How Often Should Fire Doors Be Checked

Fire doors are one of the most important life safety features in any building.
They slow the spread of fire and smoke, protect escape routes and give occupants vital time to evacuate.
But fire doors are also one of the most frequently neglected elements of fire safety — and they degrade far faster than people expect.

Across the buildings we assess in Chester, the North West and North Wales, fire doors are the single biggest cause of failed audits and enforcement action.

This page explains how often fire doors should be checked, what the law expects and what responsible persons must do to stay compliant.

Fire door checks: what the law expects

Under the Fire Safety Act and the Fire Safety England Regulations, responsible persons must ensure fire doors are:

  • Maintained in good repair

  • Inspected at appropriate intervals

  • Checked by competent persons

  • Recorded and evidenced

Although the law does not set a fixed universal timeline, national guidance and fire service expectations make the required inspection frequencies very clear.

Recommended Inspection Frequencies

1. Six Monthly Fire Door Inspections (Competent Person)

Most fire doors must be inspected every six months by someone competent in fire door installation and inspection.

A competent inspection includes checks on:

  • Door leaf condition

  • Door frame integrity

  • Intumescent and smoke seals

  • Hinges and hardware

  • Gaps around the door

  • Self closing device performance

  • Fire resisting glazing (if present)

  • General condition and fit

This is the standard expected in almost every building we assess.

2. More Frequent Checks for High Traffic Areas

In higher risk or high usage environments, inspections should take place every three months or even monthly.

This applies to:

  • HMOs

  • Student accommodation

  • Schools

  • Healthcare buildings

  • Hotels

  • Large residential blocks

  • Busy commercial corridors

Doors in these environments degrade much faster.

3. Monthly Check of Communal Flat Entrance Doors (Responsible Person)

For residential buildings covered by the Fire Safety England Regulations, responsible persons must undertake monthly checks of communal fire doors, including:

  • Main entrance doors

  • Stairwell doors

  • Corridor fire doors

  • Lobby doors

These checks can be visual but must be recorded.

4. Annual Check of Flat Entrance Doors (Inside Dwellings)

Responsible persons must use best efforts to check the fire doors to individual flats at least once a year.

The check should confirm the door:

  • Closes fully

  • Has appropriate seals

  • Has appropriate gaps

  • Has correct hinges and hardware

  • Has no damage

Where access is refused, attempts must be documented.

Why fire doors need frequent checks

Fire doors are constantly subjected to:

  • Repeated slamming

  • Damage from furniture

  • Wear on closers and hinges

  • Resident alterations (letterboxes, hooks, shaving the door)

  • Environmental change

  • Poor installation

  • General deterioration

Even small damage, such as a missing seal or a weak self closer, can make a door ineffective.

A door that is 95 percent functional is not compliant — and will not perform as intended during a fire.

Common issues found during fire door inspections

Across the region, the most common faults we identify include:

  • Excessive gaps at the head or jamb

  • Missing intumescent or smoke seals

  • Broken or weak door closers

  • Incorrect hinges

  • Damage to the door edge

  • Warped or swollen doors

  • Unauthorised alterations

  • Poorly fitted letterboxes or viewers

  • Doors that do not latch

Almost every multi occupied building has defects unless checks are carried out routinely.

What makes someone competent to inspect fire doors

A competent fire door inspector should have:

  • Formal fire door inspection training

  • Knowledge of fire resisting door sets

  • Understanding of installation requirements

  • Practical inspection experience

  • Awareness of certification and test evidence

  • Ability to identify faults and specify remedial actions

General maintenance staff are not normally considered competent for formal six monthly inspections.

Record keeping

You must keep detailed records of:

  • Six monthly inspections

  • Monthly communal door checks

  • Annual flat entrance door checks

  • Remedial works

  • Contractor competence

  • Photographic evidence

Documents must be available for fire service audits.

The Fletcher Risk approach

We help responsible persons maintain safe and compliant buildings by providing:

  • Six monthly fire door inspections

  • Monthly communal door compliance plans

  • Annual flat entrance door checks

  • Detailed photographic reports

  • Action plans with priority ratings

  • Compartmentation surveys where required

We support landlords, managing agents and investors across Chester, the North West and North Wales.

Book a fire door inspection or speak to the team:
https://www.fletcherrisk.co.uk

Disclaimer

This page provides general guidance only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for a full fire risk assessment, fire door survey or professional consultation. Fire safety requirements depend on building type, condition and occupancy. Fletcher Risk Management Ltd accepts no liability for decisions made based on this content. Always consult a competent professional for guidance on your property.

Fletcher Risk Team - 1 December 2025

Tim Fletcher