EI1-30, EI1-60, EI2-60, EI1-90 and EI2-90 fire resistance classes differ in the number of minutes a door assembly must maintain both integrity and insulation under standardised fire test conditions — 30, 60 or 90 minutes — and in the strictness of the insulation criterion applied (EI1 or EI2). The letters define what is being measured; the number defines how long the door must perform. Choosing the correct class is a design decision with regulatory and liability consequences, and the sections below unpack each dimension of that choice.
What do the numbers in EI1-30, EI1-60 and EI1-90 actually mean?
The numbers in classifications such as EI1-30, EI2-60 and EI1-90 indicate the duration in minutes for which a fire door must maintain its performance under standardised test conditions. A door classified EI1-30 must perform for at least 30 minutes; EI2-60 for at least 60 minutes; EI1-90 for at least 90 minutes. The classification is not a safety margin — it is the minimum verified performance level confirmed through independent testing.
The prefix E stands for integrity, meaning the door must prevent the passage of flames and hot gases through gaps or cracks. The prefix I stands for insulation, meaning the door must also limit the temperature rise on the unexposed face to a defined threshold. Both criteria must be met simultaneously for the full duration stated in the classification. The insulation criterion is further qualified as either I1 or I2 — see the section below for the distinction.
In practice, a higher number does not simply mean a heavier door. It means the entire assembly — frame, leaf, seals, hardware and glazing where applicable — has been tested and confirmed to perform under fire exposure for that period without either burning through or transferring dangerous levels of heat. That distinction matters when specifying a door for a fire compartment boundary, because a product that meets integrity but not insulation for the stated duration would carry a different classification entirely.
For architects and specification writers, the classification number should always be read in combination with the full letter prefix, including the I1 or I2 suffix. EI2-60 and EW60 are not interchangeable, even though both carry the number 60. Similarly, EI1-60 and EI2-60 are not interchangeable, even though both describe 60-minute insulating doors.
What is the difference between EI1 and EI2?
EI1 and EI2 differ in how strictly the insulation criterion is applied. EI1 is the stricter standard: it limits the temperature rise on the unexposed face to a lower threshold. EI2 permits a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side, making it a less strict insulation requirement — though both classifications still require the door to prevent flames and hot gases from passing through for the full stated duration.
This distinction is significant for architects specifying doors in environments where people may be present on the unexposed side during a fire event. A door classified EI1-60 provides a stronger insulation barrier than one classified EI2-60, even though both are tested for the same duration and both maintain integrity throughout.
The EI1 or EI2 suffix is not always prominently displayed in product literature, but it must appear in the full classification code and in the accompanying test and classification reports. When reviewing product documentation, always confirm whether a door carries an EI1 or EI2 classification — never assume one from the other. This is particularly relevant when a fire safety engineer or building authority specifies EI1 for a particular opening, as substituting an EI2 product would not satisfy that requirement regardless of the time rating. The reverse also applies: a specification calling for EI2 cannot simply be fulfilled by an EI1 product without verification.
Metacon-Next products are tested and classified with the EI1 or EI2 designation explicitly stated in all technical documentation and classification reports, so there is no ambiguity at specification stage.
How does EW differ from EI as a fire resistance class?
EW and EI differ in what the second performance criterion requires. An EW-classified door must maintain integrity (E) and limit radiated heat flux through the assembly — this is the Dutch standard baseline criterion for fire-resistant industrial doors. An EI-classified door (whether EI1 or EI2) must additionally limit the temperature rise on the unexposed face to a defined threshold. EI1 and EI2 therefore represent progressively more demanding requirements beyond the EW baseline.
In practical terms, a door classified EW60 will prevent flames and hot gases from passing through for 60 minutes and will limit the amount of radiant heat emitted from the unexposed face — satisfying the Dutch W-criterion baseline. However, the surface of the door on the protected side may reach temperatures that would be dangerous to anyone standing close to it. An EI2-60 door provides a higher level of protection because the unexposed face remains significantly cooler throughout the test period. An EI1-60 door provides the strictest insulation performance of the three.
In the Netherlands, EW60 is the typical default baseline classification under Dutch building regulations for many industrial applications. EI2 and EI1 classifications represent higher requirements. The correct classification for a specific opening is determined by project-specific fire safety calculations, not by a single blanket rule. A fire safety engineer or building physics consultant will define which classification applies based on the compartment layout, occupancy, building use and any applicable sector regulations — such as PGS15 for hazardous materials storage — or requirements set by an insurer or the client.
When specifying doors for industrial applications, it is important not to treat EW, EI2 and EI1 as interchangeable options of similar value. They are distinct performance categories with different consequences for occupant safety and regulatory compliance.
Which fire resistance class applies to industrial doors?
