Fire door inspections are systematic checks carried out to ensure that fire doors and their components (e.g. frame, seals, glazing, hinges, closers and signage) are present, in good working order and capable of performing their intended function in the event of a fire.
A compliant fire door should resist fire and smoke for a specified period, self-close reliably and form an effective barrier within a compartment.
Fire doors (Where required) are an essential part of your fire safety management arrangements. They help contain fire and smoke, protect escape routes (corridors, stairwells), provide time for safe evacuation, and assist firefighting operations. Without correctly functioning fire doors, compartmentation is compromised, significantly increasing risk to life and property.
Defective fire doors can fail early and allow rapid fire and smoke spread. Common faults include missing or damaged intumescent and smoke seals, doors not closing fully or latching correctly, warped doors or excessive gaps, damaged glazing or non-compliant vision panels, and missing or loose hinges and closers.
Consequences of faulty fire doors includes loss of compartmentation, rapid smoke spread (primary cause of fatalities), escape routes becoming unusable, and increased legal liability and enforcement action.
Fire door inspection falls under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). The Responsible Person must ensure fire safety systems are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Fire risk assessments must also consider the condition of fire doors. These duties are enforceable, and failure can lead to prosecution.
While minimum legal requirements apply in some residential buildings, general best practice is to inspect high-use communal doors every 3 months, flat entrance doors (High Rise Residential Buildings) annually, workplace fire doors at least every 6–12 months, and after damage or alterations. The frequency should be risk-based, considering building use (e.g., care homes, hospitals are higher risk), occupancy levels, and door usage.
Fire door inspections should only be conducted by a competent person. Competent means they understand fire door construction and standards, knowledge of applicable guidance (e.g. BS 8214, industry guidance), and the ability to identify defects and faults.
Due to the constant usage of doors, and their importance in fire safety, it would be beneficial to undertake your own internal fire door inspections between 3rd party inspections which could provide:
- Early detection of defects
- Identification of issues before they become critical failures
- Cost efficiency
- Reduces reliance on external contractors for basic checks
- Compliance assurance
- Demonstrates proactive management of fire safety
- Better asset management
- Maintains records of door condition and maintenance history
- Improved safety culture
- Reinforces awareness among staff and occupants
Where you undertake your own internal fire door inspections, you should seek a competent certified fire door inspector or specialist contractor where significant defects are found, technical assessment is required, and installation or repairs are needed.
Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH L4DipFRA OSHCR
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Professional