A fire door is a critical safety device designed to compartmentalise a building, slowing the spread of fire and smoke, allowing occupants time to escape and protecting property. However, a damaged or poorly maintained fire door cannot perform its function. Inspections are essential to ensure they will work as intended in an emergency.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (often called the RRO or FSO) places a legal duty on the "Responsible Person" (e.g., the building owner, employer, or managing agent) to ensure the fire safety of all relevant persons. This includes maintaining fire doors to a good standard.

Who is Responsible for Inspections?

The Responsible Person has the ultimate legal duty. They must ensure fire doors are regularly inspected and maintained. This duty is often delegated to a facilities manager, building manager, or a competent contractor.

The inspection itself should be carried out by a competent person. This means someone with the necessary training, experience, and knowledge to identify faults and understand the performance requirements of a fire door assembly.

How Often Should Inspections Happen?

There is no single legally defined frequency (like 'every 6 months'), but the guidance is clear: inspections should be part of a routine maintenance schedule. The British Standard BS 9999:2017 recommends the following:

• Every 6 months: For high-traffic doors in public buildings (e.g., schools, hospitals, shopping centres).
• Every 12 months: For lower-traffic doors in typical commercial buildings.
• Quarterly or even more frequently: For doors in environments with high vandalism risk, extreme use or in buildings that exceed 11 metres in height (as required by regulation 10 Jan 2023).

Even a brand new fire door should also be inspected upon completion of installation to ensure it has been fitted correctly.

Additionally, a quick visual check should be carried out by staff or residents whenever a fault is noticed (e.g., a door not closing properly).

The Fire Door Inspection Process: A Checklist of Key Items

A proper inspection is not just a quick look at the door leaf. It must assess the entire fire door assembly, which includes the door leaf, frame, hinges, seals, and hardware.

An inspection should include the following for each door:

1. Certification and Door Specification

• Is there a label or plug? Look for a permanent label or a plug (often on the top or side of the door) indicating it is a certified fire door. While not all older doors will have this, its absence should be noted.
• Is it the correct specification? Does the door have the required fire resistance (e.g., FD30 for 30 minutes, FD60 for 60 minutes) for its location?

2. Gaps and Seals

• Gaps around the door: The gaps between the door and the frame are critical. They should be consistent and typically no more than 3-4mm around the top and sides. A gap under the door can be larger but should not exceed 8-10mm (unless a threshold seal is fitted).
• Intumescent Seals: These are essential. They expand dramatically when heated to seal gaps and prevent the passage of fire and smoke. The inspector checks that they are present, continuous around the frame or door, and not painted over or damaged.
• Smoke Seals: If required (e.g., on doors protecting escape routes), these brush or blade seals must be intact to prevent cold smoke from passing through.

3. Hardware (Ironmongery)

• Hinges: Must be CE/UKCA marked, with the correct number (at least 3 for a standard door, 4 for a heavy door). They must be firmly fixed with no missing or broken screws.

• Closers: The door must close firmly and reliably from any open position. The inspector will check it latches securely into the frame without being slammed.

• Latch/Lock: The latch must engage smoothly with the strike plate on the frame. A functioning latch is vital for the door to stay closed in a fire.
• Panic Hardware: If fitted (e.g., push bars), it must be approved and function correctly.

4. Door Leaf and Frame

• General Condition: Look for damage, splits, holes, or excessive wear that could compromise integrity.

• Glazing: Any glass must be fire-resistant and of the correct specification (with a manufacturer's mark). The beads holding the glass must be securely fixed.

• Modifications: Unauthorised modifications, such as poorly cut holes for new locks, letterboxes, or pet flaps, will invalidate the door's certification.

5. Signage

• Fire Door Keep Shut Signs: Required on both sides of self-closing fire doors where necessary to highlight their importance.

• Fire Door Keep Locked Signs: Required on doors that are normally kept locked.

What Happens After an Inspection?

The inspector will provide a report detailing their findings. This typically includes:

1. Condition Rating: Often using a traffic light system:

• Green (Satisfactory): No action needed.
• Amber (Attention Required): Minor repairs are needed, but the door is unlikely to fail immediately. Schedule repair.

• Red (Unsatisfactory/Urgent Action): The door has critical faults and is unlikely to perform as required in a fire. It should be taken out of service and repaired or replaced immediately.

2. Photographic Evidence: Photos of any faults.

3. Recommended Actions: A clear list of repairs needed.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failing to maintain fire doors can have severe consequences:

• Enforcement Action: The Fire and Rescue Authority can issue an Enforcement Notice requiring work to be done, or even a Prohibition Notice closing part or all of a building until it is made safe.
• Legal Prosecution: In the event of a fire where poor maintenance is a factor, the Responsible Person can face unlimited fines and even imprisonment.
• Invalidated Insurance: An insurance company may refuse to pay out for fire damage if it can be shown that fire safety regulations were breached.

The New Regime for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs)

Following the Building Safety Act 2022, there are stricter rules for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) – residential buildings over 18 metres or 7 storeys.

• The Accountable Person (usually the building owner) must now undertake quarterly checks on all fire doors in common parts.
• They must also undertake annual checks on a sample of flat entrance doors.

Summary

Aspect	Key Point
Legal Duty	The Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Frequency	Typically every 6 months (high-traffic) to 12 months (low-traffic), as per BS 9999.
Inspector	A competent person with relevant knowledge and training or a professional.
Focus	The entire door assembly: leaf, frame, hinges, seals, gaps, and hardware.
Critical Gaps	3-4mm around the top and sides; 8-10mm at the bottom.
Outcome	A report with a condition rating (Green/Amber/Red) and recommended actions.
Consequences	Enforcement notices, prosecution, invalidation of insurance, risk to life.

For absolute certainty, it is always advisable to use a certified fire door inspector, such as one accredited by a scheme like the BM Trada Q-Mark Scheme or the FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme).