How to Inspect a Fire Door
Fire doors are one of the most critical components of a building's passive fire protection system. A properly maintained fire door can buy occupants vital minutes to evacuate safely. A defective one can fail silently — until it matters most.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for any non-domestic building — or any building containing flats — is legally required to ensure fire doors are maintained in good working order and inspected regularly. Failure to comply can result in improvement notices, unlimited fines, or prosecution.
What Is a Fire Door?
A fire door is not simply a thick door. It is a certified assembly — comprising the door leaf, frame, intumescent strips, smoke seals, glazing (if any), ironmongery and hinges — that has been tested and certified to resist the spread of fire and smoke for a specified duration, typically 30 minutes (FD30) or 60 minutes (FD60).
Every component in that assembly works together. Remove or damage one element and the entire door's fire resistance rating is compromised — even if the rest of the door looks perfectly fine.
Who Can Carry Out a Fire Door Inspection?
Basic visual checks can be carried out by a competent, trained member of staff. However, for formal inspections — particularly in higher-risk buildings or where documentation is required for compliance — you should engage a third-party accredited fire door inspector.
The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) recommends that fire doors in high-traffic areas (such as communal corridors in blocks of flats) are inspected every six months. Doors in lower-use areas should be checked at least annually.
The Fire Door Inspection Checklist
Work through the following checks methodically. Take photos and document your findings — a written record is essential for demonstrating compliance.
1. Check for Certification
Look for a certification label or plug on the top edge of the door leaf. This should identify the door as a certified fire door and indicate its rating (FD30 or FD60). If there is no label, the door's fire rating cannot be confirmed without additional investigation.
2. Inspect the Door Leaf
Examine the face and edges of the door for damage — cracks, holes, deep gouges, warping or delamination. Any significant damage compromises the structural integrity of the door and its ability to resist fire.
3. Check the Intumescent Strips and Smoke Seals
Run your fingers along the perimeter of the door leaf. Intumescent strips (and combined smoke seals) sit within grooves around the door edges or in the frame. They should be continuous, undamaged and not loose. Intumescent strips expand in heat to seal the gap around the door; smoke seals prevent cold smoke from spreading. If either is missing, damaged or painted over, they must be replaced.
4. Check the Gaps Around the Door
The gap between the door leaf and the frame on the sides and top should be no more than 3mm (approximately the thickness of a £1 coin). The gap at the bottom — the threshold gap — should be no more than 8mm on a door without an automatic bottom seal, or 3mm on a door with one. Excessive gaps allow fire and smoke through before the intumescent strips have time to activate.
5. Test the Self-Closing Device
Open the door to 90 degrees and release it. It must close fully and latch into the frame without you having to push it. A fire door that does not self-close fully is effectively no fire door at all. Check the closer mechanism is not damaged, leaking fluid or missing.
6. Inspect the Hinges
Fire doors require a minimum of three hinges, all of which must be CE-marked and rated for fire door use. Check that all hinges are firmly secured with no missing screws and that the door is hanging level. Loose or inadequate hinges can cause the door to drop, preventing it from closing and latching correctly.
7. Check the Frame and Surround
The frame forms part of the certified assembly. Inspect it for damage, cracks or gaps where it meets the surrounding wall. Any gaps between the frame and wall structure must be filled with an appropriate fire stopping material — not standard filler or decorators' caulk.
8. Inspect Glazing and Apertures
If the door contains glass panels, the glazing must be fire-rated. Check that glazing beads are intact and that the glass is not cracked or loose. Any holes cut into the door that were not part of the original certified assembly — for letterboxes, cat flaps or cables — will likely invalidate the door's rating.
9. Check Hardware and Ironmongery
All hardware fitted to a fire door — locks, latches, letter plates, overhead closers — must be CE-marked and rated for fire door use. Non-rated hardware can melt or fail in a fire, preventing the door from staying closed. Check handles and locks function correctly and are firmly fixed.
Common Fire Door Defects to Watch For
Important: Propped-Open Fire Doors
A fire door that is propped open provides zero fire or smoke protection. This is one of the most common — and most dangerous — defects found during inspections. If fire doors are being propped open habitually, the underlying cause (usually poor ventilation or an improperly adjusted closer) must be addressed, not the symptom.
When Should You Call a Professional?
If your inspection identifies any defect beyond a simple visual check — or if you are not confident the door meets its certified rating — you should engage a professional fire door inspector or contractor. Formal inspections are also required for:
- New buildings or following significant refurbishment
- Blocks of flats under the Building Safety Act 2022
- Any building where fire doors were previously found to be defective
- Where you need a documented inspection record for regulatory purposes
- Following any incident of fire, however minor
Is Your Building's Fire Doors Compliant?
Our accredited inspectors carry out thorough fire door assessments across London and the South East.
How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Fire Safety Act 2021 require fire doors to be maintained in effective working order at all times. Practically, this means:
Commercial premises
Every 6 months.
Residential in England
If the premises is over 11 metres in height, the entrance door should be checked yearly and communal doors quarterly.
Following Incidents
Immediately after any fire, flood, structural work or if damage is suspected.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
Fire door non-compliance carries serious consequences. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person can face unlimited fines and up to two years imprisonment. Beyond legal penalties, a failed fire door in an actual fire can mean the difference between a contained incident and a fatal tragedy.
Since the Grenfell Tower fire, regulatory enforcement in this area has increased significantly. Local fire authorities are actively conducting inspections of residential buildings, and enforcement notices are being issued for defective fire doors.
Summary: Key Fire Door Inspection Points
- Certification label present on the door top edge
- Door leaf undamaged — no cracks, holes or warping
- Intumescent strips and smoke seals intact and undamaged
- Gaps ≤3mm on sides/top, ≤8mm at threshold
- Self-closer functions — door closes and latches fully from 90°
- Minimum three fire-rated hinges, all screws present
- Frame intact and fire stopped to surrounding wall
- All glazing and ironmongery fire-rated and in good condition
Need a Professional Fire Door Inspection?
Fyrup's accredited team carries out comprehensive fire door inspections across London and the South East. We identify defects, provide a full written report and carry out any required remedial work.