Fire Door Inspection Checklist: A UK Guide

A fire door inspection checklist covers five essentials: certification, the gaps around the door, the seals, the hinges, and the self-closing action. It also takes in the door leaf, any glazing and the signage. Every part has to be sound, because a fire door only holds back fire and smoke when the whole assembly works together.

Fire doors save lives, but only when they are in good working order. This guide sets out a clear, practical fire door inspection checklist you can work through door by door, explains the correct gap tolerances, tells you how often checks are needed under UK law, and shows when to bring in a competent professional. Whether you manage a block of flats, run a workplace or want to check the fire doors at home, start by making sure each one is a genuine, certified fire door.

What Is a Fire Door Inspection?

A fire door inspection is a check that a fire door, and all of its components, will perform correctly in a fire. It looks at the condition of the door leaf, frame, seals, hinges, self-closer, glazing and signage, and confirms the door still meets its fire rating. There are two levels to be aware of. A routine visual check can be carried out by a suitably trained responsible or competent person, and is the kind of check this checklist supports. A detailed inspection is a more thorough assessment by a qualified professional, which your fire risk assessment may require. To understand what these doors are designed to do, see our guide to the purpose of a fire door.

Fire Door Inspection Checklist: The 5 Essential Checks

The core of any fire door check is the five-point check made well known by the British Woodworking Federation and Fire Door Safety Week. Run through these five on every fire door, then use the fuller checklist further down for the additional items.

1. Certification

Confirm the door is a genuine certified fire door. Look for a label or a colour-coded plug on the top or side edge of the leaf, which shows its rating, usually FD30 for 30 minutes or FD60 for 60 minutes. If the label is missing, painted over or unreadable, the door's fire performance cannot be proven, and it should be reported for further investigation. Our guide on how to identify a fire door explains what to look for. A genuine fire door is third-party certified, for example under the Certifire scheme or BM TRADA, and the label ties the door to that test evidence.

2. Gaps Around the Door

Check the gap between the door and the frame is even all the way around. It should be a consistent 3 to 4mm at the top and sides, and up to around 8mm at the threshold. A £1 coin is roughly 3mm thick and makes a quick gauge. If the gaps are uneven or too wide, or you can see light around the door, the door may not seal properly against smoke and should be reported. Gaps that vary a lot from top to bottom usually point to a dropped door, worn hinges, or a leaf that has warped, so note where the problem is as well as that it exists.

3. Seals (Intumescent and Smoke)

Fire doors rely on intumescent strips, which expand in heat to seal the gaps, and often cold smoke seals as well. Check they are fitted, continuous, firmly in place and free from damage or a build-up of paint. Missing, damaged or painted-over seals stop the door performing as designed. Do not attempt a like-for-like swap yourself, as replacements must match the door's certified specification. Our guide on whether you can paint fire doors covers why painted seals are a problem.

4. Hinges

A fire door should have at least three hinges, firmly fixed, with no missing or broken screws. The hinges should be CE or UKCA marked and fire rated to match the door. Loose hinges or missing screws let the door drop and misalign, which affects the gaps and the way it closes, so tighten or report any that are not secure.

5. Closing and Latching

A fire door only works when it is closed, so the self-closing device is critical. Open the door fully, let it go, and watch that it closes completely from any position and latches shut without sticking or dragging on the floor or frame. A door that does not close and latch on its own is not compliant. If the closer needs setting, see our guide on how to adjust a door closer. Never disconnect a self-closer or wedge a fire door open to make it easier to use, as this removes the protection the door is there to provide.

Print This Fire Door Checklist

Use the checklist below to record each fire door. Print it or copy it, complete one row set per door, and note any defects with the action needed. Keeping a dated record gives you evidence that checks have been carried out.

 

Other Fire Door Checks to Make

Beyond the core five, a good visual check also covers the following:

• Door leaf: no significant damage, holes, deep scratches or warping that could affect fire performance.

• Frame: secure, undamaged and correctly fixed to the wall, as the frame is part of the tested assembly.

• Glazing and apertures: any vision panels are intact, correctly fitted with the right fire-rated beading, and no extra holes have been cut for letter plates or grilles.

• Signage: the correct sign is fitted and visible, such as Fire Door Keep Shut, or Fire Door Keep Locked where relevant.

• Everyday use: the door is never wedged, propped or held open by anything other than an approved hold-open device.

How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all fire doors must be kept in effective working order at all times, whatever the building's height. On top of that, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced specific timed checks. In multi-occupied residential buildings with a storey over 11 metres, the responsible person must carry out quarterly checks of fire doors in the common parts, and use best endeavours to check flat entrance doors annually.

As good practice, new fire doors should be checked within the first six months of use, and the British Woodworking Federation recommends checking fire doors at least every six months. High-traffic doors may need checking more often. For guidance on keeping doors in good condition between checks, see our advice on fire door maintenance. In workplaces, HMOs, schools and care homes, the exact frequency is driven by the building's fire risk assessment, which weighs up factors like footfall, occupancy and how heavily each door is used.

Keep Your Fire Doors Compliant with Emerald Doors

A fire door is only as good as its weakest component, so run through the five checks - certification, gaps, seals, hinges and closing - on every door, and log what you find. Where a door fails and cannot be safely repaired, replace it promptly. At Emerald Doors, our fire doors are certified to FD30 and FD60 with the correct seals and ironmongery, and our wider range of internal doors can complete the rest of your home. Choosing certified doors from the start makes every future inspection simpler.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to the questions people most often ask about fire door inspections and safety checks.

Do fire doors in a private house need to be inspected?

There is no legal duty to formally inspect fire doors in a single private home, but any fire doors fitted, for example to a loft conversion or an integral garage, should be kept in good working order. Regular visual checks are sensible.

Who is responsible for fire door inspections?

The responsible person, usually the building owner, freeholder, managing agent or employer, is legally responsible. They can carry out routine checks themselves or appoint a competent person, but detailed inspections should be done by someone suitably trained.

What happens if a fire door fails an inspection?

Record the defect and act on it promptly. Minor issues like a missing screw can be fixed quickly, but damaged seals, certification, or serious damage need a competent person, and a door beyond repair should be replaced with a certified fire door.

Can you paint a fire door?

You can repaint a fire door leaf with normal paint, but you must never paint over the intumescent or smoke seals, the certification label, or the hinges and hardware, as this can stop the door performing correctly in a fire.

Do new fire doors need to be checked?

Yes. A new fire door should be checked within the first six months of use to make sure it was installed correctly and is settling well, then included in the building's regular fire door check routine after that.

Is a fire door inspection a legal requirement?

The duty to keep fire doors in working order applies to all non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Quarterly and annual checks are a legal requirement only in residential buildings over 11 metres.