New European Regulation 2024/3110 and updated standards: what's new for fire doors?

Fire-resistant doors —commonly known as fire doors —are a fundamental element of building safety. In Italy, this sector has long been regulated by national regulations (ministerial approvals) and, more recently, by the CE marking for products intended for outdoor use.

With the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 on construction products and the 2023 revision of the EN 13501-2 standard, the regulatory framework has changed profoundly. In this article, we look in detail at:

• the innovations introduced by the new European Regulation,
• updates to the EN 13501-2 classification standard,
• the mandatory documentation that must always accompany the supply of fire doors, both for internal and external use.

1. Regulation (EU) 2024/3110: the new CPR for construction products

The new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) , published in the Official Journal of the EU in December 2024, replaces the previous Regulation 305/2011 .

The main new features:

• Entry into force : the text applies from January 2026 , with a transition period for products already certified.
• Sustainability : obligation to provide environmental information (EPD – Environmental Product Declaration, life cycle, recycled materials).
• Digital passport : each construction product will have to have a digital card that collects performance and traceability.
• Legal value of harmonised standards : all harmonised European standards (such as EN 16034 for fire-resistant doors) remain valid until their official withdrawal.
• Greater market control : stricter compliance and data transparency obligations for manufacturers and distributors.

For fire doors this means that, in addition to the traditional safety features, it will also be necessary to provide environmental and digital information

2. The new EN 13501-2:2023 standard

EN 13501-2 is the European standard that establishes how to classify the fire resistance and smoke control of construction elements, including fire doors.

What changes with the 2023 revision?

• Greater clarity in the Extended Application (EXAP) rules, i.e. the use of test results also for product variants (different sizes, accessories, compatible materials).
• Closer integration with laboratory tests according to EN 1634 (doors and closures).
• Obligation to better specify the boundary conditions of the tests: installation, fixings, gaskets, accessories.
• Recognition of the limits within which the classification remains valid, to avoid improper use of test reports.

This leads to greater reliability of certifications and more rigor in the variants: each door must correspond exactly to the tested prototype, except for clearly documented extensions.

3. Internal approval and CE marking: the differences

In Italy, two regulatory regimes coexist today:

National approval (internal doors)

Fire-resistant doors installed inside buildings, which separate fire compartments, still follow the national approval system of the Ministry of the Interior .

Mandatory documents:

1. Certificate of approval issued by the Fire Brigade.
2. Manufacturer's declaration of conformity to the approved prototype.
3. Use and maintenance manual .
4. Indelible plate with approval code, manufacturer, EI class (EI 30, EI 60, EI 120).
5. Declaration of correct installation by the installer

CE marking (external doors)

For fire-resistant doors intended for external use or for industrial gates, CE marking is mandatory according to the harmonised standard EN 16034 , in combination with EN 14351-1/2 or EN 13241.

Mandatory documents:

1. Declaration of Performance (DoP) with the declared performances (resistance to fire, smoke, self-closing, durability).
2. CE marking with Notified Body number.
3. Factory Production Control (FPC) Certificate .
4. Test reports and extended applications (EXAP) according to EN 13501-2:2023.
5. Installation and maintenance manual .
6. Product traceability (unique code linking the product to the DoP).

With Regulation 2024/3110, the DoP will become DoPC (Declaration of Performance and Conformity) also including environmental data and a digital passport.

4. What the customer should always receive

When a customer purchases a fire door (whether internal or external), he must always receive:

• Copy of the approval or DoP/DoPC.
• Use, installation and maintenance manual.
• Identification plate applied to the product.
• Declaration of correct installation by the installer.

Without these documents, the door is not considered compliant and may not be accepted in the event of fire inspections or tests.

5. Practical implications for designers, companies and end customers

• Designers : must specify in the specifications whether the door falls under national approval or CE marking.
• Businesses : must request complete documentation from the supplier and retain it.
• End customers : they must receive manuals and booklets to ensure maintenance over time.
• Manufacturers : must update their documentation to comply with the requirements of Regulation 2024/3110 and include environmental and digital information.

Conclusion

The new European Regulation 2024/3110 and the EN 13501-2:2023 standard mark a paradigm shift : fire doors are no longer just a safety element, but become complex products to certify, track and monitor also from an environmental and digital point of view.

For designers, companies and clients, the golden rule remains one:
never accept a fire door without the mandatory documentation .

Only in this way can we be sure that the installed closure truly protects people and property in the event of a fire.