GUIDES · CERTIFICATION STATUS
Certified, notional or nominal: what kind of fire door do you have?
A guide to certified, notional and nominal fire doors by Daniel Storr, Founder & Managing Director · Last reviewed 11 September 2026
A certified fire door has documented test evidence proving its performance. Notional fire doors have no test evidence, but an expert judges them likely to perform based on their construction. A nominal door is simply believed to be fire-resisting, with no evidence at all. The crucial point: test evidence cannot be created after the fact. So a nominal door can never become certified without being replaced.
Why the label on a fire door matters
Not every door marked “FD30” has the same standing behind it. When a fire risk assessor, an inspector or an insurer looks at a fire door, one of the first questions is: what evidence supports this door’s performance? The answer puts every door into one of three categories. The difference between them decides what you can honestly claim, and what you may need to do about it. Certification schemes such as Certifire and BM TRADA Q-Mark are run by bodies accredited by UKAS, and our guide to third-party fire door certification explains how they work.
The three categories of fire door
| Category | What it means | Evidence behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Certified | A doorset with documented proof it will perform to its rating, usually with a label or plug and a data sheet. | Fire test report and/or third-party certification for that doorset design. |
| Notional | A door with no test evidence, assessed by a competent person as likely to offer fire resistance based on how it’s built. | Expert judgement of construction — an opinion, not a guarantee. |
| Nominal | A door simply believed to be fire-resisting — often an old door labelled “fire door” with nothing to back it. | None. |
The point everyone misses: evidence cannot be backdated
Here is the part that changes the conversation. A door’s fire rating is proven by a physical test of that doorset design. You cannot run that test retrospectively on a door that is already hanging in your building. That means a nominal door can never become certified. No inspection, no paperwork and no assessment can manufacture test evidence that was never created.
The honest options for a door with no evidence are limited. You can have it expertly assessed, which may support treating it as one of the notional fire doors in your building. You can upgrade it where that is appropriate. Or you can replace it with a certified doorset.
This is also why you should be wary of anyone offering to “certify” your existing doors. A legitimate contractor can inspect them, document their condition and give you a professional opinion. However, nobody can issue a product certificate for a door with no test evidence behind it. If you take one thing from this page: ask what evidence sits behind the door, and be cautious of anyone who blurs that line.
What to do with notional or nominal fire doors
Notional fire doors and nominal ones are not automatically doors you must rip out tomorrow. That is a risk-based decision that rests with the responsible person, informed by the fire risk assessment. What matters is that the decision is documented and honest. You know what evidence you have, you have taken competent advice, and you have recorded the reasoning. We inform and recommend; the decision on repair, upgrade or replacement stays with you. Our inspections record each door’s apparent certification status and condition, so you know exactly where you stand. Where a certified replacement is the right answer, we will say so plainly and price it honestly. Our guide to repair or replace walks through that decision.
Not sure which of the three your doors are? Book a fire door inspection in Bournemouth or Poole. We inspect from £20 +VAT per door and give you a photographed, door-by-door report. See our fire door inspections page, or go straight to fire door inspections in Bournemouth or fire door inspections in Poole. Elsewhere on the south coast? See the areas we cover or call 01202 399399.
Common questions
How do I tell if my door is certified?
Look for a label or coloured plug on the top or hinge edge of the leaf, and ask for the doorset’s data sheet or certificate. If there is no label and no paperwork, treat the door as nominal until an inspection says otherwise.
Are notional fire doors acceptable?
It can be, if the fire risk assessment supports it and the decision is recorded. Many older buildings rely on notional doors in lower-risk locations. On a single escape route, or a flat entrance, assessors are far more likely to want certified evidence.
Can you upgrade a nominal door to FD30?
We can fit seals, closers, hinges and other components that improve how a nominal door is likely to perform. However, we cannot make it a certified FD30 door, and we will not tell you otherwise. If certified status is the goal, replacement is the only honest route.