Need the checks done? Veritas carries out UKAS-accredited fire door inspections. Fire Door Inspection
Which laws cover fire doors?
| Law | What it requires for fire doors |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 | Fire doors, as fire precautions, must be kept in efficient working order and good repair (Article 17). |
| Fire Safety Act 2021 | Confirms flat entrance doors in buildings with two or more homes fall under the Order. |
| Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 | Sets check intervals and resident information duties in residential buildings. |
| Building Regulations, Approved Document B | Where fire doors are needed, and their rating, in new and altered buildings. |
How often do fire doors need to be inspected?
In residential buildings with two or more homes and a storey over 11 metres high, the Responsible Person must check fire doors in the common parts, including their self-closers, at least every three months, and use best endeavours to check flat entrance doors at least every twelve months. Government guidance says they should keep evidence of the checks and of attempts to gain access.
In lower residential buildings, and in workplaces, there is no fixed interval in law. The fire risk assessment sets one based on how heavily the doors are used and how critical they are to escape.
Who can inspect fire doors?
Government guidance says the routine checks required by the 2022 Regulations can usually be carried out by the Responsible Person without a specialist. A full door-by-door inspection by a third-party accredited body, such as one accredited by UKAS, gives independent evidence of each door's condition. What a full inspection covers is set out in the Fire Door Inspection Checklist.
What must residents be told about fire doors?
In every residential building with two or more homes, the Responsible Person must tell residents that fire doors should be kept shut when not in use, that residents must not tamper with self-closers, and that any fault or damage must be reported straight away. The other duties are covered in Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
What do the Building Regulations require?
Approved Document B sets where fire doors are needed in new and altered buildings and the fire resistance they must achieve, for example an FD30 or FD60 door with smoke seals. See Fire Door Ratings: FD30 and FD60. Installation and maintenance practice for timber fire doors is set out in BS 8214.
Fire doors in workplaces and non-domestic premises
The Fire Safety Order applies in full. Fire doors must be maintained so they work when needed, and the fire risk assessment should record how and how often they are checked. A fire door inspection gives a door-by-door record of their condition.