Fire Door Regulations

Fire doors play a critical role in protecting life and limiting the spread of fire and smoke within buildings. When correctly specified, installed, and maintained, fire doors help to protect escape routes, support compartmentation, and give occupants valuable time to evacuate safely.

Under UK fire safety legislation, fire doors form part of the general fire precautions that must be provided where required by a building’s fire risk assessment and fire strategy. In recent years, legislation has been clarified and strengthened—particularly in relation to blocks of flats and flat entrance doors—making it more important than ever that fire door arrangements are properly understood and kept under review.

What Are Fire Doors?

A fire door is a purpose-designed doorset that is tested and certified to resist the passage of fire and smoke for a specified period of time. When installed correctly and kept in good working order, fire doors help to:

• Limit the spread of fire and smoke
• Protect escape routes
• Support compartmentation within a building
• Reduce damage to property and disruption

Fire doors only perform as intended when all components—including the door leaf, frame, seals, glazing, ironmongery, and self-closing device—are compatible and correctly installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s certification.

Fire Doors and UK Fire Safety Law

In England and Wales, fire doors fall within the scope of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places duties on the Responsible Person to take general fire precautions based on a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.

The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that, in multi-occupied residential buildings, the fire risk assessment must take account of:

• The building’s structure
• External walls
• Flat entrance doors opening onto common parts

This clarification has significantly increased focus on the condition, inspection, and maintenance of fire doors—particularly in blocks of flats.

Fire Door Checks in Blocks of Flats (England)

In England, Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced specific legal duties relating to the inspection and checking of fire doors in certain residential buildings.

These requirements apply to buildings that contain two or more sets of domestic premises and have common parts.

Under Regulation 10:

• In buildings above 11 metres in height, the Responsible Person must use best endeavours to:
  • Carry out quarterly checks of fire doors in common parts, including self-closing devices
  • Carry out annual checks of flat entrance doors opening onto common parts, including self-closing devices
  • Keep records of the steps taken to comply with these duties

In addition to inspection duties, Regulation 10 also requires Responsible Persons to provide residents with relevant fire safety information relating to fire doors. This includes guidance on the importance of keeping fire doors closed, not tampering with self-closing devices, and reporting defects where identified.

These checks are intended to ensure that fire doors remain in effective working order and continue to provide protection to escape routes and compartmentation.

The Regulation 10 duties sit alongside wider obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and do not remove the requirement for fire doors to be risk-assessed, maintained, and reviewed as part of ongoing fire safety management.

What Is the Difference Between a Fire Door and a Standard Door?

Unlike standard doors, fire doors are designed to resist the passage of smoke, heat, and flames for a defined period. This performance is demonstrated through fire testing and certification.

Fire doors are typically required where doors:

• Protect escape routes
• Form part of compartmentation
• Separate higher-risk areas from the rest of the building

A standard door, even if solid or well-constructed, cannot be assumed to provide fire resistance unless it has been tested and certified as a fire door.

How Can You Identify a Fire Door?

Fire doors can usually be identified by a combination of features, including:

• Fire door signage (e.g. “Fire Door Keep Shut”)
• Intumescent and smoke seals fitted to the door leaf or frame
• Self-closing device that fully closes the door from any open position
• Appropriate hinges (typically three or more, correctly sized and fire-rated)
• Controlled gaps, generally not exceeding:
  • 3–4mm at the sides and top
  • Around 8–10mm at the threshold (unless otherwise specified)

All components must be compatible with the door’s certification—substituting or removing items can invalidate performance.

Fire Door Ratings Explained

Fire doors are rated according to the period of fire resistance they provide when tested, commonly expressed as:

• FD30 – 30 minutes
• FD60 – 60 minutes
• FD90 – 90 minutes
• FD120 – 120 minutes

The required rating depends on the building’s design, fire strategy, and fire risk assessment findings. Ratings should never be selected arbitrarily.

In residential buildings, flat entrance doors opening onto common parts are commonly required to provide at least 30 minutes of fire resistance with smoke control (FD30S), unless a higher standard is justified by the building’s fire strategy or fire risk assessment.

Common Types of Fire Doors

Wooden Fire Doors

Often used in residential and commercial buildings, timber fire doors typically contain a solid or composite core and must be installed with compatible frames, seals, and ironmongery.

