When does a fire door need to meet EI 90 instead of EI 60?

A fire door needs to meet EI2-90 instead of EI2-60 when a project-specific fire safety calculation determines that 60 minutes of resistance is insufficient to protect the compartment boundary in question. The BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving) sets only the absolute minimum; higher requirements may arise from project deviations, sector regulations such as PGS15, insurer requirements, or the nature of the occupancy and fire load. The sections below unpack each factor that drives that decision.

What factors determine which fire resistance duration a door must achieve?

The required fire resistance duration for a door is determined by the project-specific fire safety calculation, not by a single fixed rule. The BBL sets a floor, but the actual classification for any given opening depends on the size and use of the fire compartment, the fire load within it, the evacuation strategy, and any sector-specific regulations or insurer requirements that apply to the project.

Several overlapping factors feed into that calculation:

• Compartment size and fire load: Larger compartments with higher fire loads typically require longer resistance durations to give occupants time to evacuate and limit structural damage.
• Occupancy type: A logistics warehouse, a production hall, and a healthcare complex each carry different evacuation profiles and regulatory overlays. Sector regulations such as PGS15 for hazardous substances storage can impose requirements well above the BBL minimum.
• Building height and escape route design: Where a door protects an escape route or a stairwell serving multiple floors, the required duration is typically longer.
• Insurer and client requirements: Industrial property insurers frequently set their own fire compartmentation standards that exceed statutory minimums, particularly for high-value production or storage environments.

For architects specifying fire-rated openings, this means the classification must always be traceable to a documented calculation or risk assessment, not assumed from building type alone. Metacon-Next’s product range covers classifications including EI1-60, EI2-60, EI1-90, EI2-90, EI1-120, EI2-120, and EW classifications up to EW240, so the specification can follow the calculation rather than the other way around. Which classification is required for a specific project depends on the fire safety calculation — consult a qualified fire safety engineer or contact Metacon-Next directly for project-specific guidance.

What does EI2-60 cover and when is it typically sufficient?

EI2-60 means the door maintains both its integrity (E) and its insulation performance to the less strict I2 criterion for a minimum of 60 minutes under standardised fire test conditions per EN 13501-2. It is typically sufficient when the BBL minimum applies without upward deviation, the compartment is relatively small, the fire load is moderate, and the escape route design does not depend on the door holding longer.

In practice, EI2-60 covers a broad range of standard industrial applications: internal compartment boundaries in single-storey production halls, separation between office annexes and warehouse areas, and openings in buildings where the fire safety calculation confirms that 60 minutes provides adequate time for evacuation and intervention. For many new-build logistics and light industrial projects, EI2-60 is the classification that closes the design file without requiring further justification. Note that EW60 — which requires the door to maintain integrity and limit radiant heat transfer for 60 minutes — is the Dutch standard baseline criterion for certain opening types and is also a fully valid classification in many applications.

That said, EI2-60 is not a default safe choice for every opening. If the project involves a large compartment area, a high fire load, or an occupancy covered by sector regulation, the calculation may return a higher requirement before the architect has even considered specifying a product.

When does a project-specific calculation require a 90-minute classification instead?

A project-specific fire safety calculation may require EI2-90 or EI1-90 when 60 minutes of resistance is insufficient to ensure safe evacuation, protect an adjacent compartment, or satisfy a regulatory or insurer requirement specific to the project. Common triggers include large compartment areas, high fire loads, complex escape routes, and sector regulations that prescribe longer resistance durations. Whether a 90-minute classification is required — and which sub-classification applies — depends entirely on the outcome of that project-specific calculation.

Several scenarios consistently produce 90-minute requirements in industrial and commercial projects:

• Large warehouse and logistics halls: When compartment areas are large and a fire safety calculation determines that 60 minutes is insufficient, the fire safety engineer may specify a 90-minute classification to account for the extended time required for detection and evacuation. The specific classification required depends on the calculation outcome for that building — consult a qualified fire safety engineer rather than applying a general rule.
• Hazardous materials storage: PGS15 and similar sector regulations for the storage of flammable or hazardous substances frequently require fire resistance durations of 90 minutes or more at compartment boundaries.
• Multi-storey industrial buildings: Where a door protects a stairwell or a protected escape route serving upper floors, the required duration is often 90 minutes to align with structural fire resistance requirements for the building frame.
• Insurer-driven specifications: Industrial property insurers managing high-value assets or business interruption exposure routinely require 90-minute classifications as a condition of cover, independent of the statutory minimum.

