If you work in hotels, student accommodation, offices or other commercial interiors, fire performance is one of the first questions that comes up when architectural film is being considered.
And rightly so.
When people ask about the fire ratings of interior films, they are usually trying to understand two different things at once:
- what fire classification the film itself has
- whether applying that film to a fire door will affect the fire rating of the door
Those are not the same question.
A film can have a strong reaction-to-fire classification under EN 13501-1 and still not “make” a door fire rated. In the same way, a certified fire door can lose compliance if it is altered badly, if the wrong areas are wrapped, or if key components such as intumescent and smoke seals are interfered with.
For that reason, fire-rated architectural film should always be discussed in two layers:
- the tested fire performance of the film itself
- the certification and installation rules of the specific fire door assembly or doorset it is being applied to.
In This Guide
Quick Answer
A film having a strong reaction-to-fire classification does not automatically make any fire door suitable for wrapping. The correct question is whether the film, the way it is applied, and the specific fire door assembly all remain within the scope of the relevant certification or assessment evidence. In practice, the fire performance of the film and the fire performance of the door need to be considered separately.
What Fire Ratings of Interior Films Actually Mean
Most interior architectural films are classified for reaction to fire, not for providing a fire-resistance period in their own right.
That means the classification is about how the material behaves when exposed to fire, including flame spread, smoke production and flaming droplets. Under EN 13501-1, classifications such as B-s1,d0 or B-s2,d0 are commonly used for decorative wall coverings and surface finishes. In simple terms:
- B relates to limited contribution to fire
- s1 means lower smoke production than s2
- d0 means no flaming droplets observed in the test.
Reaction to Fire vs Fire Door Certification
A certified fire door is a tested or assessed door assembly or doorset. Its performance depends on the whole system, not just the face finish.
That includes:
- the door leaf
- the frame
- hinges and ironmongery
- glazing where applicable
- gaps
- self-closer
- intumescent seals
- smoke seals
- any approved facings or decorative finishes.
So when wrapping a fire door, the right question is not just “is the film fire rated?” It is:
is this film, at this thickness, on this door, applied in this way, compatible with the certification or assessment evidence for the door?
Fire Ratings of the Main Interior Film Brands
Use the table below as a quick comparison point only. Always check the current Declaration of Performance, fire certificate or technical data for the exact product range being specified, because classifications and documentation can vary by range and update over time. The exact rating depends on the product range and the certification behind it, so it is always worth checking the current technical documents rather than assuming all films are equal.
Comparison table: fire classifications and thickness information
| Brand / range | Stated reaction-to-fire information | Thickness information | What to check before specifying |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3M DI-NOC |
Class B-s1,d0 under EN 13501-1; 3M says to check the Declaration of Performance for the full list of compliant products |
200 microns nominal film + adhesive, excluding liner |
Check DoP for compliant ranges |
|
LX Hausys Benif |
B-s1,d0 on the Warringtonfire certificate for listed decorative wall covering ranges |
150 – 250 microns excluding liner |
Check certificate scope |
|
Metamark MiA |
Metamark currently states Class B / B-s1,d0 on its fire ratings page |
165 – 250 microns nominal face film |
Confirm exact MiA range |
|
Cover Styl’ |
Fire performance can vary by range; generally Cover Styl’ fire reports states Classic Range: B-s2,d0 |
200 – 350 microns excluding liner |
Check range-specific report |
|
Samsung SOIF |
The Surfex UKCA certificate states B-s2,d0 under EN 13501-1 for Surfex PVC Interior Film |
165- 250 microns excluding liner |
Confirm current Surfex certificate |
What This Means in Practice
If you are comparing films only on fire classification, there are two big things to keep in mind.
First, B-s1,d0 is generally stronger on smoke performance than B-s2,d0. Second, the classification is only one part of the conversation. Substrate, tested construction, intended use and installation method still matter.
This is especially important when someone says “the film is fire rated, so it is fine for any fire door.” That is too simplistic.
Can Interior Films Be Used on Fire Doors?
Yes, they can be used on fire doors if the installation is done correctly and in line with the relevant door certification, assessment evidence and site fire-safety requirements.
That is the important version of the answer.
A film having a good EN 13501-1 classification does not by itself give approval to wrap any fire door in any way. But equally, applying a film correctly to the permitted faces of an existing certified fire door does not automatically mean the fire rating is lost. The outcome depends on whether the door’s evidence allows that facing or decorative finish and whether critical elements are left untouched.
