Designing a fire-safe passageway in a production hall starts with identifying which fire compartment boundary the opening crosses, determining the correct fire resistance classification for that boundary, and then specifying a certified door that meets that classification with full documentation. The answer is always project-specific: the required classification depends on a fire safety calculation, not a blanket rule. The sections below address each design decision in sequence, from classification logic to documentation, custom sizing, and when to bring in a fire safety engineer.
What fire resistance classification does a passageway in a production hall require?
There is no single classification that applies to every passageway in a production hall. The required fire resistance class for an opening is determined by the fire safety calculation for that specific project, taking into account the compartment size, occupancy type, evacuation routes, and any applicable sector regulations such as PGS15 for hazardous substances. The BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving, formerly Bouwbesluit) sets the absolute minimum requirement only. A heavier classification than that minimum may be required for several reasons: the project deviates from standard building regulations, a sector-specific regulation such as PGS15 mandates a stricter class, the client or principal sets an above-statutory requirement, or the insurer imposes a stricter standard.
In practice, production halls are often divided into fire compartments to limit the spread of fire and smoke. Each opening in a compartment boundary must be closed by a door whose fire resistance matches the required performance of that boundary. A passageway used for personnel access may have different requirements than one used for internal transport with forklifts, because the opening dimensions and operational demands affect which door types are technically feasible.
The starting point for any architect is the fire safety report prepared for the project. That document will define the required performance per boundary, expressed in a classification code such as EW 60, EI1-60, or EI2-90. These codes follow EN 13501-2, the standard that classifies how long a closed door withstands fire. Specifying a door without that report in hand means specifying blindly.
What is the difference between EI1, EI2, and EW for industrial doors?
EI1, EI2, and EW are three different fire resistance classifications defined under EN 13501-2, each measuring a different combination of performance criteria. 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 require integrity and limit the temperature rise on the unexposed side, but they differ in how strictly that insulation criterion is applied: EI1 is the stricter criterion, limiting temperature rise to a lower threshold, while EI2 permits a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side. Choosing the wrong classification is a specification error with regulatory consequences.
What EW means for a fire door
EW is the baseline criterion in the Dutch regulatory context. A door classified as EW must maintain its integrity for the stated duration and limit the amount of radiant heat transfer through the door, but it does not need to meet the insulation requirements of EI1 or EI2. This makes EW appropriate for certain boundary conditions, but it is not interchangeable with EI1 or EI2 where insulation is required by the fire safety calculation.
What EI1 and EI2 mean and when each applies
Both EI1 and EI2 require the door to maintain integrity and limit the temperature rise on the unexposed face, but they differ in the strictness of that limit. EI1 is the stricter criterion: it limits temperature rise to a lower threshold on the cold side. EI2 is the less strict criterion: a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side is permitted. The distinction matters when a fire safety calculation specifies that the boundary must provide thermal insulation. Specifying EI1 where EI2 is required — or, conversely, using EI2 where EI1 is demanded — is a specification error. Using the generic label “EI” without specifying either the 1 or 2 suffix is a documentation error that can fail a building permit review. Always confirm which suffix the fire safety calculation requires before writing a specification.
How does a fire compartment boundary affect door placement in a production hall?
A fire compartment boundary is a physical barrier designed to contain a fire within a defined zone for a specified duration. Every opening in that boundary, including passageways, must be closed by an element whose fire resistance matches the boundary’s required performance. Door placement is therefore not a design preference but a consequence of where the compartment boundary runs, and that boundary location is determined by the fire safety calculation.
In a production hall, compartment boundaries often run between production zones and storage areas, between process areas and escape corridors, or between buildings connected by a shared passage. The door must sit in the plane of the boundary, and the surrounding construction must provide equivalent fire resistance. A door with the correct classification installed in a wall that does not meet the same standard creates a weak point that invalidates the compartment.
Architects specifying fire-rated industrial doors need to confirm not only the door classification but also the construction details of the surrounding wall and frame. The door, frame, and wall must work as a system. Classification reports from an independent test body such as Efectis document the tested configuration, and the installed product must match that configuration to remain compliant.
