Fire door surveys

A fire door survey is a comprehensive assessment of your fire doors, conducted by qualified professionals, to ensure they meet legal requirements and function correctly during a fire emergency. The survey examines all components of your fire doors, including the door leaf, frame, seals, hardware, and closing mechanisms.

Fire door surveys are critical for maintaining building safety as they identify deficiencies that could compromise a fire door’s ability to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Regular surveys ensure your fire doors remain compliant with legislation, protect building occupants, and form an essential part of your overall fire safety strategy.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the ‘responsible person’ for the building (typically the building owner, facilities manager, or designated fire safety officer) must ensure that fire doors are correctly installed and adequately maintained to be fit for purpose.

Fire door inspections are governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. British Standards BS 9999:2017 and BS 8214:2016 provide further guidance on fire door maintenance and inspection requirements.

Yes, it is a legal requirement. Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 mandates that fire-resisting doors must be correctly installed and adequately maintained so they are fit for purpose.

Non-compliance with fire door regulations can result in prosecution, substantial fines, and even imprisonment in severe cases. Additionally, insurance policies may be invalidated if fire doors are found to be non-compliant after an incident.

For most commercial buildings, British Standard BS 9999 recommends that fire doors should be inspected at least every six months. However, inspection frequency may vary depending on building type and usage:

• Newly occupied buildings: More frequent inspections during the first year
• High-traffic areas: Monthly checks recommended
• High-rise residential buildings (over 11 metres): Communal fire doors require inspection every three months
• Schools: At least every three months
• Hospitals and care homes: At least every six months

Yes, basic visual checks should be conducted weekly or monthly (depending on your building’s fire risk assessment) to identify obvious damage or faults between scheduled professional inspections.

A comprehensive fire door survey examines:

• Gaps between the door leaf and frame (including the threshold)
• Condition of intumescent strips and smoke seals
• Proper installation and functionality of ironmongery
• Operation of hinges and self-closing devices
• Integrity of vision panels and glazing
• Certification markings and labels
• Door frame condition and fixings
• Signs of damage or unauthorised modifications

The duration depends on the number of doors and the complexity of the building. A single door inspection typically takes 15-30 minutes, but a comprehensive report for the entire building will take longer to prepare.

Professional surveyors aim to minimise disruption. Most inspections can be conducted during normal business hours with minimal impact on day-to-day operations.

Following the survey, you’ll receive a detailed report identifying any issues found with your fire doors. This will include recommendations for repairs, maintenance, or replacement of non-compliant doors, along with prioritisation based on risk level.

Critical defects that pose an immediate risk should be addressed without delay. Other issues should be remediated according to the priority level assigned in the inspection report, typically within a timeframe agreed upon with the inspector.

Repairs should only be carried out by competent individuals with specific knowledge of fire door requirements. Using unqualified personnel or non-compliant materials can invalidate a fire door’s certification and compromise safety.

Our service provides comprehensive documentation, including a detailed report on the condition of each fire door, photographic evidence of identified issues, recommendations for remedial work, and certification for compliant doors.

Contact our team of fire safety experts today via phone at 01158370800 or email at info@doorsinc.co.uk to arrange a comprehensive fire door survey for your property.