Fire Door Compliance Checklist

Ensuring fire doors meet compliance requirements under UK fire safety law is one of the most important duties for Responsible Persons in both commercial and residential buildings.

Fire doors work as part of a system — they must be installed correctly, maintained, inspected and documented to perform their life safety function in a fire. This checklist provides a structured, step-by-step approach to help you demonstrate compliance and reduce risk.

A fire door compliance checklist is a structured process used to confirm that fire doors meet legal, installation, inspection and maintenance requirements under UK fire safety legislation. It helps Responsible Persons demonstrate that fire doors protecting escape routes and compartmentation are installed correctly, maintained in efficient working order and supported by appropriate documentation.

1. Legal and Risk Assessment Requirements

Fire door compliance starts with understanding your legal duties:

• Confirm your status as the Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Confirm compliance with Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires fire safety measures to be maintained in efficient working order and good repair.
• Ensure flat entrance doors are included within the fire risk assessment under the Fire Safety Act 2021.
• Where applicable (England), understand additional duties under Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
• Carry out or review a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, including evaluation of fire doors.

2. Documentation and Records

Good record-keeping is critical:

• Keep a register of all fire doors, including location and fire resistance rating (e.g. FD30, FD60).
• Record manufacturer certification and certificate numbers.
• Maintain copies of inspection reports and remedial action records.
• Log Regulation 10 checks where applicable.
• Retain documentation of risk assessments and any changes to fire strategy.

3. Installation and Initial Compliance

Fire doors must be correctly installed before they can operate safely:

• Confirm installation is by a competent person and aligns with manufacturer certification.
• Check installation against guidance such as BS 8214 and Approved Document B.
• Verify controlled gaps — see our guide on fire door gap requirements.
• Ensure compatible intumescent and smoke seals are fitted (fire door seals).
• Check that fire door hardware and self-closers are correct and compliant (fire door self-closers).
• Ensure glazing (if fitted) is fire-rated and installed correctly.

4. Ongoing Inspection Checklist

Regular checks help maintain performance:

• Inspect each fire door at planned intervals for operation and condition (how often fire doors should be inspected).
• Verify that fire doors close fully without manual assistance.
• Check seals, gap tolerances, hardware and latching.
• Confirm certification labels are present and legible (fire door certification labels).
• Record inspection results using a formal template or checklist (fire door inspection checklist).
• Address any defects promptly — refer to our common fire door defects guide.

5. Repairs and Alterations

Control changes to fire doors:

• Only undertake repairs that restore the fire door to its certified condition.
• Refer to our guide on fire door repairs vs replacement for when replacement is necessary.
• Do not install unapproved hardware or cut new holes.
• Record all maintenance and corrective work.

6. Special Residential Duties (England)

For applicable residential buildings:

• Carry out quarterly checks of communal fire doors as required by Regulation 10 (England).
• Carry out annual checks of flat entrance doors opening onto common parts.
• Provide residents with fire safety information about fire doors and reporting procedures.
• Keep records of all checks and actions taken.

7. Competence and Training

Ensure those tasked with checks are competent:

• Ensure staff or contractors have appropriate training for fire door inspections.
• Review competency criteria — see our who can inspect fire doors article.
• Use formal inspection reports rather than informal notes.
• Update training when standards or responsibilities change.

8. Liaison With Maintenance Providers

Manage contractors and repairs:

• Specify compliant fire-rated products when ordering replacements.
• Review maintenance provider reports for completeness and corrective action tracking.
• Include fire door compliance in service contracts and KPIs.

Quick Checklist: At a Glance

Use this quick checklist to audit your fire door compliance:

• Do you have a fire door register?
• Are certification labels legible and present?
• Are inspection records up to date?
• Are gaps, seals and closers compliant?
• Have defects been remedied promptly?
• Have Regulation 10 duties been completed (if applicable)?
• Are responsible staff/contractors competent?

This summary can be adapted into an internal fire door audit template to support routine compliance reviews and contractor management.

Conclusion

Failure to maintain fire doors may be identified during fire and rescue authority audits or following complaint investigations. Where serious deficiencies are found, enforcement or prohibition notices may be issued requiring remedial action within defined timescales.

Fire door compliance requires a systematic and documented approach — from legal duties through installation, inspection and maintenance.

This checklist brings together all essential elements to help Responsible Persons manage fire doors effectively and demonstrate compliance with UK fire safety requirements.

For more detailed guidance on specific components, see the linked articles throughout this checklist.

If you require a structured fire door compliance audit carried out by competent professionals, our fire door inspection and compliance services can provide detailed reporting, defect prioritisation and regulatory alignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fire door compliance checklist?

A fire door compliance checklist is a structured list of actions used to ensure fire doors meet UK fire safety requirements. It typically covers installation standards, inspection frequency, maintenance, certification, documentation and legal duties under fire safety legislation.

How often should fire door compliance be reviewed?

Fire door compliance should be reviewed at intervals determined by the fire risk assessment. In certain residential buildings in England, Regulation 10 requires quarterly checks of communal fire doors and annual checks of flat entrance doors over 11 metres in height.

What records should be kept for fire door compliance?

Responsible Persons should maintain inspection reports, defect logs, remedial action records, certification details and, where applicable, Regulation 10 inspection records. Clear documentation demonstrates compliance during audits or enforcement visits.

Who is responsible for completing a fire door compliance checklist?

The Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is legally accountable for ensuring fire doors are compliant. Inspections and checklist tasks may be carried out by competent persons or contractors, but responsibility cannot be delegated.

Does Regulation 10 require a formal fire door checklist?

Regulation 10 does not prescribe a specific checklist format, but it requires documented steps to check fire doors in certain residential buildings in England. Using a structured checklist is considered best practice.

What happens if fire doors are not compliant?

Non-compliant fire doors can result in enforcement notices, prohibition notices, prosecution and increased liability following a fire. Failure to maintain fire doors may significantly increase risk to occupants and compromise escape routes.