Fire door surveys you can act on.

Why fire doors matter

Fire doors hold back fire and smoke so that people can escape and the building's compartments do their job. They are also one of the building elements most easily damaged, altered or poorly maintained, through everyday use, replacement hardware, removed closers or doors propped open.

Your duties as responsible person

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, in force since January 2023, responsible persons for multi-occupied residential buildings have specific duties on fire doors:

• In buildings with storeys above 11 metres, communal fire doors must be checked at least every three months, and flat entrance doors at least annually, on a best-endeavours basis.
• In all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, residents must be given information about the importance of fire doors.

Fire doors also form part of the evidence for safety case reports on higher-risk buildings, and of the fire risk assessment for any building.

What we inspect

• Door leaf and frame condition, and any damage, alterations or unsuitable repairs.
• Gaps between leaf and frame, and at the threshold.
• Intumescent strips and smoke seals.
• Hinges, locks, latches and other ironmongery.
• Self-closing devices, and whether the door closes and latches fully.
• Glazing, vision panels and air transfer grilles.
• Certification marks and labels, where present, and the door's suitability for its location.
• Signage, and the condition of the wall and fire-stopping around the frame.

What you receive

• A door-by-door register with location, photographs and findings.
• A clear outcome for each door: satisfactory, remedial work needed, or replacement recommended.
• Prioritised recommendations you can hand to a contractor.
• A record you can use to show the regulations are being met, and to plan the next round of checks.

Part of a wider picture

Fire doors are one part of a building's passive fire protection. Where the survey points to wider issues, we can follow up with a compartmentation and fire-stopping survey, and where the external walls are in question, a FRAEW to PAS 9980.

Frequently asked questions

How often do fire doors need to be checked?

In residential buildings in England with storeys above 11 metres, communal fire doors must be checked at least every three months and flat entrance doors at least annually, on a best-endeavours basis, under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Do you inspect flat entrance doors?

Yes. We inspect communal doors and flat entrance doors, and can work with your managing agent to arrange access to individual flats.

What happens if a door fails?

Each door gets a clear outcome and recommendation, from simple adjustments such as closers or seals through to full replacement, so you can prioritise the work.

Do you survey commercial buildings as well?

Yes. We survey fire doors in residential, commercial, hotel and mixed-use buildings.

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