In any major construction project, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), life safety is paramount. 

The primary defense against the spread of fire and smoke lies in passive fire protection systems, and the most frequently used component is the fire-rated steel door assembly. 

These doors are not merely barriers; they are precision-engineered systems designed to protect occupants and preserve escape routes.

However, navigating the array of international testing standards—primarily the American UL10C and the European EN1634—and ensuring compliance with Saudi Civil Defense (SCD) regulations is a complex challenge for contractors and consultants. 

A single non-compliant door can jeopardize an entire project’s certification.

This guide provides a technical breakdown of the key standards, explains their relevance in KSA, and clarifies the essential components needed to achieve full compliance.

The Foundation: Understanding Fire Resistance Ratings

Before diving into standards, it is vital to understand what fire resistance actually measures. Both UL and EN standards test the door’s ability to maintain two critical properties under extreme heat:

• Integrity (E): The time (in minutes) that the door maintains its physical structure, preventing the passage of flames and hot gases.
• Insulation (I): The time (in minutes) that the door restricts the temperature rise on the non-fire exposed side, preventing fire spread by heat transfer.

The European standard uses the combination: EI60, EI90, EI120. For instance, an EI90 rating means the door maintained both integrity (E) and insulation (I) for 90 minutes. 

In KSA, these ratings are frequently requested, requiring doors that can withstand periods of EI60 (one hour), EI90 (90 minutes), or EI120 (two hours).

Decoding the Standards: UL10C vs. EN1634

The key difference between the two standards lies in their origin, testing protocol, and classification system, though both are recognized globally.

A. UL10C (Underwriters Laboratories)

The US standard typically classifies fire-rated steel doors by time alone (e.g., 90-Minute, 3-Hour).

• Testing: UL doors are tested in accordance with procedures like UL10C (Neutral Pressure Furnace Test) and NFPA 252.
• Classification: It focuses on Integrity and requires the door to remain functional after the test (i.e., open and close).
  Insulation is often measured indirectly via temperature rise limits.
• Focus: Widely accepted in facilities following North American building codes (IBC/NFPA).
  

B. EN1634 (European Standard)

The European standard is more explicit about the performance components.

• Testing: This test assesses the fire resistance of door and shutter assemblies, including the hardware, glass, and frame.
• Classification: Explicitly uses the EI60, EI90, EI120 classification, clearly defining both Integrity and Insulation properties. This dual measurement is often preferred in large, complex facilities where thermal transfer must be minimized.
• Focus: Accepted across Europe and often required in KSA projects that follow ISO or European design specifications.

Achieving Saudi Civil Defense (SCD) Compliance

With how incrementally the Saudi economy is growing, it is understood that investors from all around the world are becoming more interested in investments in Saudi, which contributes to the land being a global destination now for tourism and so. 

And this is why your facility must meet the highest global standards!

The Saudi Civil Defense (SCD) acts as the supreme authority, requiring certified documentation that proves compliance. 

SCD often accepts products tested to both UL and EN standards, but the focus shifts from the test itself to the test certificates KSA requires.

Key Compliance Requirements for KSA Projects:

1. Tested Assembly: SCD requires certification for the entire assembly—the hollow metal doors slab, the frame, and all the hardware—not just the door leaf itself.
   
2. Local Certification: The supplier must provide test certificates KSA that are verified and registered. The certificate must explicitly state the EI or hourly rating achieved.
   
3. Correct Usage: The door must be installed exactly as it was tested. Any substitution of components (e.g., hinges, closers, seals) or incorrect installation details will void the fire rating.

For example, a fire exit door must not only meet the required EI rating but must also include specific hardware (covered next) to ensure ease of escape, which is a mandatory SCD requirement.

Hardware and Functionality: The Complete System

The function of a fire-rated steel door relies entirely on its accompanying hardware. These components must also be fire-rated to the same standard as the door slab itself.

A. Panic Hardware

For all egress routes and fire exit doors (doors leading to a safe area or the exterior), panic hardware is mandatory. 

This is a bar or mechanism on the inner side of the door that allows the door to be opened simply by pushing on the bar, even if the door is locked from the outside.

• SCD Requirement: Panic hardware must be fail-safe and easily operable by anyone in the event of an emergency. It must also maintain its functionality under fire conditions.
  

B. Smoke Control Doors

While a fire-rated steel door stops flames and heat, smoke control doors are designed specifically to inhibit the passage of toxic smoke, which is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.

• Seals: Smoke control doors rely on intumescent or smoke seals installed around the perimeter of the frame. These seals expand when exposed to heat or simply block cold smoke movement.
• Integration: In many projects, a single door must perform both functions, requiring the door to be rated for fire (EI) and smoke leakage (Sa or Sm rating).
  

C. Hollow Metal Doors Construction

Most fire rated steel doors are hollow metal doors. However, to achieve higher ratings (EI90, EI120), the internal void is filled with fire-resistant insulating materials, such as ceramic fiber or rockwool, to enhance the insulation performance (the ‘I’ rating).

As specialists in providing these life safety solutions, we understand the stakes involved. 

At Kayan-Gulf, we ensure our fire-rated steel doors assemblies carry the necessary test certificates KSA requires, allowing you to focus on project completion with full confidence.

Specifying fire-rated steel doors requires technical expertise to correctly match project requirements (e.g., EI60 or EI120) with certified products that meet or exceed Saudi Civil Defense expectations. 

Whether you adhere to UL10C or EN1634 standards, compliance rests on the integrity of the entire assembly—the hollow metal doors, the panic hardware, the seals for smoke control doors, and verifiable test certificates KSA. 

Never assume that a certificate from one assembly applies to another.When specifying life safety products, never compromise. Reach out to Kayan-Gulf; let us be your partner in providing certified, compliant fire rated steel doors for your most critical assets.