It has happened to many businesses. The works are finished, the Fire Department inspection is scheduled, and at that moment the problem emerges: the installed fire-rated door does not have the declaration of correct installation. Or the supplier delivered an EI door instead of an EI2, because the specification item did not specify the difference. Or the hardware was replaced with a model not included in the approval – and now the certification is no longer valid.
None of these problems are rare. They are the direct consequence of vaguely written specification items – and they turn into variations, disputes, and inspection delays that cost time and money.
This guide is a working tool for those who draft or approve specifications for technical doors: it explains what to specify, why every detail matters, and how to avoid common mistakes.
First of all: what is meant by a technical door
In construction jargon, "fire door" tends to be used to refer to any door with special requirements. In reality, it is a complex family, and confusing the categories in the specifications is the first mistake to avoid.
REI / EI Doors (fire resistance) Certified according to EN 16034, classified by fire resistance time: EI 30, EI 60, EI 90, EI 120. In Italy, the old REI classification is equivalent to the European EI2 classification – pay attention to this equivalence, we will discuss it shortly.
Panic doors Equipped with devices certified EN 1125 (panic bar) or EN 179 (emergency device). Mandatory on escape routes based on the number of occupants of the building.
X-ray shielded doors (RX) With lead shielding or equivalent certified material. Required in radiology rooms, diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy departments.
Acoustic doors Classified by sound insulation power (Rw in dB). Necessary in hospital, hospitality, and open-plan office environments where specific acoustic performance is required.
HPL and high-pressure plastic laminate doors Do not have fire certification requirements, but are designed to withstand intensive use in healthcare, school, and public environments. Reinforced edges, antibacterial surfaces, sanitizable finishes.
Multipurpose doors Combine multiple performances in a single product: REI + panic, REI + acoustic, REI + HPL. The specification item must specify all required performances simultaneously.
The distinction that costs the most to ignore: EI vs EI2
This is the most frequent technical confusion and the one with the most serious consequences during inspection.
EI indicates that the door guarantees fire resistance only from the fire side – the "hot" side. If the fire develops from the other side, the door does not have the same classification.
EI2 indicates that the door guarantees the same resistance from both sides. This is the classification required by most Italian normative applications – communal stairwells, compartmentation between areas of different risk, escape corridors.
The Italian ministerial decree of 21 June 2004 explicitly states that the old REI classification is equivalent to EI2 – not EI. So if the specification says "REI 60 door" and an EI 60 door (not EI2) is installed, the product does not comply with the regulations even if both numbers coincide.
Always write in the specifications: "fire-resistant door EI2 [number] according to EN 16034, with CE marking". Leave no ambiguity.
How to structure a correct specification item
A specification item for technical doors must answer seven questions. If even one remains unanswered, a space for interpretation opens up which the supplier will fill in their favor – not necessarily to your disadvantage, but not necessarily in the way you intended.
1. Type and classification
Not "fire door". Not "REI fire door". But:
"Supply and installation of fire-resistant door EI2 60-C5, classified according to UNI EN 13501-2, compliant with product standard EN 16034, with CE marking and Declaration of Performance (DoP). Opening direction in the direction of escape."
Every word has a precise meaning:
- EI2 60: bidirectional classification, 60 minutes
- C5: the door closer is certified for 200,000 opening cycles
- EN 13501-2: fire resistance classification standard
- EN 16034: product standard for fire-resistant pedestrian doors
- DoP: Declaration of Performance, mandatory with CE marking
2. Dimensions and verification of approval
Specify width and height of the net opening of the finished frame. But always add this clause:
"The dimensions must fall within the scope of the manufacturer's approval/certification. The supplier must declare in writing that the ordered dimensions are covered by the product's DoP."
Why it's important: not all certified doors are available in all sizes. An opening of 90x220 cm might fall outside the scope of that specific product's approval. Discovering this after installation is a serious problem.
3. Materials, finish, and environmental compatibility
Specify frame and leaf materials (galvanized steel, painted steel, wood, HPL), color with RAL or NCS reference, type of finish. In healthcare or school environments, add:
"The finish must be compatible with chlorine-based cleaning products. Edges and corners must be protected with stainless steel corner profiles. Surfaces must comply with the hygienic requirements of the applicable regulations for the installation environment."
