How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

Fire doors play a crucial role in keeping buildings and the people inside them safe. They help slow the spread of smoke and flames, protect escape routes, and give everyone valuable time to get out safely in an emergency. But they can only do their job properly when they’re well looked after, and that begins with regular, planned fire door inspections.

With recent regulatory changes in the UK, the responsibilities for housing providers, landlords, facilities managers and responsible persons are clearer than ever. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how often fire doors should be inspected, what the law expects, and how you can stay fully compliant with UK fire door regulations.

Why fire door inspections matter

Fire doors are the quiet workhorses of any building’s fire safety system. When a fire breaks out, you don’t have hours, you have minutes. A well-maintained fire door can hold back flames and smoke for 30 to 60 minutes, giving occupants time to escape and firefighters time to respond.

Every day wear and tear adds up

Fire doors are used constantly. They’re opened and closed dozens, sometimes hundreds of times a day. Along the way, things start to slip:

• Hinges work loose

• Doors get propped open

• Smoke seals become damaged

• Closers slow down or stop working properly

These issues often develop gradually, so you don’t notice them until the moment you need that door to perform.

Small faults can have huge consequences

Regular inspections catch these problems early. A missing hinge screw might seem like a minor issue, but it can stop a door from closing fully in a fire. Even a 5mm gap can cut a 30-minute fire door’s performance down to around 10 minutes — a potentially life-changing difference during an evacuation.

Compliance and insurance considerations

Insurers are paying far closer attention to fire door compliance. Many now expect formal, up-to-date inspection records, and without them, businesses face the real risk of refused claims after a fire. There’s also the reputational fallout: if a fire occurs and non-compliant doors played a role, that’s a difficult situation for any organisation to recover from.

Regular fire door maintenance protects lives, safeguards your business, and supports your reputation.

How often fire doors must be assessed

Staying on top of fire door inspections is an essential part of keeping any building safe. Whether you manage a residential block or a commercial site, understanding your legal responsibilities helps you stay compliant and gives you confidence that your fire safety measures are working as they should. 

Residential buildings over 11 metres

From 23 January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 made it a legal requirement for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:

• Carry out quarterly checks of all communal fire doors, including self-closing devices.

• Carry out annual checks, on a best-endeavour basis, of all flat entrance doors leading onto communal areas.

  
  

Commercial and non-domestic premises

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires all fire doors to be kept in good repair and efficient working order. While no fixed inspection interval is specified in law, industry best practice recommends:

• 6-monthly inspections for most commercial environments (offices, schools, hospitals, retail units, warehouses, leisure facilities)

• More frequent checks in high-traffic or high-risk areas such as hospitals, education settings, busy corridors, and public spaces

Across all building types, inspections must be carried out by a competent fire door inspector who can assess compliance, identify defects, and provide a formal inspection report. All fire door maintenance must be planned, documented, and completed to demonstrate ongoing compliance.

How long does a fire door inspection take?

A typical fire door inspection takes around 15–30 minutes per door, depending on accessibility, the condition of the door, and whether the door has complex ironmongery or glazed panels. Larger buildings with multiple doors can schedule grouped inspections, making the process more efficient and minimising disruption to daily operations.

Who can inspect fire doors?

While basic visual checks can be carried out by trained in-house staff (such as facilities teams, caretakers or housing officers), formal fire door inspections must always be completed by a competent person.

A competent fire door inspector is someone with correct training, experience and certification to assess all technical aspects of fire door compliance. This typically includes:

• Certified fire door inspectors with recognised qualifications (e.g., BM TRADA, FDIS, or equivalent)

• Qualified fire risk assessors with fire door expertise

• Specialist fire door contractors with documented competency

The inspector will carry out a comprehensive assessment and produce a detailed report outlining compliance status and any required remedial actions.

What's actually checked during a fire door inspection?

A thorough fire door inspection examines every component that contributes to the door's fire resistance. Here's what inspectors assess:

1. Door leaf and frame condition - The door and frame are checked for cracks, holes, warping, or damage that could compromise fire resistance.

2. Gap measurements - Gaps between the door and frame must not exceed 3-4mm. Inspectors use specialist gauges to measure all edges, as excessive gaps drastically reduce fire protection.

3. Intumescent strips and smoke seals - These expand in heat to seal gaps and prevent smoke spread. Inspectors verify they're present, intact, correctly positioned, and haven't been painted over or damaged.

4. Self-closing devices - The door must close fully and latch securely on its own. Inspectors test that it closes smoothly from any position without assistance.

5. Hinges - Fire doors need at least three fire-rated hinges, properly secured with all screws intact. Standard domestic hinges are non-compliant.

