You’ve probably seen fire doors in hotels, offices, and apartment blocks. But do you need fire doors in your house? It’s a question a lot of Irish homeowners ask, and the answer isn’t always what people expect.
The short version is: it depends on your property type. For most standard semi-detached homes, the rules are different to what applies in apartments or houses of multiple occupation. But there are situations where fire doors are legally required, and others where fitting them is simply the smart thing to do.
This article walks you through exactly what the Irish regulations say, which homes need fire doors, what a proper fire door actually does, and how much you should budget if you decide to fit them.
What Does a Fire Door Actually Do?
Most people think a fire door just stops flames. That’s part of it, but not the main job.
A fire door slows the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases from one part of a building to another. It buys time. That time is the difference between a family escaping safely and a family not escaping at all.
A certified fire door is rated by how long it holds back fire. An FD30 door holds for 30 minutes. An FD60 door holds for 60 minutes. In a residential home, FD30 doors are the standard requirement in most cases.
The door itself is only part of the system. The frame, seals, hinges, and closer all need to be fire-rated too. A fire door fitted into a standard timber frame with ordinary hinges won’t perform anywhere near its rating. This is one of the most common installation mistakes in Irish homes.
Do I Need Fire Doors in My House? What Irish Regulations Say
Ireland’s fire safety requirements for homes fall under Technical Guidance Document B (TGD-B), which supports Part B of the Building Regulations. This is the document that sets out what’s required in new builds and significant renovations.
For a standard single-family dwelling, TGD-B does not require fire doors between all rooms. But it does require fire doors in specific locations.
The key requirement in a standard house is the door between the garage and the living space. If your home has an integral garage, the door connecting it to the house must be an FD30 fire door. This is non-negotiable under Part B. Garages contain petrol, oils, and other flammables. A fire starting in a garage travels fast. An FD30 door gives your family 30 minutes to get out.
The other standard requirement in new builds is fire-resistant construction between storeys. In practice, this means the floor and ceiling assembly between your ground floor and first floor must achieve a 30-minute fire resistance rating. Fire doors aren’t always part of this requirement specifically, but the compartmentation principle applies throughout.
Fire Doors in Houses of Multiple Occupation
If you rent out rooms in your home, or if your property qualifies as a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), the rules change significantly.
An HMO in Ireland is a property where three or more people from different households share facilities like kitchens and bathrooms. Student houses, bedsits, and shared houses all commonly fall under this classification.
HMOs require fire doors throughout. Every bedroom door must be an FD30 self-closing fire door. The kitchen door must be an FD30 self-closing fire door. Escape routes must be clearly defined and protected.
The HSA and local authority fire officers carry out inspections of HMOs. A property found to be non-compliant can receive an improvement notice or, in serious cases, a prohibition notice preventing occupancy. Fines for non-compliance can reach €5,000 under the Fire Services Acts.
If you’re a landlord with a shared house, this isn’t optional. Get your property assessed by a fire safety professional before your next tenancy.
Fire Doors in Apartments: What the Rules Say
Apartment buildings in Ireland are subject to stricter fire safety requirements than standard houses. If you own or rent an apartment, you’re already in a building that should have fire doors in place as part of the common area fire strategy.
Every apartment entrance door should be an FD30S fire door. The “S” rating means it also has smoke seals fitted, not just intumescent strips. Smoke is the primary killer in apartment fires, not flame. An FD30S door provides meaningful protection against both.
The management company or owner of the building is responsible for common area fire doors. If you notice a fire door propped open, a closer that doesn’t close properly, or a damaged seal, report it immediately. A fire door that doesn’t close is not a fire door.
Individual apartment owners are responsible for the door between their apartment and the common landing. Many older Irish apartment blocks have standard timber doors in this position. If yours does, it’s worth having it assessed. Replacing it with a certified FD30S door is a straightforward job that costs approximately €800 to €1,200 fitted.
Conversions, Extensions, and Renovations: When Fire Doors Become Required
Planning a conversion or extension? Fire doors may become a requirement as part of the planning and building control process.
A garage conversion typically requires the installer to address fire separation between the new habitable space and the rest of the house. In practice, this often means fitting fire doors and ensuring the new walls and ceiling achieve a minimum 30-minute fire resistance rating.
A loft conversion is the situation where fire doors become a significant consideration in a standard family home. Converting your attic into a bedroom adds a third storey to your home. TGD-B requires the escape route from that third storey to be protected. In most cases, that means fitting FD30 self-closing fire doors to all rooms off the escape route on the first floor landing.