This is why on real projects, the safe approach is:
- confirm the fire door type
- confirm the certification or assessment route
- confirm what decorative finish thickness is allowed
- avoid seals and other critical components
- keep the installation within the scope of evidence
- check any project-specific sign-off requirements with the responsible fire-safety person
What to check before specifying architectural film on a fire door
- The exact fire door type and certification route
- Whether additional decorative facings are permitted
- The maximum decorative finish thickness allowed
- Which faces or areas of the door can be wrapped
- Whether any project-specific fire-safety sign-off is needed
- Whether the installer understands how to avoid seals, gaps and other critical components
How Thick Can a Decorative Finish Be on a Fire Door?
There is no single universal thickness rule that applies to every fire door on the market.
That said, published fire door guidance from manufacturers shows a very common pattern: non-metallic decorative facings or laminates up to 2 mm are often allowed on certain certified timber fire doors, while paint and varnish up to 0.5 mm are also commonly referenced in approved decorative finish guidance.
2 mm is not a blanket legal limit for every fire door. It is a common certification allowance found in tested and assessed fire door guidance. Always check the specific door evidence.
Why Thickness Matters
Thickness matters because additional facings are part of the door build-up.
If a fire door certificate or assessment allows additional non-metallic facings up to 2 mm, and your chosen film system is far below that thickness, that is a useful part of the technical argument. But it still does not override the need to:
- stay within the approved scope
- install only to permitted areas
- avoid damaging seals, lippings, glazing systems or hardware
- avoid uncontrolled site modifications.
What Must Not Happen When Wrapping a Fire Door
This is the part many clients never hear clearly enough.
When wrapping a fire door, you should not:
- cut through or remove intumescent strips
- paint over or bridge smoke seals
- interfere with glazing systems or beads unless approved
- alter the gaps around the door
- create build-up that stops the door closing correctly
- assume a product’s Euroclass rating overrides the door manufacturer’s evidence
- wrap the door edges or other areas if that falls outside the approved approach for the doorset.
The UK government’s fire door guidance says intumescent strips and smoke seals should be undamaged and must not have been painted over during decoration activities.
That is one of the reasons careful installers wrap face only where required and do not interfere with the edges or seals.
What About Door Edges?
A lot of clients do not like the edges looking different once the face has been wrapped, and that is understandable.
In those situations, a practical solution is often to advise that edges may be painted separately if the project fire-safety person or relevant responsible party is happy with that approach and it remains within the door’s certification/maintenance guidance.
FAQs About Fire Ratings of Interior Films
What is the fire rating of interior films?
It depends on the brand and range. Based on the documents provided, examples include 3M DI-NOC: B-s1,d0, LX Hausys Benif: B-s1,d0, Surfex PVC Interior Film: B-s2,d0, and Metamark documentation that references Class B / B-s1,d0 on fire ratings pages while some MiA product pages and sales sheets also reference B-s2,d0 / Class B. That is why the exact current product-specific certification should always be checked.
Does a fire-rated interior film make a door fire rated?
No. A film’s reaction-to-fire classification is not the same thing as a fire door certification. Fire door performance belongs to the tested or assessed door assembly or doorset as a whole.
Can you wrap a fire door with architectural film?
Yes, in many cases, but only if it is done correctly and within the scope of the door’s certification or assessment evidence, without interfering with seals or other critical parts of the assembly.
How thick can a decorative finish be on a fire door?
There is no single universal rule for every fire door, but published manufacturer guidance commonly allows additional non-metallic decorative facings up to 2 mm on certain certified timber fire doors, with paint/varnish up to 0.5 mm also commonly referenced. Always check the specific door evidence.
Can you paint over intumescent strips?
The safest answer is to avoid it unless the relevant guidance specifically allows it. Government guidance says intumescent strips and smoke seals should not have been painted over during decoration activities. Published seal guidance is more nuanced for intumescent-only strips, but smoke seals should not be painted over.
Talk to Fusion About Fire-Rated Interior Films
If you are specifying architectural film in hotels, student accommodation, offices or other commercial interiors, fire performance needs to be handled properly.
Fusion Surfaces works with interior films from brands including 3M DI-NOC, LX Hausys Benif, Metamark MiA, Samsung SOIF / Surfex and others, and understands the difference between a film’s reaction-to-fire classification and the certification requirements of a fire door assembly.
If you are reviewing a project, the best next step is to confirm the door type, the finish requirement and the relevant fire-safety route before installation starts. Talk to one of our team today and we will be happy to assist.
