 1634-1 as the key test standard for fire doors.

BS 476 vs EN 13501: Key Differences in Fire Door Standards

Historically, door manufacturers relied on:

• BS 476-22 – Fire resistance testing
• BS 476-31-1 – Smoke penetration testing

These will now be replaced by the EN 13501 classification system, specifically BS EN 1634-1 for fire resistance of doors.

While there are similarities between BS 476 and EN 1634-1, compliance data cannot be transferred directly. Manufacturers must undertake new testing to ensure their fire door performance meets EN requirements.

EN 1634-1 Fire Door Testing: Scope and Application

A major difference between BS 476 fire testing and EN 1634-1 lies in the way product variations are handled:

• Under BS 476: Door size, glazing options, and hardware configurations could be extended through an assessment procedure.
• Under EN 1634-1: Variations are managed by:
• Direct application rules within BS EN 1634-1
• Extended Application Procedures (EXAPs), such as EN 15269-3 for timber-based fire doors

For composite fire doors, an EXAP standard is currently in development.

Fire Door Compliance and Technical Assessments

The Government has also referenced the possibility of using Technical Assessments for compliance. However, the scope and rules for this process remain unclear. It is unlikely that Technical Assessments will be valid where an EXAP standard, such as EN 15269, applies.

How Fire Door Manufacturers Can Prepare

With the five-year transition already underway, door manufacturers should act now to ensure compliance with UK fire door testing requirements:

1. Review test evidence – Identify products supported only by BS 476 data.
2. Engage with qualified bodies – Have existing fire door test reports reviewed against EN standards.
3. Create a test programme – Develop a clear plan to generate EN 1634-1 evidence for your full product range.

ERA’s Commitment to EN 13501 Fire Door Standards

At ERA, we already test our door hardware to the EN 1634-1 fire door test method as standard. This provides assurance that our products meet the fire performance requirements under the EN 13501 classification system.

We are here to support door manufacturers through this transition with EN-compliant fire door hardware solutions.

For advice on fire door applications or hardware requirements, please contact us.