How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

The short answer for relevant residential buildings in England

For blocks of flats where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground level, current GOV.UK guidance says the Responsible Person must carry out checks of communal-area Fire Doors at least every three months and use best endeavours to check flat entrance Fire Doors at least every twelve months.

Those Regulation 10 checks are routine checks. Government guidance makes clear that they are not a replacement for the fire risk assessment or periodic specialist assessment where that is needed.

What about other premises?

Outside that specific Regulation 10 frequency regime, Fire Door checking and inspection should be driven by the building’s fire risk assessment, the door’s condition and use, maintenance obligations, relevant guidance and the competence required for the task.

A heavily used door in a busy corridor may justify more frequent observation than a protected door with little traffic. Damage, alteration or operational problems can also trigger an additional check rather than waiting for the next planned interval.

Factors that can justify more frequent checks

• High levels of daily use or impact damage.
• Repeated wedging or obstruction.
• Previous defects or recent remedial work.
• Changes to ironmongery, glazing, access control or surrounding construction.
• Doors on critical escape routes or where the fire risk assessment identifies particular importance.
• Environmental conditions that may affect the leaf, frame or closer.

Routine checks and competent inspections are not the same thing

A simple routine check is intended to identify obvious defects. A competent Fire Door inspection can go further into the doorset, required performance, condition, measurements, component compatibility and evidence. The frequency of each should be considered separately rather than assuming one schedule covers every purpose.

Keep the schedule attached to the Fire Door record

A recurring schedule is easier to manage when each door has a persistent identity and history. The record should show when it was last checked, what was found, whether action is outstanding and when the next check or inspection is due.