Fire Door Inspections: What to Expect the First Time
A practical guide for landlords, building owners, and Responsible Persons
If you’re responsible for a building — whether it’s an office, apartment block, school, or community space — you’ve probably heard that fire doors need regular inspections.
But if this is your first time arranging them, you might be unsure what the process involves, how often they’re required, or what you’ll get at the end.
At Fletcher Risk, we carry out and review hundreds of fire door inspections each year, and we’ve found that most first-time clients are surprised by how straightforward — and important — the process really is.
Here’s what you need to know.
🚪 Why fire doors matter
Fire doors aren’t just another piece of compliance — they’re one of the most effective life-safety features in any building.
Their job is simple but critical:
Hold back fire and smoke, giving people time to escape.
Protect escape routes, such as corridors and stairwells.
Limit damage, allowing fire crews to tackle the blaze safely.
A properly fitted and maintained fire door can hold back fire for 30 to 60 minutes or more. But even small defects — a missing seal, gaps around the frame, or damaged hinges — can drastically reduce that time.
That’s why regular inspections are now a legal requirement under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 for many buildings.
⚖️ What the law says
Under the regulations, Responsible Persons must:
Check flat entrance doors in high-rise residential buildings at least once a year.
Check communal fire doors (such as in corridors and stairwells) at least every three months.
For workplaces, schools, or smaller residential buildings, inspections may not be legally fixed by frequency — but you are still required to ensure all fire doors are “suitable and maintained in an efficient state.”
In practice, that means arranging regular, recorded inspections by a competent person — someone trained and experienced in fire door performance and standards such as BS 8214 and BS 9999.
🔍 What happens during an inspection
A professional fire door inspection is a visual and functional check of each door’s condition and compliance.
Inspectors look at:
Certification and labelling – confirming the door set is fire-rated (FD30, FD60, etc.).
Door leaf and frame – checking for damage, gaps, warping, or unsuitable repairs.
Seals and intumescent strips – ensuring they’re continuous, intact, and properly fitted.
Hinges, closers, and glazing – confirming they’re secure and compatible with fire performance.
Clearances – measuring gaps (should generally be ≤3mm at sides and top, ≤10mm at threshold).
Signage and accessibility – ensuring correct fire door signs and ease of closing.
Each door is graded as Compliant, Needs Maintenance, or Requires Replacement, with photographs and recommendations provided in a detailed report.
🧾 What you’ll receive
After the inspection, you’ll get a fire door inspection report which includes:
A list of all doors inspected (with location and unique reference).
Compliance ratings and specific issues for each door.
Photographic evidence.
Clear, prioritised actions for repair or replacement.
An overall summary suitable for your Fire Risk Assessment or compliance file.
This report becomes part of your building’s safety record — proof that you’re meeting your duties under the Fire Safety Order.
🧠 Tips before your first inspection
To make your first fire door inspection smoother and more useful:
Gather any existing documentation. If you have installation certificates or maintenance records, share them with the inspector.
Ensure access. Arrange for all relevant doors to be unlocked or accessible.
Inform occupants. Especially in residential or multi-use buildings — it helps avoid delays.
Schedule repairs early. Minor issues (like seals or closers) are best fixed quickly to prevent escalation.
Add inspections to your maintenance schedule. Fire doors need ongoing care — not just one check.
🧩 Beyond inspection: maintenance and training
Inspection is only the first step. Doors that fail must be repaired or replaced by a competent contractor, using certified fire door components.
It’s also important that staff or managing agents know how to spot common issues between inspections — for example, doors not closing properly, damaged seals, or wedged-open doors.
A short awareness session or basic training can prevent many of these problems from recurring.
🔧 How Fletcher Risk can help
At Fletcher Risk, we support building owners, housing providers, and businesses through every stage of fire door compliance.
Our team can:
Conduct or review fire door inspection reports.
Provide independent verification of third-party findings.
Advise on remedial work, using trusted and certified contractors.
Integrate door inspections into your Fire Risk Assessment and compliance strategy.
Deliver training for staff and maintenance teams to spot issues early.
We help you understand the results, prioritise the right actions, and maintain compliance with confidence.
🔑 The key takeaway
Fire door inspections aren’t just about ticking a box — they’re about ensuring your building’s last line of defence will perform when it’s needed most.
If you’re arranging inspections for the first time, take it as an opportunity to learn how your doors work, what good looks like, and how to keep them that way.
👉 Contact us to book a professional fire door inspection or to discuss how Fletcher Risk can support your compliance programme.
Fletcher Risk Team - 10 November 2025
Disclaimer:
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fire-safety requirements may vary depending on your building and local authority. For specific guidance or a formal Fire Door Inspection or Fire Risk Assessment, please contact Fletcher Risk or a qualified fire-safety professional.