Guide to Fire Doors (Regulation 10)

Fire safety is critical to building management, and fire doors are pivotal. These specially designed doors help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, providing a safe evacuation route for occupants. This guide aims to shed light on the Fire Doors (Regulation 10) of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. Whether you’re a building owner, a managing agent, or a resident, this guide will provide valuable insights into the importance of fire doors, the legal requirements surrounding them, and the best practices for their maintenance and inspection.

Understanding Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

These requirements apply in England only. While the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies in both England and Wales, Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 does not apply in Wales.

The Implementation and Importance of the Regulations

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were enacted on 18 May 2022 and came into force on 23 January 2023. These regulations were established in response to the recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report, which called for changes in the law to enhance fire safety. The regulations are paramount to prevent fire incidents and protect lives.

Responsibilities and Consequences of Non-compliance

The regulations place responsibilities on building owners and persons having control of the premises. These individuals, known as Responsible Persons, must comply with the regulations from 23 January 2023. Non-compliance with these regulations is a criminal offence if it places one or more relevant persons at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire.

For a detailed breakdown of the wider legal framework governing fire doors in residential buildings — including inspection duties, maintenance standards and enforcement risks — see our guide to Fire Door Regulations. This explains how Regulation 10 fits within the broader fire safety regime and what Responsible Persons must demonstrate to remain compliant.

About This Guide

Purpose and Target Audience

This guide is designed to assist those with duties under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations to comply with Regulation 10. It is particularly useful for building owners, managing agents, and residents of buildings that contain two or more domestic premises and common parts.

Scope of Regulation 10

Regulation 10 applies to all blocks of flats that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion. It makes requirements about fire doors, including information that the Responsible Person must give to all residents and routine checks of fire doors that the Responsible Person must ensure are carried out.

Understanding the Law

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires suitable fire precautions in a block of flats to ensure that the common parts are safe to use to escape in the event of a fire. These precautions are determined by carrying out a fire risk assessment.

These duties sit alongside the Fire Safety Act 2021, which clarified that fire risk assessments for blocks of flats must include flat entrance doors, external walls, and the structure of the building. Regulation 10 then introduces specific, enforceable operational duties in relation to fire doors.

Importance of Fire Risk Assessment

A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement under Article 9 of the FSO. Identifying the doors in question and determining whether they can resist spreading fire and smoke into or within the common parts is crucial.

Role and Maintenance of Fire Doors

Fire doors are a critical fire safety measure, forming part of a building’s means of escape and compartmentation strategy. They must be kept in good working order and effective repair at all times. Any defects or wear that could compromise their ability to resist fire and smoke spread must be addressed promptly.

The Role of Fire Doors

Categories of Fire Doors in a Block of Flats

Fire doors within a block of flats fall into four categories: flat entrance doors, doors to stairways and lobbies, doors that sub-divide corridors and doors to plant rooms and cupboards. Each type of door serves a specific purpose in preventing the spread of fire and smoke, thereby ensuring the safety of residents.

Information for Residents: Responsibilities and Actions

Importance of Fire Doors in Fire Safety

Residents play an important role in ensuring fire safety. If there is a fire in their flat, the flat entrance door is an effective barrier to spreading fire and smoke into common areas.

Responsibilities of Residents

Regulation 10 requires that residents are given information about the importance of keeping fire doors shut when not in use, not tampering with self-closing devices, and reporting any fault or damage immediately to the Responsible Person. This information must be provided to any new resident as soon as reasonably practicable after they move into their flat, and all residents must be reminded about this information at periods not exceeding 12 months.

Guidelines for Altering or Changing Front Doors

If a resident wants to alter or change their front door, it should be done with the knowledge and agreement of the Responsible Person. This is to ensure that any changes do not negatively impact the overarching fire risk assessment for the premises.

Routine Checking of Fire Doors: Responsibilities and Actions

Regulation 10 allows routine checks to be carried out by instructed staff using basic visual inspection only. However, these checks do not replace the need for competent fire door inspections where defects, alterations, or higher-risk conditions are identified.

