Fire Door Inspection & Fire Door Surveys

Fire doors are a critical life-safety system and are now subject to increased legal scrutiny across the UK. When fire doors are not inspected, maintained, or managed correctly, the consequences can be severe — including enforcement action, prosecution, unlimited fines, and in the most serious cases, imprisonment.

Following the introduction of the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, Responsible Persons now have explicit legal duties to inspect and manage fire doors in many buildings, particularly in multi-occupied residential and commercial premises.

We provide professional fire door inspections and comprehensive fire door surveys across the UK, helping Responsible Persons demonstrate compliance, identify defects, and maintain life-safety standards.

Our structured inspections and surveys assess door performance, certification, components, and compliance, with clear prioritised remedial recommendations to support ongoing fire safety management.

What Are Fire Doors?

A fire door is a purpose-designed door assembly that forms part of a building’s passive fire protection system. Fire doors are designed to resist fire and smoke for a defined period — typically 30 or 60 minutes — helping to protect escape routes and contain fire within compartments.

Fire doors only perform effectively when:

• They are correctly specified
• Installed in accordance with their tested design
• Fitted with compatible components
• Regularly inspected and maintained

Because fire doors are relied upon to save lives, their specification, installation, and ongoing inspection are strictly regulated under UK fire safety legislation.

What Is a Fire Door Survey?

A fire door survey is a structured, documented assessment of fire doors across a building or portfolio. While the terms “inspection” and “survey” are often used interchangeably, a fire door survey typically refers to a broader compliance review that includes:

• Inspection of each individual fire door
• Condition grading and risk categorisation
• Photographic evidence of defects
• Asset tagging or door numbering
• A prioritised remedial schedule
• A formal survey report suitable for compliance records

Fire door surveys are commonly required in:

• Multi-occupied residential buildings
• Large commercial premises
• Schools, hospitals, and care homes
• Portfolio-wide compliance reviews
• Buildings subject to enforcement action

A professional fire door survey provides documented evidence that fire doors have been assessed by a competent person and supports the Responsible Person in demonstrating compliance.

Fire Door Inspection – Current Legal Requirements

Fire door inspection duties are primarily governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as strengthened by the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Under Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order, fire doors must be:

• Maintained in an efficient state
• In efficient working order
• In good repair

In England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 now set specific duties for Responsible Persons in multi-occupied residential buildings. Where the top storey of a building is over 11 metres in height, fire doors in communal areas should be inspected at least every three months, and flat entrance doors opening onto common parts should be inspected every 12 months as part of ongoing compliance.

Detailed functional checks and example checklists are available in the official GOV.UK fire door guidance published under Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Additional Duties in England

For relevant residential buildings in England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 now require Responsible Persons to:

• Carry out quarterly checks of all fire doors in common parts
• Carry out annual checks of flat entrance doors opening onto common parts
• Keep records of inspections and any remedial actions taken

These duties apply regardless of whether inspections are completed in-house or by a third-party specialist. Responsibility always remains with the Responsible Person.

How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

Inspection frequency should reflect the level of risk, usage, and building type. As a general guide:

• High-risk or high-use buildings: every 3–6 months
• Standard commercial premises: at least every 6–12 months
• Residential buildings (England):
  • • Common area fire doors: quarterly
    • Flat entrance doors: annually
• Immediately following damage, alteration, or change of use

Regular inspections help identify deterioration early and prevent minor defects from becoming serious compliance failures.

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, communal fire doors in taller residential buildings should be checked quarterly and flat entrance doors annually. In commercial and other premises, competent inspections every 6–12 months are widely regarded as best practice.

Routine checks under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 are intended to be simple visual inspections that confirm doors close, self-close and latch correctly, are free from obvious defects, and are kept in good repair.

What Is Checked During a Fire Door Inspection

During a professional fire door inspection or fire door survey, we typically assess:

• Door leaf condition and fire rating evidence
• Door-to-frame gaps and clearances
• Condition and compatibility of the frame
• Intumescent and smoke seals
• Hinges, closers, locks and latching
• Self-closing action and door alignment
• Glazing, vision panels and apertures
• Letter plates, air transfer grilles and signage
• Evidence of unauthorised modification or damage

These checks collectively form a fire door inspection and survey checklist used to assess compliance and life-safety performance.