6. Locks, latches and hardware - All ironmongery must be fire-rated. Non-compliant items like standard letterboxes or handles are flagged.

7. Glazing - Any glass panels must be certified fire-resistant, properly installed, and crack-free.

8. Signage and certification - "Fire Door Keep Shut" signs must be displayed, and the door's certification label should be present and legible.
   

The inspector then provides a detailed report documenting compliance status, defects by severity, and recommended remedial actions.

What happens if a fire door fails an inspection?

Nobody wants a fire door to fail an inspection, but it happens more often than people realise. The good news is that most issues are completely fixable when caught early, and that’s exactly why regular fire door inspections and good fire door maintenance are so important. If a fire door is found to be non-compliant, the issues must be addressed promptly. The responsible person should:

• Record the defect in the fire safety log

• Arrange appropriate remedial works with a competent contractor

• Ensure repairs use correct, certified components

• Reinspect the door after repairs to confirm compliance.
  

Regular fire door inspections often uncover issues that prevent a door from performing as a certified fire-resisting barrier. Common reasons for fire door failure include excessive gaps, faulty or missing intumescent seals, damaged frames, broken or poorly adjusted self-closers, unauthorised alterations, and warped or damaged door leafs. These defects indicate breakdowns in fire door maintenance and can quickly lead to breaches in fire door compliance. Ignoring problems not only increases the risk of enforcement action and insurance complications, but also puts lives at serious risk in the event of a fire.

How much does a fire door inspection cost?

The cost of a fire door inspection varies depending on the size and layout of your building, the number of doors requiring assessment, and the complexity of the installation. Factors such as accessibility, building type and the level of documentation needed will also influence the final price. The most accurate way to understand costs is to speak with an accredited contractor who can review your fire door maintenance needs and provide a tailored quote for fully compliant fire door inspections.

Take the stress out of fire door maintenance

Unsure if your fire doors meet current UK regulations? The PK Group can help. Our competent fire safety specialists carry out monthly checks, annual assessments, and full fire door inspections to support ongoing fire door maintenance and ensure complete fire door compliance across your residential or commercial buildings. Get in touch with us on info@pkgroup.co.uk or call our expert team on 01246 233336 for tailored advice and compliant fire door solutions you can trust.

FAQ's

1. What is included in a fire door inspection?

A fire door inspection should assess the door leaf, frame, hinges, self-closer, intumescent and smoke seals, gaps and tolerances, glazing, signage, and any evidence of damage or unauthorised alterations. A competent inspector will check all components to ensure the door will perform correctly in the event of a fire.

2. What are the signs that a fire door may be non-compliant?

Common signs include excessive gaps, damaged or missing seals, loose hinges, faulty self-closers, damaged glazing, uncertified hardware or visible warping. A door that does not close fully or latch securely is also likely to be non-compliant.

3. How often should fire doors be checked in the UK?

Residential buildings over 11 metres require monthly checks on communal fire doors and annual checks on flat entrance doors. Commercial premises should follow 6-monthly inspections as industry best practice, with more frequent checks in high-traffic or high-risk areas like hospitals and schools. Your fire risk assessment will determine the appropriate frequency for your specific building.

4. Can I inspect fire doors myself?

You can carry out basic visual checks yourself, such as ensuring doors close properly, checking for obvious damage, and confirming signage is in place. However, formal compliance inspections must be conducted by a competent person with appropriate training and certification. This ensures all technical aspects are properly assessed and documented to meet legal requirements.

5. What are the most common reasons fire doors fail inspections?

The most common reasons fire doors fail inspections include:

• Missing or damaged intumescent strips and smoke seals that have worn out, been painted over, or fallen out

• Faulty self-closing devices preventing the door from closing or latching properly

• Excessive gaps around door edges (over 3-4mm) due to warping or poor installation

• Damaged door leaves or frames with cracks, holes, or structural defects

• Doors wedged or propped open, rendering them completely ineffective

• Incorrect hinges – fire doors need at least three fire-rated hinges, not standard ones

• Missing signage such as "Fire Door Keep Shut" signs

• Non-compliant hardware like standard locks or letterboxes instead of fire-rated alternatives
  

Regular maintenance and prompt repairs can prevent most of these failures and keep your fire doors compliant.

6. Do fire doors need to be kept closed at all times?

Yes, fire doors must remain closed at all times to provide effective protection, unless they're fitted with:

• Automatic self-closing devices that ensure they close when released

• Hold-open mechanisms linked to the building's fire alarm system, which release the door when the alarm activates
  

Propping fire doors open with wedges or other objects is illegal and extremely dangerous, as it compromises the building's fire safety.