Fire doors, also known as fire doors or fire doors, are a key element of passive fire safety measures. They limit the spread of fire and smoke and provide time for evacuation by protecting fire compartments and escape routes. Example of a fire (fire) door – the EI class is selected according to the project and fire safety requirements.
What does fire resistance of a door mean
The fire resistance of doors is determined by EI classes, which indicate the time (in minutes) during which the door retains its protective properties:
E – integrity (prevents the passage of flames and hot gases)
I – insulation (limits the temperature increase on the unburned side)
The most commonly used fire doors are with classes EI30, EI60, EI90 and EI120. The appropriate class is determined according to the purpose of the object, the fire sectors and the requirements set out in the project.
Where are fire-resistant doors required according to Regulation Iz-1971
The fire safety requirements for the design and construction of buildings in Bulgaria are regulated in Regulation No. Iz-1971 of 29.10.2009 on construction and technical rules and norms for ensuring fire safety.
According to the regulation, the investment project is developing a "Fire Safety" section, which provides for passive protection measures. Fire-resistant doors are one of the most important passive measures for limiting the spread of fire and smoke, including when forming fire compartments and protecting evacuation routes.
In practice, fire-resistant doors are foreseen and required in sites such as:
public and administrative buildings
hospitals, schools, kindergartens and social institutions
hotels and accommodation
shopping malls, offices and business buildings
warehouses and industrial sites
fire departments, evacuation exits, corridors and staircases
The specific EI class and installation locations are determined by the project and the risk assessment, so as to ensure safe evacuation and containment of the fire within the fire sector.
Locations in the sites for installing fire-resistant doors.
Standards and certification of fire-resistant doors
For fire-resistant doors, the European standard EN 16034 and classification according to EN 13501-2 apply. They certify the tests and the declared fire resistance class (EI), as well as the applicability of the product for specific solutions. An important role is also played by these standards relating to fire-resistant doors - BDS EN 1530:2003, BDS EN 1192:2003, BDS EN 13501-2:2023, BDS EN 16034:2014 and p. 5.1. and p. 5.3 of Appendix No. 3 to p. 2 of Order No. RD-02-14-1329 of 03.12.2015, amended and supplemented by Order No. RD 02-14-1169 of 30.11.2022 of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.
How to choose the right fire doors
When choosing a fire door, it is important to consider:
the required fire resistance class (EI30/EI60/EI90/EI120)
the type of building and fire sector
the type of construction (single/double leaf, with glazing, sliding, technical)
proven conformity: certificates, declarations and technical documentation
View our selection of fire doors (fire doors) with different EI classes.
We will assist you in choosing the right solution according to the project and fire safety requirements.
Types of doors depending on their installation location and their purpose:
1. Doors for industrial and commercial buildings and for garages according to EN 13241:
- garage doors manually or mechanically operated intended for installation in places accessible to people, their main purpose being to provide safe access for goods and road vehicles accompanied or transported by people, in industrial, commercial or residential buildings;
- doors for commercial premises, such as roller shutters or roller grilles, used in buildings intended primarily for access by people, and not for road vehicles and goods;
There are no specific requirements for emergency exits for these door variants.
2. Internal pedestrian doors according to EN 14351-2 - these are doors that are designed and used to close permanent openings in internal dividing elements and whose main purpose is to provide access for pedestrians.
For example, entrance doors to apartments or offices that meet the above requirements should be considered as internal pedestrian doors.
This type of door is intended for:
- escape routes
- for specific applications for which there are specific requirements
- only for connection
3. External doors according to EN 14351-1 - these are doors that separate the internal climatic conditions from the external climatic conditions of the building and are mainly used for the passage of people and are manually or mechanically operated, as follows:
- windows for installation in vertical wall partitions
- roof windows for installation in pitched roofs
- external doors that can be equipped with integrated upper lighting fixtures and adjacent parts contained in a single frame for installation in a single opening
Legal requirements for the use of fire-resistant doors in construction in the Republic of Bulgaria for 2026
By order No. RD-02-14-1386 of 22.12.2023 of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, working procedure No. RP-OSSPNI-3.5, edition No. 02 on certification of the conformity of internal pedestrian doors with the national requirements, set out in item 3 of Order No. RD-02-14-1169 of 30.11.2022, which supplements Order No. RD-02-14-1329 of 03.12.2015 of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works. The procedure regulates the procedure and rules for certification of the conformity of internal pedestrian doors, for compliance with the national requirements for their use in construction, according to Chapter Two of Regulation No. RD-02-20-1 of February 5, 2015.
As of 22.10.2024, the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works has authorized persons to assess the conformity with the above-mentioned national requirements for determining and declaring the constancy of the characteristics of internal pedestrian doors in buildings depending on the intended use.
According to Art. 11, para. 3, items 4 and 5 of Regulation No. RD-02-20-1 of February 5, 2015, the validity period of an issued opinion on admissibility shall be terminated before the expiration of the period specified therein, two years after the authorization of a person under Art. 13, para. 1, item 1 for certification of the conformity of the construction product with national requirements, as well as upon issuance of a certificate of conformity of the product by a person under Art. 13, para. 1, item 1.
