NEWS FROM THE DHF
Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security
NPD may be declared where permitted, except for ability to release and thermal transmittance.
The manufacturer must issue a DoP and apply UKCA / CE marking, including the Approved Body identification number.
The distinction is important: a doorset incorporating panic hardware should not simply be treated as a standard external pedestrian doorset under AVCP System 3.
3. External Pedestrian Doorsets Requiring Fire Resistance and / or Smoke Control Performance.
Where an external pedestrian doorset requires fire resistance and / or smoke control, both designated standards apply:
• BS EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016; and
• BS EN 16034:2014. BS EN 16034 cannot be used on its own.
These doorsets are subject to AVCP System 1 which means that they require Approved Body involvement for factory production control and product sampling prior to testing. Testing is undertaken at a UKAS-accredited test house using the relevant standards: BS EN 1634-1 for fire resistance testing and BS EN 1634-3 for smoke leakage testing.
Fire classifications are established in accordance with EN 13501-2 + A1:2016, based either on a Direct Field of Application, using a single test, or an Extended Field of Application( EXAP). The EXAP route involves several primary tests, with results considered strictly in accordance with the applicable EN 15269 EXAP rules. The resulting EXAPs and classification reports are subsequently considered by the Approved Body. Classifications include: E: Fire integrity; EW: Fire integrity and limited heat radiation; EI: Fire Integrity and full insulation, with the duration in minutes stated thereafter.
Smoke classifications include Sa for ambient temperature smoke leakage; and S200 for hot smoke leakage.
The Approved Body uses the test evidence and classification report to issue the Certificate of Constancy of Performance( CoCoP), which the manufacturer uses to support their declaration of fire and smoke performance in the DoP.
The manufacturer then has to combine the essential characteristics for both designated standards into the one Declaration of Performance for the doorset / doorset range.
Marking for EN 16034 includes the UKCA or CE Mark with the registered number of the Approved Body on the product.
System House and Cascaded Test Evidence
Many fire door producers operate as fabricators or assemblers using designs, components and test evidence developed by a System House. A System House may develop and test the doorset design, hold the master CoCoP and cascade approved designs and evidence to individual producers.
However, cascaded evidence does not remove the producer’ s own regulatory responsibilities. A producer must not assume that a BS EN 16034 CoCoP is sufficient evidence of compliance for the complete external fire-rated pedestrian doorset.
The CoCoP provides evidence for the fire resistance and / or smoke-control performance covered by BS EN 16034. It does not, by itself, demonstrate compliance with the other applicable requirements of BS EN 14351-1.
The Doorset must also meet BS EN 14351-1
The producer must ensure that the doorset design has appropriate test evidence against the relevant performance standards required by BS EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016.
Essential characteristics include: Thermal transmittance; Air permeability; Water tightness; Resistance to wind load; and Acoustic performance.
The evidence must relate to the doorset design being manufactured, including its relevant construction, components and configuration, and the finished product must remain within the scope and limitations of the supporting evidence.
The producer therefore needs to consider the System House evidence as one part of the overall compliance package, not as evidence that the complete doorset complies with both standards.
The producer remains responsible for ensuring that the final doorset is manufactured in accordance with the approved and tested design; uses the specified and approved components as laid down in the tested design; has appropriate evidence for the relevant BS EN 14351-1 characteristics; has appropriate evidence supporting its BS EN 16034 fire and / or smoke classifications; has a issued a correct DoP covering the applicable requirements of both standards( as laid out in Annex Za of both designated standards) and is correctly UKCA / CE marked.
A BS EN 16034 CoCoP is therefore not, by itself, evidence that the complete external fire-rated pedestrian doorset complies with BS EN 14351-1.
Conclusion
The compliance route for an external pedestrian doorset depends on its characteristics and intended use.
A standard external pedestrian doorset, such as a flat entrance / balcony door, front door or service-room door, is covered by BS EN 14351-1 and AVCP System 3.
An external pedestrian doorset incorporating panic hardware remains under BS EN 14351-1, but is subject to AVCP System 1, requiring Approved Body involvement because of the ability-to-release characteristic.
Where fire resistance and / or smoke control is required, the doorset must comply with both BS EN 14351-1( with either of the two afore-mentioned systems) as well as BS EN 16034 which is subject to AVCP System 1.
The Declaration of Performance remains the legal document. For fire-rated doorsets, the CoCoP provides important third-party evidence for fire and smoke performance under BS EN 16034, but it does not replace the producer’ s responsibilities under BS EN 14351-1.
Where System House arrangements and cascaded evidence are used, producers must ensure that the doorset design has appropriate test evidence against the relevant performance standards required by BS EN 14351-1, as well as appropriate evidence for its BS EN 16034 fire and smoke performance.
Ultimately, compliance depends on a complete chain of evidence linking the tested design, relevant performance testing, manufacturing process, certification, declared performance and final product. Accurate documentation and clearly defined responsibilities are fundamental to product safety, regulatory compliance and confidence throughout the supply chain.
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Door Industry Journal Autumn 2026
95