4. Hardware: the detail that invalidates certification
This is the most overlooked point – and the one with the most serious consequences. For certified doors, hardware is not an accessory: it is an integral part of the approval. Replacing even a single component with a product not provided for by the certification can invalidate the REI classification of the entire door.
The specifications must state:
- Door closer: mandatory on all REI doors. Specify the standard (EN 1154) and efficiency class (minimum C3, preferable C5 for high-use environments)
- Opening device: standard handle, EN 1125 panic bar, or EN 179 device based on the number of occupants
- Lock: EN 12209 classification, eventual compatibility with access control systems
- Hinges: number, material, capacity. For heavy doors (thick steel, HPL), specify reinforced hinges
- Door selector: mandatory on double leaf doors to ensure the correct closing sequence
- Coordinator: for double leaf doors where coordinated closing of the leaves is required
Always add this clause: "All hardware must be included in the scope of the manufacturer's certification. The supplier is responsible for the compatibility between hardware and approval."
5. Installation and coordination with other works
The installation of a REI door is not a standard operation. The specifications must clarify:
Who supplies and installs the subframe? This is often the responsibility of the construction company during the masonry phase, before finishing. The door supplier only installs the leaf and the final frame. If this responsibility is not explicitly stated in the specifications, no one is responsible at the end of the construction.
Tolerances of the finished opening: specify the maximum permissible tolerances (usually ±5 mm for width and height, ±3 mm for perpendicularity). An out-of-tolerance opening can prevent correct installation or compromise the door's operation.
Coordination with floor finishes: the threshold of the REI door must be coordinated with the finished floor level. Even a minimal difference in level can prevent the door from sealing properly and compromise the EI classification.
⚠️ Mandatory clause: "Installation must be carried out by a qualified installer according to UNI 11473-1. The installer must issue a declaration of correct installation in accordance with Ministerial Decree 21/06/2004 and subsequent amendments. This documentation is a necessary condition for the acceptance of the supply."
6. Technical documentation: the file you cannot lose
Specify in the specifications that the supplier must provide, before or concurrently with the supply:
- Copy of the approval act or CE marking with DoP
- Fire classification certificate according to EN 13501-2
- Technical data sheets with dimensions covered by the approval
- Installation, use, and maintenance manual
- Declaration of correct installation signed by the installer
- Photographic documentation of the installation (recommended, often requested by the Fire Department)
Add this clause: "Complete documentation is a necessary condition for the issuance of the final payment certificate related to the supply."
This contractually binds the delivery of documentation – without documents, no payment.
7. Warranty and scheduled maintenance
Specify at least 24 months warranty from the installation date, with explicit indication of the conditions that invalidate it (unauthorized modifications, maintenance with non-original spare parts, tampering with closing devices).
For environments subject to fire regulations, add:
"The supplier must provide a scheduled maintenance plan compliant with UNI 11473 to maintain the certified classification over time. Mandatory periodic checks (at least semi-annually according to Ministerial Decree 10/03/1998 and DPR 37/98) must be performed by a qualified technician."
The errors that cost the most at inspection
These are the real scenarios that emerge from construction sites and technical forums in the sector. These are not isolated cases – they are frequent situations.
"The door is installed but the declaration of correct installation is missing" This is the most common problem. The installer installed the door, was paid, and did not leave the document. Without this declaration, the technician who signs the SCIA/CPI with the Fire Department finds themselves in a difficult situation. The in-progress solution – getting a declaration signed retrospectively or performing a new verification – is costly and not always accepted by the Commands. Prevention: include the delivery of the declaration as a contractual condition for payment.
"The supplier delivered EI instead of EI2" Because the specification generically said "REI 60 door". EI and EI2 have the same number but different characteristics. The supplier interpreted the text in their favor by providing the less expensive product. The in-progress solution: replacement of the door or technical verification confirming the performance equivalence in the specific case – both costly options. Prevention: always specify EI2 in the specifications.
"The hardware was changed on site" The surveyor ordered different handles than those specified, or the subcontractor used a spare door closer they had in stock. The door's certification is technically compromised. The in-progress solution: verification with the door manufacturer if the replacement hardware falls within the extended application (EXAP) of the certification – possible but not guaranteed. Prevention: include in the specifications that any change to the hardware requires written approval from the works director with verification of compatibility with the approval.