In connection with the above, the GDPBZN-MVR may issue opinions on admissibility for internal pedestrian doors resistant to fire and/or for smoke control until the expiry of the deadline of two years after the authorization of the persons to assess the conformity of products with the national requirements, namely until 21.10.2026.
The lists of opinions on admissibility published on the website of the GDPBZN-MVR in the Information Center/Registers kept in the GDPBZN section reflect the changes in the validity period of the issued opinions on admissibility for internal pedestrian doors resistant to fire and/or for smoke control.
II. In connection with the description in item I, the procedure for installing fire-resistant and/or smoke-control doors in construction works is as follows:
1. Mechanically operated fire-resistant and/or smoke-control pedestrian doors, which are designed for their intended purpose in accordance with the requirements of BDS EN 16361 (mechanically operated external and internal doors), shall be installed in construction works in accordance with the current procedure, accompanied by:
- a valid opinion on admissibility issued by the Bulgarian Directorate for the Construction of Fire-Resistant and/or Smoke-Controlled Doors-Ministry of the Interior;
- a declaration of the characteristics of the construction product;
- instructions and safety information in Bulgarian
.
2. Internal pedestrian doorsets, fire-resistant and/or for smoke control, which are designed for their intended purpose in accordance with the requirements of BDS EN 14351-2 and for which there is a valid European Technical Assessment, shall be used in construction works, accompanied by:
- declaration of performance of the construction product;
- instructions and safety information in Bulgarian.
3. Internal pedestrian doorsets, fire-resistant and/or for smoke control, which are designed for their intended purpose in accordance with the requirements of BDS EN 14351-2 and for which there is a valid opinion of admissibility, shall be used in construction works in accordance with the previous procedure, accompanied by:
- declaration of characteristics of the construction product;
- the valid opinion of admissibility issued by the Directorate for the Construction of Fire-Resistant 4. Internal pedestrian doorsets with fire resistance and/or smoke control, which are designed for their intended purpose in accordance with the requirements of BDS EN 14351-2 and for which a certificate of conformity has been issued by a person under Art. 13, para. 1, item 1 of Regulation No. RD-02-20-1 of 5 February 2015, shall be used in construction works, accompanied by:
- declaration of the characteristics of the construction product;
- instructions and safety information in Bulgarian.
5. External pedestrian doorsets, doors for industrial and commercial buildings and for garages and openable windows with fire resistance and/or smoke control shall be assessed in accordance with BDS EN 16034 and shall bear the "CE" marking, and shall be used in construction works, accompanied by:
- declaration of performance of the construction product;
- instructions and safety information in Bulgarian.
In item 5.4 of working procedure No. RP-OSSPNI-3.5, edition No. 02, approved by order No. RD-02-14-1386 of 22.12.2023 of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, it is determined that after receiving the certificate of conformity (a sample of the certificate of conformity is given in Appendix No. 1 to the working procedure), the manufacturer issues a declaration of the characteristics of the construction product according to the sample given in Appendix No. 1 to Art. 4, para. 1, item 2 of Regulation No. RD-02-20-1 of February 5, 2015. The same item of the working procedure stipulates that the organization (contractor/installer) that installs the internal pedestrian door with a specific intended use and the fire-resistant and/or smoke-control pedestrian door shall issue a Declaration of Installation, in accordance with the requirements of item II, item III and item IV of the Annex to the Certificate of Conformity with National Requirements, in the form given in Annex No. 3 to the working procedure. A copy of the declaration shall be provided to the manufacturer, who shall keep it for a period of 10 years. A copy of the declaration shall also be attached to the documents certifying the conformity of the construction products used in the construction with the requirements under Art. 169a, para. 1 of the Spatial Planning Act.
Information on the national requirements for the use of construction products in construction works in relation to their intended use or uses, the working procedures for certification, the persons authorized to assess conformity with national requirements and the certificates of conformity of products issued by persons under Art. 13, para. 1, item 1 of Regulation No. RD-02-20-1 of February 5, 2015 is available on the website of the Contact Unit for Products in Construction of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.
Conclusion
Fire-resistant doors are a mandatory element of fire safety in many buildings and sites. Compliance with Regulation Iz-1971 and the use of certified doors according to EN 16034 and EN 13501-2 ensures real protection of people and property in the event of a fire.
"POZHARNA TEHNIKA" OOD is a Bulgarian manufacturer of single-leaf and double-leaf fire-resistant doors, trademark "Flamedoor".
We have a certificate of conformity No. 26-НУРВСПСРБ-00.099-2.2025 for the construction product: "internal" fire-resistant doors, trademark "Flamedoor", models:
- single-leaf fire-resistant doors Flamedoor Ei2 60
- double-leaf fire-resistant doors Flamedoor 2L Ei2 60
- single-leaf fire-resistant doors Flamedoor Ei2 120
- double-leaf fire-resistant doors Flamedoor 2L Ei2 120
The article was prepared by Eng. Atanas Ilchev from "FIRE TECHNICS" OOD.
