To order a fire door based on a tender specification, identify the required fire resistance classification, confirm the exact opening dimensions, request a compliant product from a certified manufacturer, and verify that full technical documentation accompanies the order. The tender specification is your binding reference document: every product choice must trace back to what is written there. The sections below walk through each step in the ordering process, from reading the specification to avoiding delays at final inspection.
What information does a tender specification include for fire doors?
A tender specification for fire doors defines the required fire resistance classification, the opening dimensions, the installation conditions, and the documentation the manufacturer must supply. It may also reference applicable standards such as EN 1634-1, specify hardware requirements such as automatic closing mechanisms or hold-open devices, and set conditions for the installer’s certification. Together, these elements form a binding technical requirement that the supplied product must meet in full.
In practice, a well-written specification will include the following elements:
- Fire resistance classification — expressed as EW, EI1, or EI2 with a duration in minutes (for example, EI2-60 or EW 30), classified per EN 13501-2
- Opening dimensions — clear width and height, including any tolerances for industrial openings
- Door type — whether a hinged, sliding, roller, or overhead door is required
- Operational requirements — manual, automatic, or fail-safe operation; hold-open functionality; forklift-passage suitability
- Certification requirements — CE marking under both EN 16034 (fire/smoke resistant closing element) and EN 13241 (industrial door), testing by an accredited body, and classification reports
- Environmental documentation — EPDs, required for BREEAM- or LEED-rated projects
- Installer qualification — whether installation must be carried out by a certified dealer or installer
For architects and specification writers, the tender specification is also a liability document. If a supplied door does not match what was specified, the project faces delays, re-inspection, and potential non-compliance with the building permit. Reading the specification carefully before placing an order is not optional — it is the foundation of the entire procurement process. Manufacturers like Metacon-Next publish their full product documentation, classification reports, and EPDs publicly, which makes cross-referencing against a specification straightforward without back-and-forth communication.
What is the difference between EW, EI1, and EI2 fire door classifications?
EW, EI1, and EI2 are fire resistance classifications under EN 13501-2 that describe how a door performs under fire conditions — specifically which performance criteria it meets and how strictly. All three include the E criterion (integrity: no flames or hot gases pass through). EW additionally limits radiant heat transfer through the door and is the Dutch standard baseline criterion. EI1 and EI2 both restrict temperature rise on the unexposed side of the door, but to different thresholds. The number that follows (30, 60, 90, 120, and so on) indicates the duration in minutes for which performance is guaranteed.
What does EW mean for a fire door?
EW means the door provides integrity (E) — stopping flames and hot gases — and limits radiant heat transfer through the door (W), preventing ignition of materials on the non-fire side. The W criterion is the Dutch standard baseline: EW60 is the typical default classification in the Netherlands under the BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving). EW does not restrict how hot the door surface itself becomes; it controls radiant heat passing through the assembly. Whether EW is sufficient for a specific application depends on the project’s fire safety calculation — this cannot be determined from the classification alone. Consult a qualified fire safety engineer or Metacon-Next directly for project-specific guidance.
What is the difference between EI1 and EI2?
Both EI1 and EI2 restrict the temperature rise on the unexposed face of the door, but they apply different thresholds. EI2 is the less strict criterion: the average temperature rise on the unexposed side must not exceed 140 K, and no single point may exceed 180 K above the initial temperature. EI1 is the stricter criterion: it applies a lower single-point temperature limit than EI2. In practice, EI1 is required where more rigorous control of surface temperature is necessary. Never use “EI” as a shorthand without specifying EI1 or EI2 — they represent meaningfully different performance levels, and the distinction matters both technically and for regulatory compliance.
Selecting the wrong classification is one of the most common specification errors in fire door procurement. The correct classification is determined by the project’s fire safety calculation, not by a general rule of thumb. When in doubt, consult the fire safety engineer responsible for the project before specifying a product.
How do you verify that a fire door meets the specification before ordering?
To verify that a fire door meets the tender specification before ordering, request the product’s CE declaration of performance, the classification report from an accredited test body such as Efectis, and confirm that the tested configuration matches your project’s requirements in terms of dimensions, hardware, and installation conditions. A CE mark alone is not sufficient verification — the classification report shows exactly what was tested and under what conditions.
