Fire shutters

Guide prices checked November 2026 · England, Scotland and Wales

A fire shutter is a tested roller shutter that closes an opening in a fire-resisting wall when the fire alarm sounds, holding the fire for 60, 120 or even 240 minutes. Fitted, a 60 minute shutter for a 3 x 3 m opening typically costs £3,000 to £5,600, and a 120 minute one £3,900 to £7,200, before VAT.

Because it is part of the building's fire strategy, the shutter has to match the rating of the wall it sits in, link to the alarm properly and be tested and maintained. The specialist you are introduced to works to the rating your fire strategy or fire risk assessment asks for.

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A 3 x 3 m fire shutter in a compartment wall, drawn on a 1 m grid. The deeper box houses the barrel, the closing mechanism and the fail-safe release.

Where fire shutters are used

Openings in compartment walls: Large openings between warehouse compartments, plant rooms and production areas that must stay open in use but close in a fire.
Serveries and counters: Kitchen serveries in schools, hospitals and canteens, where a smaller shutter closes the hatch on the alarm.
Conveyor and lift openings: Specialist shutters close around conveyor lines and in shafts, often with a sequence that stops the conveyor first.
Replacing an untested shutter: Older shutters with no test evidence, damaged curtains or failed drop tests are replaced with a shutter that carries current certification.

Typical fitted prices, before VAT

Item	Scope	Guide price
60 minute, 2 x 2 m	Servery or small opening	£2,400 to £3,900
60 minute, 3 x 3 m	Compartment wall opening, alarm linked	£3,000 to £5,600
60 minute, 4 x 4 m	Forklift opening in a compartment wall	£3,800 to £7,900
120 minute, 3 x 3 m	Heavier curtain and box	£3,900 to £7,200
120 minute, 4 x 4 m	As above, larger opening	£5,000 to £10,200
Annual service and drop test	Per shutter, more on access or complex controls	£300 to £600

From an industrial door installer's 2026 cost article (60 minute £2,500 to £5,500; 120 minute £4,000 to £9,000) and a shutter supplier's list (30 minute, supply only, from £1,628 for 1 x 1 m to £2,501 for 3 x 2 m in January 2024, plus £600 to £1,200 to install). A guide, not a quote. Price your own doors.

Have a fire strategy or fire risk assessment that calls for a shutter? Send us the opening and the rating needed.

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Ratings, controls and the paperwork that matters

Integrity and insulation

Fire shutters are tested for integrity (E: no flames or hot gases through) and sometimes insulation (I: the unexposed face stays cool enough). Most industrial steel shutters are integrity-only, so they must be kept clear of stored goods on both sides. Where the fire strategy needs insulation too, the shutter is a different and more expensive product. The rating must at least match the wall: a 120 minute wall needs a 120 minute shutter.

How it closes

The shutter is held open and released by a signal from the fire alarm, a local smoke or heat detector, or a fusible link. Good systems close under gravity at a controlled speed so they still close if the power fails, and some include a delay or a warning sounder so people can clear the opening. Shutters over escape routes need careful design and are best avoided.

Testing and evidence

Fire shutters are tested to recognised fire resistance standards and, in the current product standard regime, declared under BS EN 16034 alongside BS EN 13241. Ask for the test or assessment evidence that covers the size and configuration being fitted, not just the product name.

Maintenance is a legal duty

Under article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, the responsible person must keep fire safety equipment, including fire shutters, maintained in efficient working order. In practice that means a full service with a drop test at least once a year, recorded in the fire log.

Where our information comes from

Prices are typical ranges from published UK installer and manufacturer price guides, November 2026, before VAT. Standards are summarised in our own words; read the standard itself before specifying.

How the job gets done

A replacement shutter in an existing opening is often fitted in a day; alarm interface work may need a second visit with your alarm engineer.

Survey and rating check
The opening, the wall construction and its rating, what the shutter must link to, and anything stored or running through the opening.
Specification and evidence
The shutter, its rating and test evidence for the size, the release method and controls, the alarm interface and a fixed price.
Install and link
Box, guides and curtain fixed to the tested detail, fire-stopping around the frame, the control panel installed and linked to the alarm.
Drop test and handover
A full drop test witnessed and recorded, certificates and instructions handed over, and the first annual service date set.

Fire shutter questions

How much does a fire shutter cost?

A 60 minute fire shutter for a 3 x 3 m opening typically costs £3,000 to £5,600 fitted, and a 120 minute one £3,900 to £7,200, before VAT. Small serveries cost less; alarm interface work and access equipment can add to it.

How often should fire shutters be tested?

At least once a year by a competent engineer, with a drop test, and more often where the fire risk assessment or the maker says so. Many sites also run a simple weekly or monthly check alongside the alarm test. A service with drop test is typically £300 to £600 per shutter.

Who is responsible for fire shutter maintenance?

The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, usually the employer, owner or whoever controls the premises. In a multi-let building the lease decides who arranges it, but the duty to make sure it is done remains.

What is a fire shutter drop test?

The shutter is released as it would be in a fire, usually by simulating the alarm signal, and allowed to close fully under its own fail-safe mechanism. The engineer checks it closes completely, at a safe speed, and resets correctly, and records the result.

Can stock be stored under a fire shutter?

No. Anything in the closing path stops the shutter sealing the opening, and with integrity-only shutters, goods stacked against either face can let fire spread by radiated heat. Mark the floor and keep it clear.

Do fire shutters need building regulations approval?

Fitting one as part of new work or a change to the fire strategy is usually notifiable building work, and the shutter must meet the requirements of Approved Document B in England. Like-for-like replacement of a failed shutter is normally handled through the fire risk assessment.

Keep reading

Servicing and maintenance
Drop tests, records and contract prices.
Roller shutter doors
Non-fire shutters for security and weather.
Industrial door repairs
When a shutter fails its test.
Industrial door cost calculator
Price 60 and 120 minute shutters by size.

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