Critical Update to EN 15269-2: ASSA ABLOY Door Group Emphasises Compliance and Life Safety
ASSA ABLOY Door Group is highlighting an essential revision to European fire safety standards, which has significant implications for the design, specification, and compliance of steel fire doorsets.
New UK National Foreword Released
A new UK National Foreword has been published to accompany the updated extended application (EXAP) standard, EN 15269-2:2024. This version supersedes the 2012 edition and specifically applies to fire-resisting doorsets constructed primarily from steel. It does not cover timber or other door materials.
The Foreword responds to mounting industry concern about potentially unsafe design allowances that may otherwise be permissible in the newly published version of the standard, without requiring supporting fire test evidence.
Technical Concerns Raised by the UK
Of particular concern to the UK committee are EXAP rules B.1.1.1 and B.1.1.2, which allow the inclusion of a threshold or frame member at the bottom of the door leaf without direct fire testing. These rules state this is permissible if the material is steel, aluminium, or of Reaction to Fire Class A1, and the gap under the door is unchanged or reduced compared to that of the original tested specimen.
Recent industry testing, however, has demonstrated that adding a threshold in this way—particularly with core constructions commonly specified in the UK—can be detrimental to the fire performance. The UK Technical Committee FSH/22/5 has stressed that such assumptions could lead to unsafe outcomes and warrant further investigation.
UK Votes Against Publication
Despite these concerns, the revised EN 15269-2 was published after achieving broader European consensus. The UK was in the minority in voting against the standard, due to the safety implications outlined above. While the final version includes a limited amendment stating that thresholds should be made from fire-resistant materials, it does not address the UK’s specific objections in full.
BSI Issues Advisory Foreword
To provide clarity and promote best practice, BSI has issued a UK National Foreword. Though non-normative and not legally binding, it offers firm guidance: thresholds or bottom frame members should only be included if supported by direct fire testing in accordance with BS EN 1634-1. This recommendation reinforces the need for demonstrable evidence of fire performance, rather than reliance on extended application rules alone.
Aligning with Industry Guidance
The publication of the UK National Foreword echoes broader discussions within the fire and construction sectors, including guidance from the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), which continues to advise against speculative design assumptions in fire doorset performance.
Brian Sofley, Managing Director at Door Group, commented:
“ASSA ABLOY Door Group welcomes this clarification and strongly encourages specifiers, and contractors to act on the guidance now available. Ensuring fire doorsets are supported by robust test evidence is essential for protecting lives and meeting compliance expectations.”
ASSA ABLOY Powershield Range Tested and Compliant
In line with these heightened expectations, we at ASSA ABLOY Door Group confirm that our Powershield range of steel fire doorsets fully complies with BS EN 1634-1. Each product within the range has undergone comprehensive fire testing, ensuring high performance under real fire conditions—not just theoretical scenarios.
This positions Powershield as a benchmark for both regulatory compliance and end-user safety assurance.
Commitment to Safety and Compliance
ASSA ABLOY Door Group remains fully committed to ensuring our products meet the highest standards, with life safety at the heart of every solution we provide.