Fire Safety Services
Fire door inspection.
Every component. Every door.
A fire door that does not close properly, has worn seals, or has been propped open is not a fire door — it is a gap in your building's passive fire protection. Professional inspection is the only way to know your doors will perform when it matters.
Fletcher Risk Management provides thorough, independent fire door inspections across Chester, the North West, and North Wales. Our qualified inspectors assess every door against recognised performance standards, produce a clear written report with prioritised actions, and support you through the remedial process from start to finish.
Fire door inspections are not just good practice — for many buildings they are a legal requirement. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the responsible person must ensure fire doors in common areas are checked quarterly and flat entrance doors annually. The Building Safety Act 2022 adds further obligations around fire door inspection records for multi-occupied residential buildings. We produce documentation that satisfies all three frameworks.
What we hear most often
Fire doors are among the most neglected elements of passive fire protection. These are the situations we find most frequently.
"The doors close — we check them every month."
A routine check confirms a door closes. It does not confirm whether the intumescent seals are intact, the closer develops adequate force, the frame is sound, the gaps are within tolerance, or the door carries the correct fire rating for its location. A door that closes is not necessarily a door that performs. Professional inspection assesses all of these factors, individually, for every door.
"We had them all replaced two years ago — they should be fine."
New doors deteriorate. Closer mechanisms lose force, intumescent seals compress and crack, hinges loosen, and gaps open with seasonal movement. A door installed correctly two years ago may not meet the required standard today. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require regular professional inspection regardless of installation date.
"We have an inspection report but it's from the fire risk assessment."
A fire risk assessment identifies fire door concerns at a building level — it does not constitute a fire door inspection. The two are different exercises: an FRA flags that doors need attention; a dedicated inspection assesses every door individually, assigns a unique Door ID, records photographic evidence, and produces the door-by-door remedial schedule that the Building Safety Act and fire authority expect.
"We can't find the inspection records for the block."
Under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, responsible persons must keep fire door inspection records as part of the golden thread of building information. Records that cannot be located — or that were never produced — leave the responsible person exposed to enforcement action and unable to demonstrate due diligence to the Building Safety Regulator, the fire authority, or their insurer.
What we inspect
A fire door is only as good as its weakest component. Our inspectors assess each door individually and in full — not just the leaf, but the complete door set including frame, seals, ironmongery, and glazing.
Door leaf & frame
- Leaf condition and alignment
- Frame integrity and fixing
- Gaps to sides, head, and threshold
- Fire rating (FD30 / FD30S etc.)
- Certification labels present
Seals & glazing
- Intumescent seal condition
- Smoke seal condition
- Glazing and vision panels
- Glazing beads and fixings
- Cold smoke leakage path
Ironmongery & hardware
- Hinges — number, condition, suitability
- Door closer operation and force
- Locks, latches, and keep plates
- Hold-open devices and releases
- Overhead closers and floor springs
Compliance & records
- Fire door signage
- Unique Door ID assigned
- Photographic evidence recorded
- Priority rating assigned
- Remedial action specified
Your inspection report
Every inspection produces a professionally presented report structured for building managers, maintenance teams, and contractors — not filed away and forgotten.
Summary overview
Total doors surveyed, number requiring action, and a breakdown by priority — Low, Medium, and High. The overall risk picture at a glance, suitable for presenting to a board, a managing agent, or the fire authority.
Door-by-door inspection records
Every door logged under a unique Door ID and location reference. Fire rating, door set type, presence of certification labels, and a full structured checklist for every component assessed. Each record stands alone as evidence of the inspection of that specific door.
Prioritised action statements
Where issues are identified, a specific recommended action, a priority rating, and a plain-language description of what needs correcting — written clearly enough to brief any contractor directly without further interpretation.
Photographic evidence
Photographs supporting findings and highlighting defects. Helps you verify findings, brief contractors accurately, and maintain the audit trail required by the Building Safety Act 2022 and the fire authority.
Building Safety Act documentation: For multi-occupied residential buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022 requires fire door inspection records to form part of the golden thread of building information. Our reports are structured to meet that requirement and can be incorporated directly into your building's safety case.
Pricing
All inspections are carried out by qualified fire door inspectors. We agree the scope and price before the visit — no revisions on the day.
For sites with more than 50 doors, inspections may require more than one day. We agree timescales in advance and keep disruption to a minimum. Call 01244 394 244 for a tailored quote on larger portfolios.
Who we work with
Fire door inspection obligations vary significantly by building type. Our inspectors understand the specific requirements — and the enforcement expectations — for each sector.