Glazed Fire Doors

Fire-resisting glass can be incorporated where permitted by the door’s certification. Fire-rated glazing is tested to withstand high temperatures and, in some cases, limit heat transfer as well as flames and smoke.

Steel Fire Doors

Steel fire doors are commonly used in industrial, healthcare, and high-risk environments. They may offer higher fire resistance periods and enhanced durability.

Double Fire Doors

Double doors may be used where wider openings are required, but must be installed strictly in accordance with certification, including correct gaps, leaf alignment, and closing arrangements.

Fire Doors in Domestic and Non-Domestic Buildings

Domestic Premises

In houses with multiple storeys, fire doors are commonly required to protect stairways and escape routes. In mixed-use buildings, fire doors are typically required between residential and commercial areas, and between dwellings and shared spaces.

Non-Domestic / Commercial Premises

In commercial buildings, fire doors are used to protect escape routes and support either vertical evacuation (via staircases) or horizontal evacuation (movement into a fire-resisting compartment on the same level), depending on the building’s design and occupancy.

The location and rating of fire doors should always be determined by the fire risk assessment and fire strategy.

Fire Door Installation and Competence

Fire safety legislation does not mandate a specific qualification for installing fire doors, but it does require that fire safety measures are implemented competently.

Poor installation—such as excessive gaps, incompatible hardware, or missing seals—can cause a fire door to fail within minutes. For this reason, installation should be undertaken by competent persons using certified products and manufacturer-approved methods.

Fire Door Maintenance and Inspection

Fire doors must be kept in efficient working order and good repair.

In addition to the specific legal checks required in certain residential buildings, fire doors should be inspected:

• As part of routine fire risk assessment reviews
• More frequently where doors are subject to heavy use or damage

Inspections typically focus on:

• Door operation and self-closing
• Condition of seals and glazing
• Damage to the door leaf or frame
• Alterations that could compromise performance

Regular inspection is essential to ensure fire doors remain effective and compliant. In practice, inspections focus on door operation, self-closing devices, seals, gaps, glazing, ironmongery, and any damage or alterations that could compromise performance. Where formal checks are required, including in higher-risk buildings, our fire door inspection service supports Responsible Persons in meeting ongoing maintenance and compliance duties.

Fire Doors and Building Regulations (Regulation 38)

Under Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations, fire safety information must be provided to the Responsible Person when building work is completed or a building is first occupied.

This information should support the ongoing management and maintenance of fire safety features, and may include:

• Fire door locations and ratings
• Certification and test evidence
• Maintenance requirements

Fire Doors and Approved Document B

Fire door requirements in new buildings and during material alterations are typically determined by Building Regulations guidance, most notably Approved Document B (Fire Safety).

Approved Document B sets out how fire resistance, compartmentation, and protection of escape routes should be achieved in different building types, heights, and uses. This includes guidance on where fire doors are required, appropriate fire resistance ratings, and how doors should support the overall fire strategy of the building.

While Approved Document B is guidance rather than legislation, it is widely used by Building Control bodies and designers to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations. Where fire doors are provided as part of building work, they should be specified and installed in line with Approved Document B and supported by suitable certification and handover information.

For existing buildings, Approved Document B is often used as a benchmark when reviewing fire door provision following refurbishment, change of use, or significant alterations.

Our Experience With Fire Door Surveys and Compliance

At Fire Risk Assessment Network, we regularly assess fire door provision as part of fire risk assessments and standalone fire door surveys across a wide range of premises, including commercial buildings, mixed-use developments, and blocks of flats.

In practice, we frequently encounter fire doors that:

• No longer reflect current building use or layout
• Have been altered or damaged over time
• Are incorrectly specified or poorly maintained
• Do not meet current legal or guidance expectations

Our approach focuses on identifying real risk, providing clear, proportionate recommendations, and supporting Responsible Persons in demonstrating compliance with current fire safety legislation.

Conclusion

Fire doors are a critical life-safety feature and must be treated as such. Recent legislative changes have reinforced their importance, particularly in residential buildings with shared areas, where inspection and maintenance duties are now clearly defined.

Ensuring fire doors are correctly specified, installed, inspected, and maintained helps protect occupants, supports safe evacuation, and reduces exposure to enforcement action. Where there is uncertainty about compliance or condition, professional review can provide clarity and assurance.

If you would like support with fire door surveys, inspections, or broader fire safety compliance, contact us today.