In one line
A fire door check takes two minutes and covers five things — certification, gaps, seals, hinges and the closer. In residential buildings over 11m, the law sets minimum frequencies; everywhere else your fire risk assessment does. Either way, the record is what proves you did it.
A fire door is an engineered safety device: correctly installed and maintained, it holds back fire and smoke for 30 or 60 minutes, protecting escape routes and buying time. Wedged open, damaged, or with the wrong gaps, it does none of that. Regular inspection is how you keep it doing its job — and, increasingly, how you prove you met your duty.
How often must fire doors be inspected?
Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (in force since 23 January 2023), responsible persons for residential buildings over 11 metres must carry out:
| Door type | Minimum frequency |
|---|---|
| Communal fire doors (common parts) | At least every 3 months (quarterly) |
| Flat entrance doors | At least annually |
For other premises, there's no single fixed interval — but the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 still requires fire doors to be maintained in efficient working order, and your fire risk assessment should set a sensible frequency based on use and traffic. High-traffic doors in a busy building may warrant monthly checks; a quiet plant room, far less often.
The five-point fire door check
A routine check (based on the widely used industry method and BS 8214 guidance) covers five things:
1. Certification
Look for the label or plug (often on the top or hinge edge) confirming it's a certified fire door. No evidence it's a fire door is itself a finding.
2. Gaps
The gap around the door should be consistent — typically around 3mm at the sides and top (check the manufacturer's spec). Too big and smoke passes; uneven gaps suggest the door has dropped or been rehung badly.
3. Seals
Intumescent strips and smoke seals in the frame or door edge must be present, continuous and undamaged. They expand in heat to seal the gap — missing or painted-over seals fail.
4. Hinges
Usually three (or more), CE/UKCA marked, firmly fixed with all screws present and tight. Missing screws or worn hinges stop the door sitting and closing correctly.
5. The closer
The door must close fully onto the latch from any open position, unaided. A door that stops short of the frame, or is propped open, offers no protection.
Also check: glazing and beading intact, signage present (e.g. "Fire door — keep shut"), and no damage to the leaf or frame.
The most common fire door failure isn't a dramatic defect — it's a door wedged open, a missing seal, or a closer that no longer shuts it. All three are catchable in the five-point check.
Between inspections: let people report problems
A propped-open fire door is a live risk the moment it happens — not something to wait for the next quarterly check to catch. A QR code on or near the door lets any resident, staff member or visitor report it in seconds, no account needed, landing it straight on that door's record. This is the same fire safety discipline of catching hazards early.
Keeping the record
Each check should be logged against the specific door: the date, who did it, the result, and a photo of any defect — with failed items turning into a tracked repair. When an inspector or fire officer asks for evidence, a complete, timestamped history per door is the answer that keeps a fixable issue from becoming a penalty.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Fire door duties depend on the building's height, use and occupancy — confirm your obligations with a competent fire risk assessor or your fire and rescue service.