{"id":27380,"date":"2026-08-09T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metacon-next.com\/en\/?p=27380"},"modified":"2026-08-04T07:21:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T07:21:34","slug":"what-fire-door-class-is-required-for-a-forklift-passage","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/metacon-next.com\/en\/knowledge-base\/what-fire-door-class-is-required-for-a-forklift-passage\/","title":{"rendered":"What fire door class is required for a forklift passage?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A forklift passage does not automatically require a different fire resistance class<\/em> than a pedestrian door, but it almost always requires a different door type<\/em>. The required classification \u2014 EW, EI1, or EI2, and the duration in minutes \u2014 is determined by the fire safety calculation for the specific compartment boundary, not by the mode of transport passing through it. What changes with a forklift passage is the opening size, the operating mechanism, and the structural demands on the door assembly. The sections below address each of those dimensions in turn.<\/p>\n\n\n

Does a forklift passage need a different fire door than a pedestrian door?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Not in terms of fire resistance class. A forklift passage in a warehouse or production hall must meet the same fire compartmentation requirement that applies to that specific compartment boundary \u2014 whether the opening is 900 mm wide or 4,500 mm wide. The classification (for example EW 60 or EI1 90) is set by the fire safety calculation, not by what passes through the opening. What does differ is the door type, the dimensions, and the operational requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n

A standard single-leaf pedestrian door is physically unsuitable for forklift traffic. The opening width alone rules it out. Forklift passages typically require large-format door solutions such as fire-rated roller doors, sectional overhead doors, or sliding doors that can span the necessary width while maintaining their certified fire resistance performance across the entire leaf area.<\/p>\n\n\n

There is also an operational dimension. In a busy logistics or production environment, a forklift passage may cycle dozens or hundreds of times per day. The door must be able to withstand that frequency without compromising its fire resistance function. This is a specification point that architects and fire safety engineers need to address explicitly, because not every certified fire door is rated for high-cycle use.<\/p>\n\n\n

Metacon-Next manufactures fire-rated industrial doors<\/a> specifically for large openings and demanding operational environments, including roller doors and sectional doors tested in accordance with EN 1634-1 and available across multiple EW and EI1\/EI2 classifications.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n
Get in touch<\/div>\n
Want to know more about our doors and shutters?<\/div>\n Contact us<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

What do EI1, EI2, and EW mean for an industrial fire door?<\/h2>\n\n\n

EI1, EI2, and EW are fire resistance classifications defined under EN 13501-2, the European standard for classifying the fire resistance of construction products, including doors. Each classification describes what the door assembly must resist during a standardised fire test, and they represent meaningfully different performance levels. Using the wrong classification in a specification is a compliance error with real consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n

EW: integrity and radiation reduction \u2014 the Dutch baseline criterion<\/h3>\n\n\n

EW means the door must maintain integrity (E) \u2014 no flames or hot gases pass through \u2014 and limit radiant heat transfer (W) on the unexposed side to a maximum of 15 kW\/m\u00b2 at one metre distance. It does not require the surface temperature of the unexposed face to remain below a threshold. EW is the Dutch standard baseline criterion under Dutch building regulations and is appropriate where the fire compartment boundary needs to prevent fire spread but where people are not expected to be in close proximity to the door on the safe side. Whether EW is sufficient for a specific project depends on the fire safety calculation for that compartment boundary \u2014 this cannot be assumed from building type alone.<\/p>\n\n\n

EI1 and EI2: insulation criteria at two strictness levels<\/h3>\n\n\n

EI1 and EI2 both require integrity (E) and insulation (I), meaning the unexposed face of the door must not exceed a defined temperature rise during the test period. The distinction matters: EI1 is the stricter criterion, limiting temperature rise to a lower threshold on the unexposed side. EI2 is the less strict criterion, permitting a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side. Never use “EI” without specifying EI1 or EI2 \u2014 they are not interchangeable, and the distinction matters for specification accuracy and permit compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n

The number following the classification letters (30, 60, 90, 120) indicates the duration in minutes for which the door must maintain that performance under standardised fire exposure conditions per EN 13501-2.<\/p>\n\n\n

Who determines the required fire class for a specific opening?<\/h2>\n\n\n

The required fire resistance classification for a specific opening is determined by a project-specific fire safety calculation, not by a blanket rule based on building type or use. In the Netherlands, the Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving (BBL, formerly Bouwbesluit) sets absolute minimum requirements, but these are a floor, not a ceiling. The actual requirement for a given opening depends on multiple overlapping factors.<\/p>\n\n\n

Those factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n