An EI 60 fire door must resist fire for 60 minutes while maintaining both integrity and insulation. The classification always appears as either EI1 60 or EI2 60, depending on the strictness of the insulation criterion applied. For architects specifying fire-rated openings in industrial or commercial construction, selecting the correct variant is a design decision with direct consequences for permit approval and professional liability. The sections below address the most common specification questions around EI 60 in sequence.
What is the difference between EI1 60 and EI2 60?
EI1 60 and EI2 60 both require a fire door to maintain integrity and insulation for 60 minutes, but they differ in how strictly the insulation criterion is measured. EI2 60 permits a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side and therefore applies the less strict insulation criterion. EI1 60 limits the temperature rise on the unexposed side to a lower threshold, making it the stricter of the two.
In practice, EI2 60 is the more common requirement in the Netherlands and across most of Europe for separating fire compartments where people are present on the unexposed side. EI1 60 appears in specific contexts where the stricter insulation criterion is required by the applicable fire safety calculation. Because the two classifications represent meaningfully different performance levels, a door certified to EI2 60 cannot be substituted for an EI1 60 requirement without re-evaluation of the fire safety design.
When reviewing a product’s classification report, always confirm which variant is stated. A report that lists only “EI 60” without the suffix is incomplete for specification purposes. Manufacturers who publish full classification documentation make this verification straightforward. Metacon-Next’s fire-rated door range is tested and classified under EN 1634-1, with classification reports from Efectis available that specify the exact EI variant for each product configuration.
How does EI 60 differ from EW 60 and E 60?
EI1 60, EI2 60, EW 60, and E 60 are distinct fire resistance classifications under EN 13501-2, each covering a different combination of performance criteria. E 60 requires only integrity for 60 minutes: the door prevents the passage of flames and hot gases but places no restriction on heat transfer. EW 60 adds a criterion on radiated heat transfer through the door — limiting radiant heat on the unexposed side — and is the Dutch standard baseline classification for industrial fire doors. EI2 60 goes further, requiring both integrity and insulation so that surface temperatures on the unexposed face remain within defined limits, under the less strict insulation criterion. EI1 60 applies the strictest insulation criterion, limiting the temperature rise on the unexposed side to the lowest permissible threshold.
The practical implication for a construction project is significant. An E 60 door may be appropriate where people are unlikely to be present on the unexposed side during a fire event. An EW 60 door limits radiant heat transfer and meets the Dutch baseline criterion, but does not control surface temperature. An EI2 60 or EI1 60 door is required where the unexposed face is directly accessible or where the fire safety calculation demands full thermal separation between compartments — with EI1 60 applying when the strictest insulation performance is needed.
These classifications are not interchangeable. Specifying EW 60 where EI2 60 or EI1 60 is required by the fire safety plan will fail a permit review. The decision belongs to the fire safety engineer responsible for the project-specific calculation, not to a blanket rule about building type.
Which fire resistance classification does a construction project actually require?
The required fire resistance classification for a specific opening is determined by the project’s fire safety calculation, not by a fixed rule tied to building type or use. The BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving, formerly the Bouwbesluit) sets only the absolute minimum thresholds for fire compartmentation. Higher classifications can arise from project-specific deviations from standard building regulations, sector-specific regulation such as PGS15 for hazardous substances storage, insurer requirements, or client specifications that go beyond the statutory minimum.
For industrial buildings, the relevant variables typically include the size of the fire compartment, the occupancy and escape route configuration, the presence of automatic suppression systems, and whether the opening separates compartments with different risk profiles. A logistics warehouse with high-rack storage and a connected office wing, for example, will generate different classification requirements at the connecting opening than a single-use production hall. Which classification is appropriate in any given situation depends on the project-specific fire safety calculation — a qualified fire safety engineer or the local authority is the correct point of reference.
