Veritas assesses fire doors against BS 8214 and the manufacturer data. Fire Door Inspection
What is BS 8214?
BS 8214 is published by the British Standards Institution. It is a code of practice, meaning it gives recommendations rather than test methods. It applies to timber-based fire door assemblies: the leaf, frame, ironmongery, glazing and seals treated as one assembly that must match its fire test evidence.
What does BS 8214 cover?
- Specifying a fire door assembly for its location
- Installing the frame and leaf, including gaps and the seal between frame and wall
- Compatible hardware: hinges, closers, latches and locks
- Glazing and fire door seals
- Inspection and maintenance through the door's life
Is BS 8214 a legal requirement?
Not in itself. The legal duty is to keep fire doors maintained, under the Fire Safety Order, and to meet the Building Regulations when installing them. BS 8214 is a recognised way of showing how that is done. The legal requirements are set out in Fire Door Regulations.
How is BS 8214 used in a fire door inspection?
The inspector compares each door with the recommendations in the standard and with the manufacturer's installation data for that door. Where they differ, the manufacturer's tested specification takes priority. The checks are listed in the Fire Door Inspection Checklist.