Fire Rated Roller Shutter Doors
Certified fire rated roller shutter doors. Built to protect commercial and industrial buildings.A fire shutter door is a specialised type of roller shutter door designed to contain the spread of fire and smoke within a building for a defined period of time.
Unlike standard industrial doors, fire rated roller shutter doors are tested and certified to resist fire for 60, 120 or more minutes, depending on specification.
They are commonly installed in commercial and industrial environments where compartmentation is required to prevent fire spreading between areas such as warehouses, production zones, service corridors and plant rooms.
In simple terms, a fire shutter door acts as a barrier. When activated, it closes automatically to contain fire within a specific section of the building, helping protect life and reduce structural damage.
How do fire rated roller shutter doors work?
Fire roller shutter doors are designed to close automatically in the event of a fire.
They are typically connected to a building’s fire alarm system or triggered by heat-sensitive fusible links. When activated, the door descends to seal the opening and keep fire from spreading.
Depending on the system specified, doors may operate via:
- Gravity fail-safe systems, which automatically close upon power failure
- Motorised controlled descent systems linked directly to the fire alarm
- Fusible links that release the shutter when exposed to high temperatures
Once closed, the door is engineered to resist fire and limit smoke spread for the duration of its certified rating.
Standard roller shutters vs fire rated roller shutter doors
Standard roller shutter doors
Standard roller shutter doors are designed primarily for security and access control. They provide physical protection but are not tested to withstand fire exposure for a certified duration.
Fire rated shutter doors
Fire rated shutter doors, by contrast, are built using reinforced curtain materials, specialised guides and fire-resistant components. They undergo independent testing to meet strict performance criteria.
The two are not interchangeable; they have different purposes. Standard roller shutter doors are often used on entranceways to keep your building(s) secure. Fire shutter doors are often used internally to stop the spread of fire.
Where are fire shutter doors used?
Fire shutter doors are commonly installed in:
- Distribution centres and warehouses
- Manufacturing facilities
- Underground car parks
- Retail stockrooms
- Service corridors and plant areas
- Mixed-use commercial developments
In large buildings, they play a critical role in dividing spaces into fire compartments, limiting fire spread and allowing for safe evacuation.
They are frequently installed alongside other industrial doors such as sectional doors, steel pedestrian doors and security roller shutters as part of a coordinated fire and access strategy.
The benefits of fire rated roller shutter doors
Contain fire and smoke spread
Fire shutter doors help prevent fire from spreading rapidly throughout your building, protecting both occupants and assets and giving fire services more time to respond.
Support regulatory compliance
Properly specified fire door shutters form part of a compliant fire safety strategy within commercial and industrial environments.
Reduce structural damage
By containing fire within a defined area, fire rated shutter doors can significantly reduce long term building damage and repair costs.
Integrate with wider building systems
Modern systems integrate with fire alarms, access control and other industrial door systems to deliver a coordinated response during emergencies.
Keep your building safe from fires
At RDS, it’s our job to ensure your fire rated roller shutter doors are properly installed, and that your premises are as fire secure as possible in the event of an unexpected blaze.
Whether you’re looking for advice on your current system or you’re ready to install a new one, we’re here to talk.