Fire Door Inspections

Fire doors save lives and property. Independent Fire Inspections Ltd carry out fire door inspections and provide clients with a report to determine what is required for your doors to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The Fire Safety Act 2021

‘In the case of multi-occupied residential buildings, the Fire Safety Act puts beyond doubt that structure, external walls and flat entrance doors fall within the scope of the Fire Safety Order. The Fire Safety Act will require Responsible Persons to ensure that these elements are included in their fire risk assessments, if they have not been covered already.’

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will make it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:

• undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts

• undertake – on a best endeavour basis – annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead onto a building’s common parts.
• The regulations will also require responsible persons to provide to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (that have common parts) information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.

What is a fire door and what is a final escape route?

A fire door is a collection of components that includes the door leaf, frame, seals and essential door hardware, which are referred to in the door’s fire test evidence. This is called a fire door assembly and use of the wrong components may have a significant impact on the overall performance of the fire door.

A final escape door is the door used, in the event of an emergency, to exit the building and to reach a place of safety. It must operate correctly and be fitted with the correct hardware. Correct signage is also a mandatory requirement for fire doors and escape doors.

Why are fire doors important?

Fire doors are part of a buildings passive fire protection system and are fundamental to fire strategies for buildings.

They provide critical protection within a building, such as escape routes (stairs and corridors) and separate different fire hazards in a building.

Effective fire doors ensure rooms are compartmented, to help keep fire, and possibly smoke, in the area in which it starts, to protect occupants (and contents) of other compartments safe and to protect escape routes.

How often should fire doors be inspected?

Depending on the type of building you are responsible for and who occupies it will influence the frequency of fire door inspections required. Some buildings, such as schools and hospitals, are subject to heavy traffic and the doors have a hard time often being subject to repeated misuse.

BS9999 recommends six monthly inspections and includes guidance on some of the main inspection criteria, but remember that you are responsible for ensuring an adequate inspections and maintenance routine is in place.

Residential Buildings

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 makes it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:

• undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common parts

• undertake annual checks of all flat entrance doors that lead onto a building’s common parts.

How do I know if my fire doors are fit for purpose?

Just like other life safety devices, such as fire extinguishers and alarms, fire doors and final escape doors need periodic inspection and maintenance to ensure that they will perform as intended in a fire situation. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order places this obligation with the responsible person and for life safety devices it is prudent to seek advice from a competent person.

What is covered in our fire door inspections?

During a fire door inspection our technicians inspect each component of the fire door assembly including:

Accreditations