Fire door
Fire door is a door assembly tested under AS 1905.1 and certified to an FRL (e.g. -/60/30) for fire-rated walls. ID by compliance tag. Distinct from 35 mm solid-core.
Ask Chalkline about this →A fire door in Australian construction is a door assembly (door leaf + frame + hardware + seals) that has been tested under AS 1905.1:2015 and certified to a specific Fire Resistance Level (FRL) for installation in a fire-rated wall. The FRL is expressed as three numbers in structural / integrity / insulation minutes, e.g. -/60/30 means no structural requirement, 60 minutes of integrity against fire-and-smoke, 30 minutes of insulation against heat transfer through the door.
A fire door is identified on site by:
- A metal compliance tag riveted to the hinge-side edge of the door leaf, stating the AS 1905.1 reference, the FRL, the manufacturer, the batch, and the year of manufacture.
- A frame tag on the frame head or jamb confirming the frame is part of the certified assembly.
- A hardware set (closer, hinges, lockset) listed as compatible with the certified assembly. Non-listed hardware invalidates the certification.
Fire door vs solid-core door (the common residential confusion):
| Component | Fire door (AS 1905.1) | NCC 9.2.3 solid-core door |
|---|---|---|
| Tested as a system? | Yes (door + frame + hardware) | No, prescriptive build only |
| Compliance tag required? | Yes (metal tag) | No |
| FRL rating? | Yes (e.g. -/60/30) | None (resistance is prescriptive) |
| Use case | Class 2 corridors, fire-rated walls, regulated openings | Garage to dwelling in Class 1a |
| Minimum thickness | Varies by FRL (commonly 40-45 mm) | 35 mm minimum |
| Self-closing? | Yes (door closer fitted as part of certified assembly) | Yes (NCC requires self-closing) |
| Cost | $1,200 to $4,000 (residential applications) | $400 to $900 |
The garage-to-dwelling door in a Class 1a single-storey dwelling is a particularly common point of confusion. NCC 2022 Housing Provisions 9.2.3 prescribes a 35 mm minimum solid-core self-closing door there. That is not an AS 1905.1 fire door; it does not need to be tested or tagged. A separate Class 2 apartment-corridor door, by contrast, requires an AS 1905.1 tested assembly.
Where fire doors are required (NCC 2022 Volume One context for Class 2+):
- Fire-isolated stair shafts.
- Fire-isolated passageways.
- Apartment sole-occupancy unit entry doors (corridor side).
- Service shaft access doors above a certain FRL.
- Fire-isolated lift shafts.
Common defects with fire doors:
- Hardware substituted on site (non-listed closer or lockset). Certification void.
- Compliance tag painted over or removed (the tag is the field-verification anchor; the certifier will not accept a tag-less door).
- Hinge screws short of the certified length. Fire performance compromised.
- Frame installed without intumescent strip in the rebate. Fails the integrity test at temperature.
- Door undercut on site to clear flooring (carpet installed thicker than design). Reduces integrity.
Also known as: FRL door; fire-rated door; AS 1905 door.
Category: Compliance.
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Last updated: 2026-05-16. Verified: 2026-05-16. Quarterly review for currency.