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Single vs Double
Single fire doors have one leaf; double fire doors (sometimes called pairs) have two leaves that meet at a centre stile, with one or both leaves opening. The choice mostly comes down to the required clear opening width and the door's role in the fire strategy. Both can achieve the same fire ratings, but doubles require careful coordination of seals, closers, and any astragal at the meeting edge.
Option A
Single Fire Doors
One leaf — the standard configuration
- One leaf — typically 762-926mm wide for residential doors
- Simpler hardware: one closer, one set of hinges, one latch
- Easier to seal and inspect
- Lower cost than equivalent doubles
- Used at bedrooms, bathrooms, plant rooms, most flat entrance doors
Option B
Double Fire Doors
Two leaves with a meeting edge — wider clear openings
- Two leaves giving 1500-2100mm+ clear opening width
- Used where Building Regulations Approved Document B requires wider escape routes
- Common in commercial corridors, retail, communal entrances, hospital wards
- Both leaves need certified seals, closers, and astragal where specified
- Higher cost than single doors of the same rating
Side-by-side comparison
| Specification | Single Fire Doors | Double Fire Doors |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | One | Two |
| Typical clear opening | 762-926 mm | 1500-2100 mm+ |
| Closer requirement | One self-closing device | Two self-closing devices + door selector (if rebated) |
| Hinge count | 3 per leaf | 3 per leaf (6 total) |
| Fire rating | FD30, FD60 | FD30, FD60 |
| Astragal | N/A | Required at meeting edge where tested |
| Cost | Baseline | Roughly 1.8-2.2x the price of a single |
Which should you choose?
Default to single fire doors unless the building's fire strategy or escape-width calculation requires the wider clear opening of a double. Doubles are common in commercial corridors and communal entrances; rare in residential bedroom or bathroom locations.
Recommended doors
Certified to BS 476 Part 22 · 2-3 week lead time · full documentation supplied
FD30 · Internal
Internal Flush Double FD30
£385.00 – £795.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
1G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£718.00 – £1158.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
3G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£718.00 – £1158.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
8G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£750.00 – £1235.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
16G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£718.00 – £1158.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
19G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£1110.00 – £1520.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
20G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£718.00 – £1158.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FD30 · Internal
25G Internal Glazed Double FD30
£718.00 – £1158.00ex. VAT
1981 x 1524 x 44mm (2 x 762), 1981 x 1676 x 44mm (2 x 838), 2040 x 1652 x 44mm (2 x 826), 2040 x 1852 x 44mm (2 x 926)
FAQ
Single vs Double — common questions
When are double fire doors required by Building Regulations?
Building Regulations Approved Document B specifies minimum clear escape widths based on the number of occupants the route serves. Where that width exceeds what a single leaf can practically achieve (around 1000mm), a double-leaf door is required. Common examples are corridors in commercial premises, retail unit entrances, school classroom doors with high occupancy, and main entrances to communal buildings.
Do both leaves of a double fire door need to self-close?
Yes — both leaves must be fitted with a self-closing device that closes the door fully under all conditions, including any spring-back from the meeting stile. Rebated double doors also need a door selector to ensure the leaves close in the correct sequence, so the seals make full contact.
Can double fire doors have a glazed vision panel?
Yes — both leaves can include pyro-resistant vision panels, and many commercial / public-building doors are specified this way. The panels must be part of the manufacturer's tested glazing system, and the size must not exceed what the test evidence permits.
How much wider can I make an opening with a double door?
Double doors typically give clear openings of 1500-2100mm, compared to ~800-900mm for a standard single. For very wide openings (over 2100mm) you may need a door with a transom or sidelight, all of which must be part of the certified assembly.
Are double fire doors significantly more expensive?
Yes — typically 1.8-2.2x the price of a single fire door, because there is twice the door leaf, twice the hardware, plus the additional cost of the meeting stile, door selector (where rebated), and any astragal. The wider frame is also more expensive to manufacture.