How often do fire doors need to be inspected to ensure they function correctly? This guide answers that question and explains the legal requirements for fire door inspections. We also discuss who can inspect fire doors, and how to inspect a fire door, providing you with a useful checklist.
Fire doors are critical for slowing the spread of fire and smoke to give people valuable time to evacuate safely. Regular inspections are essential because even minor damage, wear, or improper maintenance can significantly reduce their effectiveness in an emergency.
What is a fire door inspection?
A fire door inspection is a detailed assessment that ensures a fire door meets fire resistance standards and will function correctly in an emergency. Fire doors are engineered to contain fire and smoke for a set duration.
The amount of time a fire door should withstand fire depends on where it is installed:
- If the fire door is part of a wall that separates two buildings, it must provide the same level of fire resistance as the wall itself, with a minimum of 60 minutes of protection. Walls made of brick, concrete, or fire-resistant plasterboard usually provide 30 to 120 minutes of protection, depending on their design. Approved Document B of UK Building Regulations explains fire resistance requirements for different wall types.
- In most other locations, a 30-minute fire door (FD30) is sufficient.
- Approved Document B previously recommended 20-minute fire doors (FD20) in certain situations. However, due to concerns about their reliability without intumescent seals FD20 doors are no longer widely produced, and the fire industry now recommends using 30-minute fire doors (FD30) to ensure adequate fire protection.
Are fire door inspections a legal requirement?
Regular inspection and maintenance of fire doors is a legal requirement under UK law. Ensuring compliance protects occupants and safeguards the responsible person from potential legal and financial repercussions.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)
This legislation applies to workplaces and commercial buildings in England and Wales. Under the FSO, the ‘responsible person’ (usually an employer, owner, or occupier with control over premises) must ensure that fire safety measures, including fire doors, are properly maintained and functional. Article 17 of the FSO specifically mandates the maintenance of fire safety equipment:
‘Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided… are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.’
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
These regulations, which came into force in 2023, introduced additional requirements for multi-occupied residential buildings.
For buildings over 11 metres high, the responsible person must:
- Undertake annual checks of flat entrance doors, including self-closing devices.
- Conduct quarterly checks of all fire doors in common areas.
The regulations also stipulate that residents should be informed about the importance of fire doors and instructed not to tamper with self-closing devices.
How often do fire doors need to be inspected?
In addition to the formal inspections we discuss below, basic visual checks should be conducted weekly or monthly to identify obvious damage or faults between scheduled inspections. The frequency of these visual checks will depend on the building’s fire risk assessment.
These interim inspections help detect issues such as blocked doors, missing signage, or damaged seals before they become serious safety concerns. We provide a checklist below under ‘How to carry out basic fire door checks’.
The frequency of formal fire door inspections depends on the building type and usage:
High-rise residential buildings
High-rise residential buildings (over 11 metres high):
- Communal fire doors: inspections are required at least every three months.
- Flat entrance doors: Inspections should be conducted at least annually to ensure proper function.
Commercial and workplace fire doors
The frequency of fire door inspections in commercial and workplace settings is influenced by factors such as building usage, occupancy, and specific risk assessments. While there is not a one-size-fits-all mandate, there is best practice guidance:
- General recommendation: The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) advises that fire doors should be inspected at least every six months. Newly occupied buildings may require more frequent checks in the first year of use. Doors in high-usage areas should be inspected more frequently, potentially monthly or weekly, depending on the level of use.
- High-traffic buildings: The London Fire Brigade suggest adopting a risk-assessed approach to determine inspection frequency. For environments such as hotels or any environment where occupants might not be able to quickly respond to or escape from a fire, six-monthly checks are deemed essential.
It is essential for responsible persons to conduct regular fire risk assessments to determine the appropriate inspection intervals for their specific premises, ensuring that fire doors remain functional and compliant with safety standards.
Schools, hospitals and care homes
- Schools: The Government advises that fire doors in schools should be checked regularly, at least every three months. In areas with heavy usage, increasing the frequency of inspections may be necessary to maintain safety standards.
- Hospitals and care homes: Given the vulnerability of occupants and the critical nature of these facilities, regular inspections are essential. It is recommended that fire doors in these settings undergo at least six-monthly checks to ensure they function correctly and comply with safety regulations. For buildings with storeys over 11 metres, fire doors must be inspected every three months.
Insurance providers often stipulate specific fire safety measures as part of their coverage terms. In environments like schools, hospitals, and care homes, insurers may require more frequent fire door inspections to mitigate risks.
Who can inspect fire doors?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the ‘responsible person’ is legally responsible for ensuring that fire safety measures, including fire doors, are appropriately maintained and operational.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Article 18 requires that the responsible person ‘appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the preventive and protective measures.’ Protective measures are all fire safety measures, including fire door inspections.
The Fire Safety Order defines a competent person as someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable them to ‘properly to assist in undertaking the preventive and protective measures’.
The responsible person must ensure that any personnel who inspect fire doors – whether they are carrying out frequent, basic checks or formal inspections – are competent.
Frequent, basic checks
Frequent visual checks of fire doors can be carried out by the responsible person if they are competent or delegated to other competent individuals like fire marshals or facilities managers.
