Lo más importante
- CTE DB-SI requires EI2 60-C5 (RF-60) fire doors at the access to stair enclosures in residential buildings with more than two storeys above ground.
- The RF classification (Fire Resistance) indicates the minutes the door maintains its compartmentation function: RF-30, RF-60, RF-90, RF-120 and RF-180.
- RIPCI sets no inspection frequency for fire doors (it regulates active fire protection, art. 1): their maintenance belongs to the building maintenance plan (CTE Part I, art. 8.2), and a quarterly check by the owner and an annual inspection by a competent technician are recommended.
- The most frequent mistake is holding the door open with wedges or hooks, which completely negates its protective function.
- Only doors with CE marking and valid EI2 classification may be installed in compartmentation elements required by regulation.
Key figures
- RF-30 / RF-60 / RF-90 / RF-120 / RF-180: fire resistance classes in minutes (CTE DB-SI).
- EI2 60-C5: European classification equivalent to RF-60 required for staircases in residential buildings with >2 floors.
- Mandatory CE marking: without it, the door is not valid for regulatory compartmentation.
- Intumescent seal: critical element that expands 4-10× with heat and seals the frame perimeter.
- Certified door closer: required by UNE-EN 1154; must close from any opening angle.
- Non-certified wedges / magnets: total invalidation of the declared fire resistance.
- Inspection records: it is advisable to document each inspection and keep the reports with the building documentation (CTE Part I, art. 8.2).
Fire doors are one of the most present passive fire protection elements in residential communities, but also one of the most neglected. Many communities have RF doors installed that lack maintenance, have been modified or are permanently wedged open. When a fire occurs, these doors fail to perform and the fire spreads through the staircase within minutes.
At Igniescut we coordinate technicians specialised in passive fire protection. In this guide we explain what regulations require for residential communities in Catalonia, what types of RF doors exist and how this critical element should be maintained.
Should fire doors always stay closed? What to do if a neighbour props one open
Yes: a fire door must stay closed at all times except the instant someone walks through it. Its compartmentation function only exists while it is closed; propped open or wedged, it stops neither smoke nor fire, whatever RF rating it carries. If you regularly find a fire door in your building wedged open or hooked back:
- Remove the wedge or hook if you can do so safely, or ask the neighbour to.
- Tell the property manager or the community president: it is the community's responsibility, not just whoever propped it open.
- If it keeps happening, the compliant solution is an electromagnetic hold-open device linked to the fire detection panel, which keeps the door open safely and releases it automatically when the alarm activates. It is not "a better wedge" — it is the method that keeps the door open without defeating its automatic closing in a fire.
What is a fire door and how it works
A fire door (also called an RF or EI door) is a passive barrier designed to resist the passage of fire and combustion gases for a defined time. Its function is not to extinguish the fire, but to contain it within a compartment so that occupants can evacuate and emergency services can respond.
Fire doors are classified by two parameters:
- Fire resistance (E or EI): E means the door prevents the passage of flames and gases; EI adds thermal insulation (the face opposite the fire does not exceed 140 °C average or 180 °C at any point).
- Minutes of resistance: the number indicates the time in minutes the door maintains its properties under standardised testing (UNE-EN 1634-1).
The most common doors in residential communities are EI2 60-C5, which corresponds to the former RF-60 designation and means: thermal insulation and integrity for 60 minutes, with an automatic closing device of 5 N force (C5).
When are they mandatory under CTE DB-SI
The Spanish Building Code — Basic Document on Fire Safety (CTE DB-SI) sets out when fire doors are required depending on the use and height of the building:
| Element | Required resistance |
|---|---|
| Access to protected staircase (residential, >2 floors above ground) | EI2 60-C5 |
| Access to specially protected staircase (residential, >6 floors) | EI2 60-C5 + vestibule EI120 |
| Access to low special-risk room (meter room, pressure group) | EI2 45-C5 |
| Access to medium special-risk room (boiler room, transformers) | EI2 60-C5 |
| Access to high special-risk room (fuel storage >4 m³) | EI2 90-C5 |
| Garage door adjoining habitable areas | EI2 60-C5 |
| Access to protected staircase in parking | EI2 60-C5 |
For mixed-use or industrial buildings, the requirement may be higher depending on the intrinsic risk level defined in RSCIEI.
RF door types: practical differences
RF-30 / EI2 30-C5
30 minutes of resistance. Suitable for separations between low-risk compartments. Not sufficient for protected staircases in most residential buildings. Lower cost and used in specific low-risk cases.
RF-60 / EI2 60-C5
The standard for residential communities. The most installed door in staircase enclosures of residential buildings with more than two floors. Provides 60 minutes of fire resistance and must include automatic closure with electromagnetic retention if you want to keep it open during the day.