Key checks to carry out before placing an order:
- Confirm the classification matches the specification — check that the fire resistance class (for example, EI2-60) in the classification report matches what is written in the tender document; always verify whether EI1 or EI2 is specified, as these are not interchangeable
- Check the tested dimensions — a classification report covers a specific size range; confirm your opening falls within the tested range or that the manufacturer has extended application of results (per EN 15269) that covers your dimensions
- Verify the hardware configuration — closing devices, hold-open mechanisms, and glazing affect the classification; confirm these match your specification
- Request the CE declaration of performance — this is the manufacturer’s legal statement that the product meets the declared classification; for industrial fire doors, CE marking applies under both EN 16034 and EN 13241
- Check EPD availability — if the project requires an EPD for sustainability scoring, confirm it is available for the specific product line before ordering
Manufacturers who publish their documentation openly make this process significantly faster. The fire-rated industrial door range from Metacon-Next includes CE-certified products tested by Efectis, with classification reports and EPDs available without requiring a request to a sales team. For architects working to tight specification deadlines, that level of transparency reduces the risk of ordering a product that fails a compliance check after delivery.
What documents should a fire door manufacturer supply with the order?
A fire door manufacturer should supply the CE declaration of performance, the classification report, installation instructions, and a maintenance manual with every order. For projects with sustainability requirements, an EPD should also be provided. These documents are not optional extras — they are the evidence base that an inspector, building authority, or insurer will request when verifying that the installed door meets the fire safety requirements specified in the building permit.
The full set of documents an order should include:
- CE declaration of performance — the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the stated fire resistance classification; for industrial fire doors this covers both EN 16034 (fire/smoke resistant closing element) and EN 13241 (industrial door)
- Classification report — the independent test report from an accredited body such as Efectis, confirming the fire resistance performance per EN 13501-2 and identifying the exact tested configuration
- Installation instructions — product-specific guidance that the installer must follow to maintain the classification; deviating from these instructions voids the classification
- Maintenance manual — required for ongoing compliance; fire doors must be maintained to retain their classification over the building’s service life
- EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) — required for BREEAM, LEED, or other green building certification schemes; confirms the environmental performance of the product across its full lifecycle
- Technical drawings — dimensional drawings showing the door in its installed configuration, needed for building permit documentation
If a manufacturer cannot supply all of these documents at the time of order, that is a risk signal. Incomplete documentation is one of the most common causes of delays at inspection. Metacon-Next provides full technical documentation as standard, including EPDs published in 2025 for most product lines and classification reports from Efectis that are publicly accessible on the website.
What can cause a fire door order to be rejected or delayed at inspection?
A fire door order is most commonly rejected or delayed at inspection because the installed product does not match the specification, the documentation is incomplete, the installation deviates from the manufacturer’s instructions, or the door’s classification does not cover the tested size range for the actual opening. Each of these issues is avoidable if the verification steps are completed before the order is placed rather than after installation.
The most frequent causes of rejection or delay include:
- Classification mismatch — the installed door carries a different classification (for example, EW where EI2 was specified, or EI2 where EI1 was required) than what was specified in the tender or building permit
- Dimension outside the tested range — the opening is larger than the size range covered by the classification report, and no extended application of results (per EN 15269) exists to cover it
- Missing CE declaration or classification report — the inspector cannot verify compliance without these documents on site
- Installation deviations — the door was installed in a way that differs from the manufacturer’s instructions, such as using non-specified hardware or omitting a required closing device
- No maintenance record — for existing buildings undergoing inspection, a missing maintenance history can indicate that the door’s classification can no longer be guaranteed
- Incorrect installer — some specifications and national regulations require installation by a certified installer; if this requirement was not met, the installation may not be accepted
Avoiding these problems starts at the specification stage. Confirming classification, dimensions, hardware, and documentation requirements before placing an order eliminates the vast majority of inspection risks. For complex industrial openings or projects with atypical dimension requirements, working directly with a manufacturer that has in-house R&D and an extended product range reduces the likelihood of discovering a gap only after delivery.
If you are at the ordering stage and need to confirm whether a specific product configuration meets your tender specification, the quotation process at Metacon-Next is structured to provide that confirmation upfront, including documentation availability and compliance with the relevant classification. You can also reach the team directly through the Metacon-Next contact page for project-specific questions before committing to an order.