May 13, 2026

Pointed Arch Fire Rated Doors at Palace Green, Kensington

Written by Rebecca Clayton

Recent site images from a luxury residential development in Kensington highlight a highly bespoke installation of pointed arch fire rated doors, demonstrating how fire‑rated glazing can be adapted to complex architectural forms without compromising compliance.

The project at Palace Green involves the redevelopment of a Grade II listed building into a collection of high‑end apartments and a detached coach house. As part of this transformation, IQ Glass designed and installed a striking fire rated glazed screen with an integrated double door, formed in a unique asymmetric pointed arch.

A Bespoke Approach to Fire Rated Glazing

Fire rated doors are typically specified as rectilinear elements, with standardised shapes and proportions driven by certification requirements. At Palace Green, the design team sought a more expressive solution that would respond to the historic character of the building while maintaining modern safety performance.

The result is a fully certified EI30 fire rated door and screen formed as an asymmetric pointed arch, often described as a gothic arch, a shape more commonly associated with heritage architecture than contemporary fire‑rated systems.

This installation demonstrates that pointed arch fire rated doors can be realised within certified systems, allowing architects to introduce complex geometry into protected escape routes and internal partitions.

Geometry, Scale and Integration

The overall fire screen measures approximately 4.3 metres in height and 3 metres in width, extending from finished floor level to the apex of the arch. Within this form sits a pair of double fire doors, providing a clear opening of 1.5 metres wide and 2.4 metres high.

The asymmetry of the arch adds a subtle variation to the geometry, reinforcing the bespoke nature of the installation and aligning with the crafted interior language of the wider development. Despite its complexity, the system maintains the functional clarity required of a fire rated enclosure.

Slim steel framing, finished in a dark tonal coating, allows the form of the arch to remain legible without introducing unnecessary visual weight. The glass maintains transparency across the opening, ensuring that the fire separation does not disrupt light flow between spaces.

Balancing Fire Compliance with Architectural Form

Achieving fire certification within a non‑standard geometry required careful coordination between design, engineering and testing constraints. The screen and doors are constructed from a certified steel framing system combined with fire rated glass, delivering 30 minutes of integrity and insulation protection.

The integrated double doors include a concealed fire‑rated overhead closer, ensuring the doors return to a closed position in the event of fire. This allows the system to maintain compliance while preserving a refined appearance, free from visibly intrusive hardware.

This project highlights that pointed arch fire rated doors are not limited to decorative applications but can function as fully compliant fire safety systems within high‑end residential and heritage environments.

A Reference for Shaped Fire Rated Glazing

For architects and designers exploring fire rated glazing for projects with heritage references or bespoke interior detailing, this installation provides a clear precedent. It demonstrates that fire rated doors do not need to be restricted to standard rectangular formats and can instead respond to wider architectural narratives.

As demand increases for tailored glazing solutions, especially within listed buildings and luxury developments, shaped fire rated elements such as this offer new opportunities to align safety requirements with design ambition.

Project Snapshot

• Location: Palace Green, Kensington, London

• Building type: Grade II listed residential redevelopment

• Product: Fire rated glazed screen with integrated double doors

• Configuration: Asymmetric pointed arch (gothic arch)

• Overall size: 4.3m high x 3.0m wide

• Door opening: 1.5m clear width x 2.4m height

• Fire rating: EI30 fire resistance

• Frame: Steel, PPC finished in RAL 7017 Matt

• Features: Concealed overhead closer, bespoke handles

Specifying Pointed Arch Fire Rated Doors

For projects requiring both fire compliance and architectural individuality, pointed arch fire rated doors offer a viable solution when supported by the right engineering and certification approach.

IQ Glass works with architects and contractors to develop bespoke fire rated glazing systems, including shaped and non‑standard formats, ensuring compliance is maintained without limiting design intent.

Contact the team to discuss fire rated glazing solutions for your project.