"Dimensions were outside the scope of approval" The door was ordered to measure and the supplier delivered, but upon testing, it emerged that that specific dimension was not covered by the product's approval. The supplier did not check because the specifications did not require it. Prevention: explicit clause that the supplier must declare in writing that the ordered dimensions are covered by the approval.
Specification item: practical example
Here is an example of a complete item for a fire-rated door to be included directly in the special tender specifications.
"Supply and installation of a fire-resistant door, classified EI2 60-C5 according to UNI EN 13501-2, compliant with product standard EN 16034, equipped with CE marking and Declaration of Performance (DoP). Opening direction in the direction of escape.
Construction characteristics: powder-coated steel leaf RAL [] color, minimum thickness [] mm, galvanized steel frame. Clear opening dimensions [] x [] mm (width x height), to be verified within the manufacturer's approval scope.
Certified hardware included in the approval: EN 1154 class C5 certified door closer, EN 1125 certified panic bar [or handle with EN 179 device], EN 12209 certified lock, [number] stainless steel hinges with minimum capacity [____] kg.
Installation by a qualified installer according to UNI 11473-1, with the release of a declaration of correct installation in accordance with Ministerial Decree 21/06/2004.
Mandatory documentation to be submitted: copy of DoP, EN 13501-2 classification certificate, technical data sheets, maintenance manual, declaration of correct installation, photographic documentation of installation.
Minimum warranty 24 months from installation. The delivery of complete documentation is a necessary condition for the issuance of the final payment certificate."
The role of the supplier: from seller to technical partner
A structured supplier does not only deliver the product — they accompany the company throughout the entire process, from specification to testing.
During the quotation phase: verifies that the requested dimensions are covered by the approval, proposes the correct classification for the regulatory context, identifies any incompatibilities between the requested door and the installation conditions.
During the delivery phase: provides all the technical documentation required for the site file, including pre-compiled texts for specification items that the company can use as a basis for its own document.
During the testing phase: can participate in the technical inspection by the Fire Department, providing additional documentation and technical clarifications to the professional in charge of the SCIA.
FIP Porte has been producing technical doors since 1969 — fire-rated doors, X-ray protection doors, HPL doors, acoustic doors, and multi-purpose solutions — and provides construction companies with pre-compiled texts for specification items compliant with current regulations, adaptable to the specific requirements of each project. The FIP technical team supports the definition of specifications from the design phase to testing.
Technical consulting and pre-compiled specification items: porteitaliane.com — or call 0941 901172 or write to info@fipporte.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must sign the declaration of correct installation for a fire-rated door? The installer who physically installed the door. Not the manufacturer, not the construction manager — the installer. It is legally required (Ministerial Decree 21/06/2004, art. 3 paragraph 3) and must be included in the file submitted to the Fire Department during the SCIA/CPI phase.
What happens if the declaration of installation is missing during the Fire Department inspection? The technician signing the DICH-PROD must certify the correct installation — but without the installer's declaration, they are in a position of direct responsibility. It is often necessary to arrange a new site verification or, in the worst cases, the replacement of the door with complete documentation.
Is an EI door equivalent to an EI2 door? No, not always. EI guarantees resistance only from the fire side; EI2 guarantees it from both sides. Italian regulations require EI2 in most applications. Always check with the fire safety engineer which classification is required in your specific case.
Is the subframe the responsibility of the door supplier or the construction company? It depends on how the specifications are drawn up. If not specified, it becomes a point of contention. The most common practice is that the subframe is supplied and installed by the construction company during the masonry phase, and that the door supplier only installs the leaf and the final frame. Always explicitly state this in the specifications.
Can I change the handle of an already installed fire-rated door? Only with a component included in the scope of the manufacturer's approval. Any modification must be verified and approved by the manufacturer. Using a non-approved component can invalidate the EI classification of the door.
How often should a fire-rated door be inspected? At least twice a year, as required by Ministerial Decree 10/03/1998 and Presidential Decree 37/98. From September 2024, maintenance must be carried out by a technician with specific qualifications. Each inspection must be recorded in the fire safety register.
