Under the New Zealand Building Code and NZS 4520:2010, drop seals are not a mandatory requirement for a fire door to achieve compliance with fire safety standards. Their primary role is in acoustic performance, air control, and privacy — making them common in apartment entry doors, hotels, and student accommodation, where reducing noise transfer and improving comfort is essential.
That said, if a drop seal is included in a fire door specification, it must be a model that has been tested and approved by the door manufacturer. This ensures the seal does not interfere with the fire door’s certified performance or compromise its fire resistance rating.
At Soteria Doors, we provide a range of tested and approved drop seal options. You can view them on our here to ensure your project remains fully compliant while achieving the desired acoustic and sealing performance.