Requirements for Routine Checking of Fire Doors

Regulation 10 requires that, if the top storey of the building is above 11m in height, the Responsible Person must use best endeavours to check all flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months and check any fire doors in communal areas at least every 3 months.

“Best endeavours” means taking all reasonable steps to gain access and complete the checks, including advance communication with residents, record-keeping of attempted access, and follow-up where access is refused or unavailable. Failure to demonstrate reasonable effort may be treated as non-compliance.

While Regulation 10 allows for basic visual checks to be carried out by instructed staff, many Responsible Persons choose to supplement these requirements with periodic fire door inspections carried out by a competent third party. This helps ensure that defects are identified early, records are properly maintained, and fire doors continue to perform as intended as part of the building’s overall fire safety strategy.

Guidelines for Checking Fire Doors

The checks under Regulation 10 should be simple and basic. They are only visual and do not involve the use of tools. With appropriate instruction, caretakers, managing agents, housing officers, and maintenance personnel should be able to carry out these checks.

Checking Flat Entrance Doors

To check flat entrance doors, access to each flat is needed so that the door can be checked on both sides. Arrangements should be made with residents in advance to carry out these checks. Each time you carry out fire door checks, you should check for any replacements, damage or defects, condition of the fire-resisting glass and glazing system, defects in the hinges or other elements of the ironmongery, condition of intumescent strips and smoke seals, gap size, and the effectiveness of the self-closing device.

Checking Doors to Stairways, Lobbies, and within Corridors

These doors are subject to greater wear and tear and greater potential for damage than flat entrance doors, so they must be examined more regularly. The checks are similar to those described for flat entrance doors.

Checking Doors to Plant Rooms, Service Cupboards, and Risers

These doors should also be checked at least every three months. Again, the checks are similar to those described for other doors. In the case of these doors, they may be either self-closing or kept locked shut.

Failure to comply with Regulation 10 may result in enforcement action under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In serious cases, this can include enforcement notices, prohibition notices, prosecution, and unlimited fines where non-compliance places relevant persons at risk.

Conclusion

Fire doors are crucial to fire safety in buildings, particularly in blocks of flats. Understanding and complying with Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 is essential for maintaining the safety of residents. This guide provides an understanding of the regulation, the role of fire doors, the responsibilities of residents, and the guidelines for routine checking of fire doors. By adhering to these guidelines, we can ensure that our buildings are safer and better prepared in a fire.

FAQ

What Is Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?

Regulation 10 sets out specific legal duties relating to fire doors in buildings that contain two or more domestic premises with common parts. It requires Responsible Persons to provide fire door safety information to residents and to carry out routine checks of fire doors.

Does Regulation 10 Apply in Wales?

No. Regulation 10 applies in England only. While the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies in both England and Wales, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 do not apply in Wales.

Who Is Responsible for Fire Doors in Blocks of Flats?

The Responsible Person is legally accountable for fire doors in the common parts of blocks of flats, including communal fire doors and flat entrance doors where they form part of the fire strategy. This is usually the building owner, landlord, or managing agent with control of the premises.

How Often Must Fire Doors Be Checked Under Regulation 10?

Where the top storey of the building is above 11 metres, flat entrance fire doors must be checked at least every 12 months, and communal fire doors must be checked at least every 3 months, using best endeavours.

Do Regulation 10 Checks Replace Fire Door Inspections?

No. Regulation 10 checks are basic visual checks only. They do not replace competent fire door inspections, which may still be required where defects are suspected, alterations have occurred, or the building presents higher fire risk.

What Should Residents Do If a Fire Door Is Damaged?

Residents should report any damage, defects, or missing components (such as self-closing devices, seals, or glazing) to the Responsible Person immediately so that remedial action can be taken.

Can Residents Replace or Alter Their Flat Entrance Door?

No changes should be made without the knowledge and agreement of the Responsible Person. Any replacement door must meet the required fire resistance performance and be installed by a competent person.