Managing agents
Residential blocks & BSA 2022 portfolios
HMO landlords
Licensed & unlicensed HMOs
Hotels & hospitality
Sleeping risk premises
Care homes
CQC-ready documentation
Offices & commercial
All sizes and tenures
Schools & colleges
Including academies and MATs
Warehouses & industrial
High-use industrial doors
Churches & heritage
Listed and conservation buildings
The legal framework
Always applies
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Requires the responsible person to ensure fire doors are maintained in efficient working order. A fire door that fails to perform is a failure of the responsible person's legal duty — regardless of when it was last replaced.
Residential buildings
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Introduced quarterly checks on common-area fire doors and annual checks on flat entrance doors for all buildings containing two or more domestic premises. Professional inspection provides the documented standard these regulations require.
Higher-risk buildings
Building Safety Act 2022
Requires fire door inspection records to form part of the golden thread of building information for higher-risk residential buildings. Records must be kept, maintained, and made available to the Building Safety Regulator on request. Read our full guide →
2021 amendment
Fire Safety Act 2021
Clarified that the Fire Safety Order applies to flat entrance doors and the structure and external walls of multi-occupied residential buildings — extending fire door inspection obligations to a significantly larger number of buildings than previously understood.
Who you are working with
Tim Fletcher
Director
Tim has more than 30 years of experience in the fire industry and leads inspections across all building types at Fletcher Risk, with particular focus on complex or higher-risk sites.
- ABBE Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
- NEBOSH National General Certificate
- FPA Fire Safety Management Certificate
- Member — Fire Protection Association
- 30+ years fire industry experience
Sam Fletcher
Director
Sam leads operations at Fletcher Risk, combining fire door inspection qualification with ABBE Level 4 assessment, legal training, and an MBA. Particularly effective on residential block and portfolio inspection work.
- ABBE Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
- Fire door inspection qualified
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 10+ years hospitality fire safety experience
What our clients say
Google Reviews · Chester & the North West
★★★★★
"Without doubt one of the best and most professional businesses I have used. Tim Fletcher is a highly regarded professional in his field. Don't take a chance — protect your staff, protect your building, protect your business."Chris H. · Google
★★★★★
"We appointed Fletcher Risk Management to conduct an assessment at one of our rental properties in Hoole. Tim demonstrated the utmost integrity and professionalism. We genuinely cannot recommend him highly enough."Andrew P. · Google
★★★★★
"We have engaged Fletcher Risk Management to carry out surveys on a number of our sites for a very important client. Always professional, friendly and accommodating. The work exceeded our expectations by far."Marie Morgan · EIS Ltd
Common questions
How much does a fire door inspection cost?
Our inspections are priced at £14 per door for up to 49 doors, and £12 per door for 50 or more. There is a minimum attendance charge of £75. We provide a fixed price before the visit — no revisions on the day. Call 01244 394 244 for a specific quote based on your door count and building type.
How often do fire doors need to be inspected?
Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, responsible persons for buildings containing two or more domestic premises must carry out quarterly checks on all fire doors in common areas and annual checks on flat entrance doors. For commercial premises, regular professional inspection is required under the FSO — the appropriate frequency depends on the use and risk profile of the building. See our article on how often fire doors should be checked.
What is the difference between a fire door inspection and a fire door survey?
The terms are used interchangeably in the industry, but some providers distinguish between a survey (a higher-level overview of a building's fire door estate) and an inspection (a component-level assessment of individual doors). At Fletcher Risk, every inspection is a full component-level assessment of each door — frame, leaf, seals, ironmongery, glazing, and certification — producing a unique Door ID and record for every leaf. See our article on fire door inspection vs fire door survey for a full explanation.
Can a fire door inspection be carried out at the same time as a fire risk assessment?
Yes — and we recommend it where both are needed. Combining the two on one visit reduces disruption to the building and its occupants, and allows us to cross-reference findings between the assessment and the inspection. Where a fire risk assessment identifies fire door concerns as a priority action, a same-day inspection addresses them immediately rather than requiring a return visit.
What happens if doors fail the inspection?
Every failing door is assigned a priority rating and a specific recommended action in the report — written clearly enough to brief a contractor directly. We remain available after the inspection to help you think through the most cost-effective remedial approach, advise on whether repair or replacement is appropriate for specific doors, and answer any questions your contractor raises about the findings.
What areas do you cover?
We are based in Chester and carry out fire door inspections across the full North West and North Wales — Chester, Cheshire, the Wirral, Liverpool, Merseyside, Manchester, Warrington, Wrexham, Rhyl, Llandudno, and beyond. See our regional coverage page for the full list of areas served.
Get your fire door inspection booked.
Tell us your building type and approximate number of doors and we will come back with a fixed price. We cover the full North West and North Wales.
Fletcher Risk Management Ltd is registered in England. This page provides general guidance on fire door inspection obligations and is not a substitute for professional advice specific to your premises. The law as described reflects the position in England; different provisions apply in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.