RF-90 / EI2 90-C5
Required in medium special-risk rooms and some commercial or administrative establishments. Also required between garages and habitable zones in buildings with more than three floors.
RF-120 / EI2 120-C5 and RF-180 / EI2 180-C5
Reserved for high special-risk compartmentation, high-voltage transformer rooms, fuel storage premises and high-risk industrial establishments.
Installation: mandatory technical requirements
For a fire door to be compliant in Catalonia, the following requirements must be met:
- CE marking with valid EI2 classification according to UNE-EN 1634-1 and UNE-EN 13501-2.
- Installation conforming to the manufacturer's DITE/ETA: opening, frame and anchoring must match those specified in the declaration of performance.
- Automatic closing device (arm or spring): the door must close under gravity without user intervention.
- Intumescent perimeter seal: expands with heat and seals the joints to prevent smoke and gas transit.
- Installation by a specialist installer following the manufacturer's instructions. Since the RIPCI only regulates active fire protection (art. 1), it does not require a qualified company or RASIC registration for fire doors.
Replacement or modification of an existing fire door must follow the same installation criteria as a new one. Modifying the door (cutting the frame, drilling new anchor points, fitting non-approved handles) invalidates its EI2 classification.
Do you chair or manage a residents' association?
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Fire door maintenance: what the regulations say
Royal Decree 513/2017 (RIPCI) regulates active fire protection (art. 1) and sets no inspection frequency for fire doors, which are passive protection. Their fire resistance is required by CTE DB-SI, and their maintenance belongs to the building maintenance plan (CTE Part I, art. 8.2; Law 38/1999, art. 16) and the manufacturer's instructions. As good practice, the following review programme is recommended:
| Operation | Recommended frequency | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection (closure, hinges, seal, signage) | Quarterly | Owner (the community) |
| Full technical review + report | Annual | Competent technician (specialist or maintenance company) |
| Functional test of closing device | Annual | Competent technician |
| Verification of CE marking and documentary traceability | Every 5 years | Competent technician |
The homeowner association, as owner of the building, is responsible for keeping it in good condition and for entrusting the scheduled operations of its maintenance plan to a competent technician (CTE Part I, art. 8.2; Law 38/1999, art. 16).
Common mistakes in residential communities
Door blocked in open position
The most common and most dangerous mistake. A wooden wedge, a brick or a stick under the door completely disables the fire barrier. The correct solution to keep the door open during the day is an electromagnetic hold-open device connected to the fire alarm panel: when the alarm triggers, the current is cut and the door closes automatically.
Damaged or missing intumescent seal
Over the years, the seal can detach, flatten or deteriorate. Without the seal, the door does not seal the joints and smoke passes through even if the leaf resists fire. It is the element most frequently skipped in maintenance.
Broken or misadjusted closing arm
If the closing arm does not work properly, the door does not close on its own after people pass through. In many communities the arm is removed or blocked because "it gets in the way" or produces a draught.
Uncontrolled modifications: peepholes, mailboxes and signs
Drilling the door to install a peephole, sticking adhesives that cover the seal or adding a mailbox are modifications that invalidate the door's EI2 classification.
Door outside its approved opening
Installing an RF-60 door in an opening larger than that specified in the manufacturer's declaration of performance causes the door to lose its classification. The opening must exactly match the test certificate.
"In residential communities, the most dangerous mistake is the staircase RF door wedged open. It's done for convenience, but in a fire that door is the difference between a fire confined to one floor and one that runs through the whole building in minutes. The correct solution is always an electromagnetic hold-open device, not a wedge."
— Igniescut technician network
Indicative cost
The cost of a fire door in Catalonia depends on its fire resistance (RF-30 to RF-120), on whether it has one or two leaves and on whether it includes an electromagnetic hold-open device. It is a range that the network technician confirms after assessing the installation, and it may vary depending on manufacturer, opening width and installation conditions. Communities that manage several doors under a single maintenance contract obtain better rates.
We coordinate communities and car parks in Tarragona, Barcelona and Madrid
At Igniescut we coordinate the installation and maintenance of fire doors in residential communities and shared car parks, with qualified technicians from our network in Barcelona, Tarragona, Madrid and the rest of our coverage. We coordinate:
- A photo-based diagnosis of existing RF doors.
- Installation of new doors with CE marking and declaration of performance.
- Annual inspection contracts; the inspection report is delivered by the network technician who carries it out.
- Installation of electromagnetic hold-open devices linked to the fire alarm panel.
We also recommend reviewing the most common fire prevention mistakes to identify other weak points in your community's passive fire protection.
Request a photo-based diagnosis of the fire doors in your community or car park.