The practical implication for specification is that the required classification should be confirmed by the fire safety calculation before a product is selected, not retrofitted to the design after a review flags a gap.

What is the difference between EI1 and EI2 at 90 minutes?

EI1-90 and EI2-90 both require 90 minutes of combined integrity and insulation performance, but they differ in how strictly the insulation criterion is applied. EI2 applies the less strict insulation limit, permitting a higher temperature rise on the unexposed face of the door. EI1 applies the stricter criterion, restricting the temperature rise on the unexposed face to a lower threshold. Always confirm with the fire safety engineer which sub-classification is required — never specify “EI 90” without identifying whether EI1 or EI2 applies.

The distinction matters in practice because EI1 and EI2 are not interchangeable in a specification. A door classified as EI2-90 cannot substitute for a requirement that explicitly calls for EI1-90, because EI1 is the stricter criterion. The EI1 criterion is relevant wherever stricter temperature control on the unexposed face is required — for example, where personnel may be present close to the unexposed face during a fire event, or where the thermal protection of adjacent materials or equipment is part of the compartmentation strategy.

Architects should confirm with the fire safety engineer which insulation criterion applies to each opening. Specifying the wrong sub-classification is a documentation error that will surface during permitting or a fire safety review, not during installation. Requesting a quotation from a manufacturer that publishes full classification reports makes it straightforward to verify which sub-classification a product actually holds.

How does EW compare to EI2-90 for industrial door openings?

EW and EI2-90 address different aspects of fire performance and are not directly comparable as alternatives. EW requires the door to maintain integrity (E) and limit radiated heat transfer (W) for the classified duration, but it does not impose a temperature limit on the unexposed face. EI2-90 requires both integrity and insulation to the less strict I2 criterion for 90 minutes, meaning it controls both radiated and conducted heat on the unexposed side.

In the Netherlands, EW60 is the standard baseline criterion in the BBL for certain opening types, meaning the door must limit radiant heat transfer to a level that does not ignite materials on the unexposed side. This is a less demanding standard than EI2 insulation, which also restricts conducted heat. For industrial door openings where personnel are unlikely to be in direct contact with the door during a fire, and where the fire safety calculation confirms that radiant heat control is sufficient, an EW classification may satisfy the requirement. Where the calculation requires full insulation, an EI1 or EI2 classification applies and EW does not substitute.

The practical guidance for architects is straightforward: never use EW and EI interchangeably in a specification, and always confirm with the fire safety engineer which performance criterion — and which EI sub-classification — the calculation requires for each specific opening. Misclassifying an opening as EW when EI1 or EI2 is required is a compliance failure, regardless of the duration achieved.

What documentation should an architect request for a fire door with a 90-minute classification?

For a fire door with a 90-minute classification, an architect should request the CE declaration of performance, the classification report from an accredited test institute, the full fire resistance test report, and the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) if the project is being assessed under BREEAM or LEED. These documents together allow the architect to verify compliance, close the specification file, and respond to any permitting or fire safety review without delay.

Each document serves a distinct purpose in the specification process:

• CE declaration of performance: Confirms the product meets the requirements of EN 16034 (fire and smoke resisting door products) and EN 13241 (industrial doors generally) and is legally placed on the European market. Both standards apply simultaneously to industrial fire doors — they are not interchangeable. Without a valid CE declaration covering both, the door cannot be correctly specified for a CE-marked project.
• Classification report: Documents the exact classification achieved — including the sub-classification (EI1 or EI2), the duration, and the specific product configuration tested, per EN 13501-2. This is the document a fire safety reviewer will examine. Always verify that the report explicitly states EI1 or EI2, never “EI” alone.
• Test report: Provides the underlying test data from the accredited institute, conducted per EN 1634-1 for fire resistance. In the Netherlands, Efectis is a recognised body for fire resistance testing. The test report allows an engineer or reviewer to verify that the tested configuration matches the specified product.
• EPD: Required for environmental credit submissions under BREEAM and LEED. An EPD is an information document that declares the environmental impact of the product over its lifecycle — it is not an environmental label or sustainability award, but it is increasingly required at specification stage. Metacon-Next published EPDs for its main product lines in 2025.

A manufacturer that publishes all of this documentation openly, without requiring a request, removes a significant source of delay and uncertainty from the specification process. Metacon-Next makes its CE certificates, Efectis classification reports, and EPDs publicly available, which means an architect can verify documentation before a product is even formally specified. For projects where documentation completeness is a professional liability issue, that transparency is a material difference. If you are ready to confirm a specification or need product-specific documentation, you can contact the team directly or find a certified installer through the international dealer network.

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