Formal inspections
It is recommended that formal inspections are undertaken by qualified fire safety consultants who have the experience and expertise to ensure fire doors function efficiently. Engaging a fire door specialist is crucial for ensuring that fire doors are maintained in compliance with key British Standards, BS 9999:2017 and BS 8214:2016.
How to carry out basic fire door checks
Knowing how to inspect a fire door helps responsible persons, fire marshals, and facilities managers to carry out basic, routine fire door checks between formal inspections.
This checklist explains how to inspect fire doors step by step, ensuring early identification of any faults.
- Door condition
✅ No visible cracks, warping, or damage to the door or frame.
✅ Gaps around the door should not exceed 4mm when closed.
✅ The threshold gap (between the door and the floor) should not exceed 8mm.
- Door closers and hinges
✅ The self-closing mechanism should fully close the door and latch securely.
✅ The door should not stick or jam when opening or closing.
✅ Hinges should be firmly fixed, with all screws in place and no visible damage.
✅ Three fire-rated hinges (CE-marked) must be installed, with no missing or loose screws.
- Seals and glazing
✅ Intumescent seals (around the edges) should be intact and not painted over.
✅ Smoke seals should be undamaged, continuous, and fitted correctly.
✅ Glazing panels (if present) must be fire-resistant and have secure beading.
✅ No cracks, holes, or gaps in glazing or beading.
- Certification and signage
✅ The fire door should have a certification label (usually found on the top edge).
✅ The door should have mandatory signage, such as:
“Fire Door Keep Shut” (for non-automatic doors).
“Fire Door Keep Locked” (for storage or plant rooms).
“Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear” (for doors linked to fire alarm systems).
✅ Signage should be clearly visible and not damaged.
- Frame and fixings
✅ The door frame should be securely attached to the wall with no gaps.
✅ No loose or missing screws in the frame or door fixings.
- Obstructions and misuse
✅ The fire door must not be wedged or propped open (unless fitted with an approved hold-open device linked to the fire alarm).
✅ No damage from impact (e.g., trolleys, furniture).
Best practices for record keeping
While The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 do not explicitly mandate documentation of fire door checks, keeping thorough records is essential for demonstrating compliance, maintaining safety, and providing evidence during audits or legal investigations.
Here are the recommended records to maintain for effective fire door compliance:
Regular basic checks
Regular basic checks should be documented weekly or monthly, depending on door usage and the building’s fire risk assessment.
Each inspection record should include:
- Date and time of the check
- Name of the person conducting the check
- Detailed observations on key components such as door alignment, self-closing mechanisms, hinges, seals, and signage.
- Any damage or defects noticed, such as gaps around the door exceeding 4mm, worn or missing seals, faulty latches, or obstructed signage.
If an issue is identified, the log should specify the nature of the defect, when it was reported, and the action taken to address it, including any repairs or replacements. Maintaining a structured process for documenting and addressing defects ensures compliance with fire safety regulations and helps prevent small issues from escalating into major fire safety risks.
Fire door inspection log
A fire door inspection log is a critical document for recording formal fire door inspections carried out by a qualified fire door inspector. It provides evidence that fire doors are being inspected and maintained in accordance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and BS 8214:2016.
Each formal inspection entry should include:
- Date and time of the inspection to establish a clear timeline of fire door maintenance.
- Details of defects identified, including specific issues such as excessive gaps (over 4mm), faulty self-closing mechanisms, missing or damaged intumescent seals, glazing defects, non-compliant hardware, or missing signage.
- Risk assessment and compliance status, indicating whether the fire door meets current safety standards or requires remedial action.
- Corrective actions taken, documenting the date of repairs, the nature of the work carried out, and whether non-compliant components were replaced, such as fire-rated hinges, intumescent seals, door closers, or glazing panels.
- Inspector details, including the name, job role, and professional accreditation of the person conducting the inspection. Their signature or electronic verification should be included to authenticate the report.
- Supporting evidence, such as photographs before and after repairs, maintenance reports, invoices, and compliance certificates, should be attached where applicable to strengthen documentation and provide proof of corrective actions.
Fire door training
Maintaining a comprehensive record of fire door training is essential for demonstrating compliance with fire safety regulations and ensuring that employees such as fire marshals or facilities managers have the knowledge to identify and report fire door defects effectively.
A structured training log should be kept, documenting:
- Date of training to track when staff last received instruction on fire door safety.
- Training topics covered, including fire door function, how to recognise defects, and the correct reporting procedures.
- Names and job roles of attendees to ensure that all relevant personnel, such as fire marshals, maintenance teams, and security staff, have received training.
- Trainer details, including their qualifications and role within the organisation.
- Verification signatures or electronic confirmation from attendees to confirm completion of training.
Praxis42 fire door inspection service
Partnering with our expert fire door inspectors gives you peace of mind that your fire doors meet all legal requirements and British Standards to protect the occupants of your building.
Our comprehensive fire door inspections provide detailed reports, clear recommendations, and practical guidance to help you bring all doors up to standard. Whether you need a one-off inspection or an ongoing compliance strategy, we are here to support you.
Get in touch today on 0203 011 4242/ info@praxis42.com to schedule your fire door inspection and ensure your organisation remains compliant with the latest fire safety regulations.
Rob Sherman
Director of Fire Safety
