Do old fire doors contain asbestos?
Many fire doors made or upgraded between the 1950s and early 1980s have AIB cores or asbestos paper linings hidden inside a normal timber skin. From the outside they look like any heavy door — which is why they get planed, drilled and skipped without a second thought.
Is an asbestos fire door dangerous in place?
No — hung and undamaged, the asbestos is fully encased and the door keeps doing its fire job. The risk moments are altering it (planing, letterboxes, new hinges and closers) and disposal, both of which can cut into the core.
How do we deal with suspect fire doors during a refit?
Have a sample of the core tested, or treat pre-1980s doors as suspect and remove them intact as asbestos waste. We test, remove and consign them properly, and the paperwork keeps your fire risk assessment and O&M file straight.