This catches a lot of people out. You convert your attic, your Building Control officer inspects, and suddenly you need fire doors on every bedroom on the first floor landing. Budget approximately €500 to €700 per door fitted, including frame upgrades and intumescent strips, for a typical first floor landing upgrade.
Do I Need Fire Doors in My House if It’s a New Build?
If you’re buying or building a new home in Ireland, your contractor must comply with TGD-B as part of the building control process. A new build that receives a Certificate of Compliance on Completion should already have fire doors in the required locations.
But this doesn’t mean the job is always done right. Building control in Ireland relies heavily on self-certification by assigned certifiers. Inspections aren’t as frequent or thorough as many people assume.
Check the following in a new build. Confirm the garage-to-house door is certified FD30. Check that the door closer is fitted and working. Make sure intumescent strips are installed on all four edges of the door. Confirm the frame is fire-rated or has been upgraded to achieve a fire rating.
If you’re buying a new build through a solicitor, ask for the fire safety documentation as part of your pre-purchase process. A reputable developer will have it. One who can’t produce it is worth questioning further.
How to Identify a Real Fire Door
Not every solid-looking door is a fire door. This surprises a lot of homeowners.
A certified fire door carries a label or plug on the top edge of the door. This label shows the manufacturer, the certification body, and the fire rating. Common certification bodies in Ireland include Certifire and the British Woodworking Federation (BWF). If there’s no label, there’s no certification.
Here’s a quick checklist for identifying a properly fitted fire door.
The door label or plug: Check the top edge of the door. A certification label or timber plug should be visible.
Intumescent strips: These are thin strips fitted into the door or frame that expand in heat to seal the gap. They’re often combined with cold smoke seals, which look like a brush strip around the door edges.
The door closer: Every fire door in a home should have a closer fitted. A fire door that stays open defeats the entire purpose.
The gap: The gap around a correctly fitted fire door should be no more than 3mm at the sides and top, and no more than 8mm at the bottom. Gaps larger than this allow smoke to pass through and compromise the door’s rating.
The frame: A certified fire door fitted into a standard hollow timber frame won’t achieve its rating. The frame either needs to be a certified fire door frame or upgraded with intumescent liners.
What Fire Doors Cost in Ireland
Pricing varies depending on the door style, supplier, and whether the existing frame needs upgrading. Here’s a realistic breakdown for Irish homeowners in 2024.
| Item | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| FD30 fire door (supply only, basic) | €150 to €250 |
| FD30S fire door with smoke seals (supply only) | €250 to €450 |
| Door closer (supply and fit) | €80 to €150 |
| Frame upgrade with intumescent liners | €100 to €200 |
| Full fire door installation (door, frame, seals, closer) | €500 to €700 |
| Apartment entrance door replacement (FD30S, fitted) | €800 to €1,200 |
These are indicative costs based on typical Irish market rates. Prices vary by supplier and location. Always get at least two quotes from certified installers.
Be cautious of unusually low quotes. A fire door fitted without certified components or into an inadequate frame offers no real protection and won’t comply with building regulations.
Finding a Certified Fire Door Installer in Ireland
Not every carpenter or joiner is qualified to install fire doors to a certifiable standard. The installation needs to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions exactly. Deviation from those instructions voids the certification.
Look for installers with a recognised third-party accreditation. Certifire-approved installers and BWF-accredited installers have been assessed against specific installation standards. Ask any installer to confirm their accreditation before work starts.
Ask to see the certificate of installation after the work is complete. A proper certified installation comes with documented evidence. That documentation matters for building control sign-off and for your insurance position if a fire claim ever arises.
Firestoppers carry out fire door inspections and installations across Ireland. If you’re unsure whether your existing doors are certified or correctly fitted, a fire door inspection is the fastest way to get clarity.
Do I Need Fire Doors in My House? The Bottom Line
If you have an integral garage, yes. If you’re converting your attic, almost certainly yes. If you rent out rooms and your property is an HMO, absolutely yes.
For standard semi-detached and detached homes without any conversions or HMO status, the legal requirement is more limited. But that doesn’t mean fire doors aren’t worth fitting. A certified FD30 fire door on your kitchen or utility room door costs around €500 fitted. The time it buys your family in a fire is worth considerably more than that.
If you’re unsure whether your home needs fire doors, get a fire safety assessment done before your next renovation or extension project. Firestoppers offer professional fire safety assessments and certified fire door installation across Ireland. Get in touch before you start your next build phase, not after building control raises it with you.
The information in this article is based on Irish Building Regulations and TGD-B as current at time of writing. Regulations are subject to change. Always consult a qualified fire safety professional for advice specific to your property.