Fire Door Regulations and Standards

Fire doors are regulated through a combination of legislation, guidance, and standards, including:

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• The Fire Safety Act 2021
• The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
• Building Regulations (Approved Document B)
• Relevant British and European product standards

Approved Document B provides guidance on how buildings can meet fire safety requirements, including compartmentation, protection of escape routes, and fire door performance.

Fire doors must meet requirements relating to:

• Fire resistance
• Smoke control
• Accessibility
• Thermal performance
• Compatibility with the building’s fire strategy

Fire Door Specification

Fire door specification is a critical responsibility. Incorrect specification, incompatible components, or poor maintenance can result in complete failure during a fire.

Fire doors are rated by fire resistance in minutes, typically:

• FD30 – 30 minutes
• FD60 – 60 minutes

Each fire door is tested as a complete doorset. All components must be:

• Tested and certificated
• Compatible with the doorset
• Installed in accordance with manufacturer instructions

Fire doors must always be installed and maintained in line with the manufacturer’s tested specification. Industry bodies such as the British Woodworking Federation fire door guidance provide technical best practice on doorset construction, certification, installation tolerances, and ongoing maintenance

Fire doors must never be modified, drilled, or altered without confirming continued certification.

Fire Door Frames

Fire door frames must be compatible with the tested fire door assembly. Improvised or incorrectly constructed frames can invalidate certification.

Frame materials and construction must match the manufacturer’s tested specification. Not all timber types are suitable for fire door frames, and manufacturer guidance should always be followed.

Fire Door Seals

Fire doors rely on intumescent and smoke seals to perform correctly in a fire. These seals expand when exposed to heat, closing gaps between the door leaf and frame to restrict smoke and fire spread.

Fire doors may be fitted with:

• Intumescent seals
• Cold smoke seals
• Combined acoustic and fire seals (where required)

Missing, damaged, painted-over, or incompatible seals are a common cause of fire door failure.

Fire Door Components (Ironmongery)

Fire doors must be fitted with compatible, tested components, including:

• Hinges
• Closers
• Locks and latches
• Panic hardware (where required)

All components must be suitable for fire doors and appropriately certificated. Self-closing devices are particularly critical and must ensure the door fully closes into its frame under normal use.

Fire Door Installation

Correct installation is as important as correct specification. Fire doors must be installed by competent persons who understand fire door construction, tolerances, and certification requirements.

Key installation considerations include:

• Correct door-to-frame gaps (typically 3–4 mm)
• Suitable threshold clearances
• Compatible frames, seals, and ironmongery
• Adherence to manufacturer instructions and Building Regulations

Incorrect installation can render a fire door ineffective, regardless of product quality.

Fire Door Survey Reports and Documentation

Following a fire door survey, we provide a structured written report that includes:

• Door-by-door findings
• Clear photographic evidence
• Gap measurements and compliance notes
• Identification of certification issues
• Prioritised remedial recommendations
• Executive summary for senior management

Survey reports can be aligned with internal compliance systems, asset registers, or enforcement requirements where necessary.

For larger estates, we can provide portfolio-level fire door surveys with consolidated reporting.

Our Expertise in Fire Door Inspections and Surveys

We carry out fire door inspections in line with current UK fire safety legislation, recognised standards, and industry best practice. Our inspectors understand both the technical construction of fire doors and the legal duties placed on Responsible Persons.

Our inspections go beyond surface checks. We assess door leaves, frames, seals, ironmongery, clearances, signage, self-closing action, certification evidence, and real-world performance. Clear, prioritised recommendations are provided to support compliance and reduce risk.

Whether supporting routine compliance, responding to enforcement action, or forming part of a wider fire risk management strategy, our inspections are practical, proportionate, and legally robust.

Fire door inspections should be carried out by competent persons with appropriate training, such as those recognised through schemes like the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.

Our fire door inspections are carried out by competent inspectors with specialist knowledge of fire door construction, certification, and performance, in line with recognised inspection schemes and best practice.

Conclusion

Fire doors are a fundamental part of any building’s fire safety strategy. Without regular inspection and maintenance, they cannot be relied upon to perform in an emergency.

Contact us today to arrange a professional fire door inspection or fire door survey and ensure your premises meet current legal and safety requirements.