Architects working on permit-ready designs need the fire safety engineer’s output before finalising door specifications. Specifying EI2 60 as a conservative default is common practice in the absence of a completed calculation, but it should be documented as a preliminary specification subject to confirmation. What matters at permit stage is that the specified product demonstrably meets whatever classification the fire safety calculation requires, supported by a CE declaration and an independently verified classification report.
What documentation must an EI 60 fire door include for a permit-ready specification?
A permit-ready EI 60 fire door specification requires four core documents: a CE declaration of performance, a classification report from an accredited test body, installation instructions from the manufacturer, and an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) where required by the project’s sustainability framework. The classification report must confirm the exact EI variant (EI1 or EI2), the tested configuration, and the maximum permissible dimensions for the certified product.
The CE declaration confirms that the product has been placed on the market in compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). For industrial fire doors, CE marking is governed by two standards simultaneously: EN 16034, which covers fire and smoke resisting closing elements, and EN 13241, which applies to industrial doors generally. Both apply at the same time and are not interchangeable. The CE declaration does not replace the classification report; both are required. The classification report — issued under EN 13501-2, based on testing per EN 1634-1 — provides the technical evidence behind the CE mark and is the document a building inspector or fire safety reviewer will examine when assessing compliance.
EPDs are increasingly relevant for projects pursuing BREEAM or LEED certification. An EPD is an information document that quantifies the environmental impact of a product across its lifecycle, based on ISO 14044 and EN 15804. It is not an environmental award or quality label, but it is a required input for certain sustainability scoring criteria. Metacon-Next publishes classification reports, CE declarations, and EPDs openly on its website for most product lines, which means architects can retrieve documentation at specification stage without waiting for a commercial inquiry to be processed. This transparency is directly relevant to closing a design file without delays. You can contact Metacon-Next if documentation for a specific configuration is needed.
CE declaration of performance
The declaration of performance confirms the product’s fire resistance class, the applicable harmonised standard, and the notified body responsible for ongoing factory production control. It must match the product as supplied, including any accessories such as door closers or seals that are part of the tested assembly.
Classification report from an accredited test body
The classification report is issued by the test institute, not the manufacturer. For Metacon-Next products, testing is conducted by Efectis, an accredited body recognised across Europe. The report defines the tested configuration, the field of direct application, and the extended application rules under EN 15269 that determine which variants are covered without additional testing. Architects should verify that the door dimensions and configuration specified for the project fall within the scope of the report.
Can an EI 60 door be custom-sized for large industrial openings?
Yes, EI 60 fire doors can be manufactured to custom dimensions for large industrial openings, provided the configuration remains within the field of application defined by the classification report. For standard industrial openings, certified products are available in a range of sizes. For atypical or oversized openings, the manufacturer’s R&D team must confirm that the extended application rules under EN 15269 support the required dimensions, or that additional testing has been carried out.
Large industrial openings present a specific challenge because fire-rated performance is tested on defined configurations. A door that has been tested at a certain size cannot automatically be scaled up without engineering verification. Manufacturers with in-house R&D capacity are better positioned to assess whether a non-standard dimension falls within the certified field of application or requires a project-specific solution.
Metacon-Next produces fire-rated industrial doors including roller doors, overhead doors, sliding doors, and fire curtains, all manufactured at its facility in Moordrecht. Custom dimensions are handled through the company’s in-house R&D department, which can confirm compliance with the classification report before production begins. For architects working on logistics centres, production halls, or other industrial buildings with wide or tall openings, this capacity to deliver certified custom solutions is a practical advantage at specification stage.
When ordering a custom EI 60 door, the specification should include the clear opening dimensions, the required fire resistance classification including the EI variant (EI1 or EI2), the direction of travel, any requirements for hold-open devices or automatic release mechanisms, and integration with the building’s fire detection system. Providing this information early allows the manufacturer to confirm feasibility and prepare the technical documentation needed for the permit file. Architects can request a quotation directly to begin the technical review process, or explore the full product range to identify the most suitable door type for the opening in question.
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