Fire Door and Fire Curtain Compliance Checklist for Commercial Building Developers

Approved Document B and BS 9999 spread their fire door and fire curtain requirements across multiple sections, which makes it easy for individual requirements to be missed during design development — particularly on fast-track commercial projects where different consultants are responsible for different building zones. This checklist consolidates the key considerations into a single reference, organised by building zone, for developers and project teams to track against their drawings. It is indicative only — always confirm against the current edition of Approved Document B and BS 9999 for the specific building.

Stairwells and Lobbies

• —Protected stairway enclosures: typically EI 30 – EI 60 rated doors, depending on building height and use class.
• —Ventilated or pressurised lobbies serving protected stairways: typically EI 120 rated doors.
• —Exit staircase access at every floor: confirm rating against the building's overall evacuation strategy.
• —Confirm door swing direction and clear width support evacuation flow modelling for the stairwell's design occupancy.

Lift Lobbies and Firefighting Shafts

• —Firefighting shaft enclosures: typically EI 120 rated doors.
• —Pressurised lift lobby and stairwell entrances: typically EI 120 rated doors.
• —Lift landing doors in taller buildings: confirm rating against Approved Document B height thresholds — see our dedicated guide on firefighting shaft and lift lobby doors.
• —Coordinate door frame depth and landing sill detail with the lift consultant's shaft drawings before order placement.

Basements and Industrial Areas

• —Basement access from occupied floors above: typically EI 120 rated doors.
• —Industrial fire-separating walls: typically EI 60 – EI 120 rated doors, depending on occupancy and fire load.
• —Enclosed basement vehicle parking: fire and smoke curtains tested to EN 1634-1 / EN 12101-1, sized to the driveway opening.
• —Confirm fire stopping at raised floor and ceiling voids extends the compartment line through basement service zones.

Hospitality and Healthcare Corridors

• —Flat entrance and hotel guest room corridor doors: typically FD30S self-closing doorsets under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
• —Hospital compartment corridor intersections: typically EI 120 rated doors per HTM 05-02 and BS 9999.
• —Hospitals and care facilities with beds or sleeping occupants: EI-rated fire curtains at ward, department and atrium boundaries.
• —Assembly buildings (with or without atriums): fire curtains tested to EN 1634-1 and EN 12101-1 at compartment and smoke control boundaries.

BÖLDT's technical team can review project drawings against this checklist and provide a specification schedule mapped against Approved Document B and BS 9999, identifying the required door and curtain rating and quantity for each location — contact us via the project enquiry form to request a compliance review for your development.