HOSPITAL FIRE DOORS

Hospital fire doors in hospitals work far harder than those in most other building types. They support fire safety and compartmentation, protect people who may not be able to self-evacuate, and help maintain the flow of a complex clinical environment. But they also shape a building’s character.

The idea that clinical performance requires a clinical aesthetic is long outdated. Modern hospital fire doors can be robust, compliant, accessible and visually aligned with a well-designed healthcare space.

At projects such as the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, where design, dignity and safety were equally important, this balance was essential. Em-B Solutions worked closely with the design team to specify fire-resistant hardware that performed at a high level while complementing the centre’s warm, patient-first interior.

What Makes Hospital Fire Doors Different?

Fire doors in healthcare settings must withstand a unique set of pressures:

• Continuous use from staff, patients, visitors, equipment, trolleys and wheelchairs
• Complex evacuation needs for vulnerable or immobile patients
• Stringent infection-control regimes that are particularly pertinent for doors which are touched multiple times a day by people moving around the building.
• Security and integration with access control and clinical workflows
• High durability demands due to 24/7 operation

This all means that hospital fire doors are not simply fire-rated door sets; they are performance components that have to work within a much wider clinical safety strategy.

Balancing Fire Safety with Accessibility

Accessibility and fire safety sit side-by-side in every healthcare fire door specification.

Fire doors in hospitals must:

• Open with low operating forces so they can be used by people with limited mobility and strength
• Support automated access where appropriate to facilitate independent movement
• Be wide enough for beds and equipment to pass through comfortably without damage
• Include vision panels to protect staff and patients moving at speed

At the Rob Burrow MND Centre, the aim was to create a calm, barrier-free interior. Fire doors played a major role in that by combining compliant closers, automation and well-designed hardware to maintain both flow and safety.

Fire Door Construction for Healthcare Environments

Fire doors in hospitals usually need to have:

• FD30 or FD60 fire ratings (depending on location)
• Enhanced smoke control (S or Sa)
• High performance classifications under BS EN 1192 or BS EN 1634
• Surface finishes that can withstand repeated cleaning without degrading
  
  Common specification considerations include:
  
• Laminate or veneer finishes for aesthetics and hygiene
• Kick and finger plates to reduce wear at impact zones
• Reduced ligature options for mental health and secure units
• Enhanced acoustic performance, especially in treatment and counselling areas
• Compatible closing devices, particularly where access control is installed. Many fire doors in hospital corridors use hold-open devices that keep them open in general use and close in an emergency.
• Hardware certified with the door leaf and frame as part of a tested assembly.

Design Without Compromise: Where Aesthetics Matter

Hospitals today are moving away from the sterile, clinical feel of the past. Research consistently shows that well-designed spaces support faster recovery, reduce stress on patients and staff and improve staff wellbeing.

That shift is evident in our latest healthcare projects, such as the Rob Burrow Centre for MND, Leeds. Every aspect of the centre’s design has been shaped around patient comfort, accessibility and dignity. For those living with MND, movement and communication can become increasingly complex, so door hardware plays a key role in maintaining independence and safety. From easy-to-operate handles and carefully calibrated closers to fully accessible automatic systems, the ironmongery package was specified to meet stringent performance and usability standards. Each component contributes to a calm, barrier-free environment where patients, families and clinicians can move easily and safely between therapy rooms, clinical spaces and social areas.

Specifying Fire Doors for Hospitals: What Designers Need to Consider

When developing a fire door strategy for healthcare buildings, the following should be addressed early, preferably with the help of a qualified architectural ironmonger like Em-B Solutions:

1. Compartmentation Layout: fire doors form a critical part of a building’s passive fire protection strategy; locations and ratings must be coordinated with the fire engineer.

2. Operational Workflow: flow between wards, circulation routes, theatres and treatment rooms must remain intuitive and safe.

3. Hardware Compatibility: all of the door’s hardware – hinges, closers, locks, latches, automation and access control  – must be tested and certified with the doorset.

4. Maintenance and Whole Lif Costs: Hospitals require hardware that performs long-term with minimal intervention and upkeep

5. Infection Control: Smooth lines, easy-clean finishes and compatibility with aggressive cleaning products are essential.

6. Future Adaptation: healthcare buildings evolve; fire door strategies should allow for reconfiguration where possible.

Get in Touch

If you’re developing a new healthcare facility or reviewing fire door strategies for an existing estate, Em-B can support with:

• Hardware schedules
• Fire-rated product selection
• Access control integration
• Design-led hardware options
• Technical guidance throughout specification

Contact us to discuss compliant, durable and well-designed fire door solutions for healthcare environments.