Who Can Inspect Fire Doors?

Fire doors are a critical part of a building’s passive fire protection system. But installing a fire door is only part of the responsibility — ensuring it is regularly inspected and properly maintained is just as important.

So who is legally allowed to inspect fire doors? And what does “competent person” actually mean in practice?

This guide explains who can carry out fire door inspections, what level of competency is required, and how responsibilities differ between visual checks and formal inspections.

What Does the Law Say?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure that fire doors are:

• Maintained in efficient working order
• Subject to suitable maintenance and inspection
• Kept under review as part of ongoing fire safety management

In residential buildings in England over 11 metres in height, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require:

• Communal fire doors to be inspected at least every 3 months
• Flat entrance doors to be inspected at least every 12 months

However, legislation does not list specific qualifications. Instead, it requires inspections to be carried out by a competent person.

The burden of proof sits with the Responsible Person to demonstrate that the individual appointed has sufficient training, knowledge and experience to carry out the inspection properly.

What Is a “Competent Person”?

A competent person is someone who has:

• Appropriate training
• Knowledge of fire door construction and performance
• Understanding of relevant standards (such as BS 8214 and BS 9999)
• Awareness of manufacturer certification requirements
• Experience identifying common fire door defects

Competency is about ability — not job title.

Simply being a building manager or maintenance contractor does not automatically make someone competent to carry out formal fire door inspections.

Can Building Managers Inspect Fire Doors?

Yes — but only for basic routine visual checks.

Responsible Persons or facilities teams can carry out:

• Regular visual checks
• Observations of obvious damage
• Checks that doors close properly
• Identification of missing seals or hardware

However, these informal checks do not replace structured inspections carried out by a qualified professional.

Formal fire door inspections require a deeper understanding of:

• Fire door certification
• Tolerances and gap measurements
• Approved ironmongery
• Fire-rated glazing systems
• Intumescent and smoke seal specifications

Who Should Carry Out a Formal Fire Door Inspection?

Formal inspections should be conducted by someone with recognised training and demonstrable experience in fire door assessment.

This may include:

• A qualified fire door inspector
• A fire safety consultant
• A passive fire protection specialist
• A third-party accredited fire door inspector

Indicators of competency may include:

• Recognised fire door inspection training
• Third-party accreditation
• Membership of relevant professional bodies
• Experience with fire door certification schemes

The inspector must understand that a fire door is a tested assembly — and that altering one component may invalidate its fire rating.

Do Fire Door Inspectors Need Accreditation?

Accreditation is not explicitly required by law, but it is strongly recommended.

Using a third-party accredited inspector provides:

• Evidence of due diligence
• Greater legal defensibility
• Assurance of consistent inspection methodology
• Confidence that reports meet industry standards

In enforcement cases, the Responsible Person must demonstrate they took reasonable steps to appoint a competent person.

Accredited inspectors make this easier to prove.

In practice, enforcement authorities will expect Responsible Persons to justify how they assessed competency if challenged.

Can Carpenters or Contractors Inspect Fire Doors?

General contractors or carpenters may be skilled in installation, but that does not automatically qualify them to conduct formal fire door inspections.

Inspection requires knowledge of:

• Certification labels and plugs
• Approved door leaf alterations
• Ironmongery compatibility
• Manufacturer test evidence
• Fire-resistance performance criteria

Without this understanding, defects may be missed.

What About Internal Fire Door Checks in Offices?

In lower-risk non-domestic buildings, a tiered approach is often appropriate:

• Routine visual checks by facilities staff
• Periodic structured inspections by a competent fire door professional

Inspection frequency should reflect:

• Building type
• Usage level
• Occupant vulnerability
• Regulatory requirements

For example, residential buildings over 11 metres in England have mandatory inspection intervals under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Why Competency Matters

Fire doors are commonly found to fail inspection due to:

• Excessive gaps
• Incorrect seals
• Unapproved hardware
• Disconnected closers
• Alterations after installation

If an inspector lacks proper training, these issues may go unnoticed — leaving the Responsible Person exposed to enforcement action and increased life safety risk.

Summary: Who Can Inspect Fire Doors?

Fire doors must be inspected by a competent person with relevant fire door knowledge, training, and experience.

This means someone with:

• Appropriate training
• Knowledge of fire door standards
• Understanding of manufacturer certification
• Experience identifying compliance issues

Basic visual checks may be carried out by building managers, but formal inspections should be undertaken by a qualified professional.

Selecting the right inspector is a key part of demonstrating compliance with fire safety law.

Need a Competent Fire Door Inspection?

If you are unsure whether your current inspection arrangements meet legal and safety requirements, a structured inspection by a competent fire door specialist can provide clarity and documented evidence of compliance.

Our fire safety consultants carry out professional fire door inspections across a wide range of building types, supporting Responsible Persons with clear reporting and practical remedial guidance.

Conclusion

Fire doors must be inspected by someone competent — meaning they have the knowledge, training, and experience to assess the entire door assembly against current standards and manufacturer certification.

While routine visual checks can be carried out by building managers or facilities teams, formal fire door inspections should be undertaken by a qualified professional who understands fire door construction, tolerances, seals, ironmongery, and certification requirements.

For Responsible Persons, appointing a competent inspector is not just good practice — it is a key part of demonstrating compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and, where applicable, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

If you are unsure whether your current inspection arrangements meet legal expectations, seeking professional advice can provide clarity, documented evidence of compliance, and reassurance that your fire doors will perform when needed most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is legally allowed to inspect fire doors?

Fire doors must be inspected by a competent person. This means someone with appropriate training, knowledge of fire door standards, and understanding of manufacturer certification. The law does not specify a particular qualification, but competency must be demonstrable.

Does a fire door inspector need formal qualifications?

Formal qualifications are not specifically mandated by legislation, but recognised fire door inspection training and third-party accreditation are strongly recommended. These provide evidence that the inspector is competent and follows recognised industry standards.

Can a building manager inspect fire doors?

Building managers can carry out routine visual checks to identify obvious defects such as damage, missing seals, or doors not closing properly. However, formal structured inspections should be undertaken by a qualified fire door professional.

Are fire door inspections a legal requirement?

Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire doors must be maintained in efficient working order. In residential buildings in England over 11 metres in height, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 specify inspection frequencies for communal and flat entrance doors.

What makes someone a competent person for fire door inspections?

A competent person should have relevant training, knowledge of British Standards such as BS 8214 and BS 9999, understanding of fire door certification schemes, and practical experience identifying defects that may affect fire resistance performance.

Is third-party accreditation required for fire door inspectors?

Third-party accreditation is not legally mandatory, but it provides strong evidence of competency and due diligence. Using an accredited inspector can help demonstrate compliance in the event of enforcement action or investigation.