The escape route

The protected stair is your route out in a fire. Anything that breaches it — a kitchen door, a living room door — undermines the protection. Fire doors keep that route usable for long enough to get out.

What 'FD30' really means

Thirty minutes of fire resistance, with intumescent seals and a self-closer. The whole assembly — door, frame, ironmongery, seals — must be specified and installed correctly. A FD30 leaf in the wrong frame is not a fire door.

What gets missed

Self-closers removed because they slam. Smoke seals painted over. Glazed panels swapped for non-fire-rated glass. Building Control will pick these up at final inspection.