What documentation does an architect need when specifying a fire-rated industrial door?
When specifying a fire-rated industrial door, an architect needs at minimum a CE declaration of performance, a classification report from an accredited test body, and technical installation documentation showing the tested configuration. For projects targeting BREEAM or LEED certification, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is also required. This documentation must be available at the specification stage, not promised for later delivery.
The classification report is the most critical document. It records the exact product configuration that was tested, the test conditions, and the resulting classification per EN 13501-2. If the installed door deviates from the tested configuration in any meaningful way, the classification is no longer valid. Architects who specify without reviewing the classification report cannot verify that the product they are writing into the specification matches what was actually tested.
CE marking for fire-resistant industrial doors involves two standards simultaneously: EN 16034, which covers the fire and smoke resisting closing function, and EN 13241, which applies to industrial doors generally and is mandatory regardless of fire rating. Both standards apply at the same time and must not be treated as interchangeable or alternatives to one another. CE marking confirms that the product has been assessed against these harmonised standards, but it does not replace the classification report — both are needed. For projects in countries with additional national requirements, such as Germany, France, or Switzerland, supplementary test reports covering those national criteria may also be required. Metacon-Next has conducted additional testing for these markets and can supply the corresponding documentation.
EPDs are information documents that quantify the environmental impact of a product over its lifecycle, based on ISO 14044 and EN 15804. They are not sustainability awards or environmental labels, but they are increasingly required as input for green building certification schemes such as BREEAM and LEED. Having an EPD available at the specification stage removes a documentation gap that can delay project approval.
Can a fire-rated door in a production hall be custom-sized for large industrial openings?
Yes, fire-rated industrial doors can be manufactured to custom dimensions for large or atypical openings, provided the custom configuration falls within the scope of the product’s classification report or has been separately tested. Standard catalogue sizes rarely cover the wide-span or tall openings common in production halls, logistics centres, and process facilities. Custom sizing is a standard requirement in industrial construction, not an exception.
The critical constraint is that the classification report must cover the dimensions being specified. Classification reports are issued for specific tested configurations, and extrapolation beyond those dimensions is governed by the extended application rules set out in EN 15269-1 to -20 — it is not automatically valid. A manufacturer with in-house R&D and a broad product range can advise on whether a given dimension is within scope or requires additional documentation.
When should a fire safety engineer be involved in passageway design?
A fire safety engineer should be involved from the earliest stage of passageway design in a production hall, specifically before compartment boundaries are fixed and before any fire resistance classification is assigned to an opening. The fire safety engineer produces the calculation that determines which boundaries need fire resistance, what classification is required, and where doors must be placed. Specifying a door before that calculation exists means the specification has no verified technical basis.
In practice, architects and fire safety engineers need to work in parallel rather than in sequence. If the fire safety engineer is brought in after the layout is fixed, adjustments to compartment boundaries or door positions may require design changes that are costly to implement late in the process. Early coordination avoids this.
There are specific triggers that make fire safety engineering input non-negotiable: compartment sizes that exceed the BBL defaults, changes of building use that affect the fire risk profile, the presence of hazardous substances regulated under PGS15, evacuation route design in large halls with complex internal layouts, and any project where the insurer or client imposes requirements beyond the regulatory minimum. In all of these cases, the fire safety engineer’s report is the document from which the architect’s specification flows. Which fire resistance classification — EW, EI1, or EI2, and for how many minutes — is adequate for a given boundary is a conclusion that only a qualified fire safety engineer or the local authority can determine for a specific project.
If you are at the specification stage and need to confirm whether a product’s documentation covers your project’s requirements, the Metacon-Next team can provide classification reports, EPDs, and technical drawings directly. For projects that require a formal quotation or installer coordination through the dealer network, you can request a quotation to initiate the process. All fire-rated door products are supplied and installed exclusively through certified dealers, ensuring that both the product and the installation are fully warranted from day one.
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