There is no single fire resistance class that applies universally to industrial doors. The required classification depends on the fire compartment boundaries defined in the project-specific fire safety calculation, the building use, the applicable regulations and any additional requirements from sector guidelines, insurers or the client. In Dutch industrial construction, EW60 is the common baseline, with EI2-60, EI1-60 and higher time ratings encountered where the compartmentalisation calculation or other requirements demand them. The correct choice must always be derived from the project documentation and confirmed by a qualified fire safety engineer or the local authority.
For logistics centres and production halls, fire compartmentation requirements are typically driven by the maximum permitted compartment size under the BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving), which sets only the absolute minimum requirement. A heavier classification than the baseline may be required where the project deviates from standard building regulations, where a sector-specific regulation such as PGS15 applies, or where an insurer or client sets a stricter above-statutory requirement. Large-span industrial buildings with automated storage, hazardous goods or high fire loads are examples where a heavier classification is frequently required — but the specific classification must follow from the fire safety calculation, not from a general rule.
Healthcare complexes and buildings with mixed occupancy may carry stricter insulation requirements, making EI1 classifications more relevant than EI2. Conversely, some industrial openings with limited occupancy risk may satisfy requirements with a lower classification — but this must be confirmed by a qualified fire safety engineer, not assumed.
The fire-rated industrial door range from Metacon-Next covers EW, EI2 and EI1 classifications across time ratings from 30 to 240 minutes, and across multiple door types — including roller curtains, roller doors, overhead doors, sliding doors and pedestrian doors — so a single project with varied opening types and classifications can be served by one manufacturer, with consistent documentation across all products.
How is fire resistance classification tested and certified?
Fire resistance classification for industrial doors is determined through standardised testing under EN 1634-1, the European standard for fire resistance tests for door and shutter assemblies. During the test, the complete door assembly is exposed to a controlled fire curve in a certified test furnace. Performance is measured continuously for integrity (E), radiation (W) and insulation (I1 or I2), as applicable. The classification under EN 13501-2 is assigned based on the point at which any criterion fails.
Where smoke control performance is also required, this is tested separately under EN 1634-3 and classified in accordance with EN 13501-2. Extended application of test results — that is, applying a classification to door configurations that were not directly tested — follows the rules set out in EN 15269-1 to -20.
CE marking for industrial fire doors is governed by two standards simultaneously: EN 16034, which covers fire- and smoke-resisting closing elements, and EN 13241, which applies to all industrial doors regardless of fire rating. Both CE-marking obligations apply at the same time and are not interchangeable. The CE declaration of performance references the classification and confirms that the product as manufactured meets the stated performance level. For architects, the CE declaration is the document that confirms a product is legally placeable on the European market for its intended use.
Metacon-Next products are tested by Efectis, a recognised European fire testing and certification body. All test reports, classification reports and CE declarations are available through the company’s documentation framework, which is designed to support architects who need to close a specification file with complete, verifiable evidence.
What documentation should a fire door classification come with?
A fire door classification should be accompanied by four core documents: the test report, the classification report, the CE declaration of performance and, increasingly relevant for sustainable construction projects, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Together, these documents allow an architect or specification writer to confirm that a product is independently tested, correctly classified, legally placeable on the market and assessed for its environmental impact.
- Test report: Documents the conditions, configuration and results of the fire resistance test conducted under EN 1634-1, and where applicable the smoke control test under EN 1634-3. It confirms what was tested and how the assembly performed.
- Classification report: Issued under EN 13501-2, this report translates test results into a formal classification — including the explicit EI1 or EI2 designation — and defines the direct field of application, covering the range of configurations the classification covers, including any extended application under EN 15269.
- CE declaration of performance: Confirms that the product as manufactured meets the declared classification. For industrial fire doors, this references both EN 16034 (fire- and smoke-resisting closing element) and EN 13241 (industrial door). This document is required for legal placement on the European market under the Construction Products Regulation.
- EPD (Environmental Product Declaration): Provides verified environmental data for the product across its full lifecycle, based on ISO 14044 and EN 15804. EPDs are not sustainability awards — they are information documents that allow architects to include verified environmental data in BREEAM, LEED or other sustainability assessments.
A manufacturer that cannot provide all four documents at specification stage introduces risk into the design process. Incomplete documentation is one of the most common causes of delays during building permit review or fire safety inspections, because the authority or inspector cannot verify compliance without the underlying evidence.
Metacon-Next publishes all certificates, classification reports and EPDs openly, without requiring a project enquiry first. All EPDs in the portfolio were published in 2025 and cover eleven product lines, including the RGT, RGS, RGC, OHD-C and LD Pro ranges. Architects working on permit-ready designs can access the full documentation set directly, reducing the back-and-forth that typically slows down specification work. For project-specific technical drawings and dimensional information, the MetaConfigurator portal provides 24/7 access to BIM files and technical data after login.
If you are specifying fire-rated industrial doors and need a manufacturer whose documentation is complete from day one, request a quotation or contact Metacon-Next directly to discuss your project requirements. Every product in the range is available with the full documentation set needed to support a compliant, permit-ready specification.
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