Fire Door Inspections: Step-by-Step Process

For property managers and building owners, a fire door inspection is a critical component of a proactive fire safety strategy. While the legal duty to maintain fire doors is clear, the inspection process itself can seem complex. This guide demystifies the process, providing a clear, step-by-step walkthrough of what you can expect from a professional fire door inspection. Understanding this process is key to ensuring your building is safe, compliant, and protected from unnecessary risk.

Step 1: Initial Enquiry & Planning

The process begins when you contact a qualified fire safety professional to arrange an inspection. To ensure efficiency, be prepared to provide key information about your building, including:

The total number of fire doors to be inspected.
The building type (e.g., high-rise residential, commercial office, etc.).
Any existing building plans, fire safety strategy documents, or previous fire risk assessments.

During this stage, the surveyor will establish the project scope and schedule the on-site visit, taking into account any access requirements for different areas of the building.

Step 2: On-site Inspection and Assessment

On the scheduled day, the accredited surveyor will carry out a thorough, systematic inspection of every fire door in the scope. This is a meticulous process that goes far beyond a simple visual check. The surveyor will assess the entire door assembly against a comprehensive checklist, referencing the rigorous standards set out in BS 8214:2016.

Step 3: What Surveyors Check

During the inspection, the surveyor will focus on the key components that ensure the fire door’s integrity and functionality:

Door Integrity and Condition: They will check the door leaf for any signs of damage, such as holes, cracks, or unauthorized modifications that could compromise its fire resistance.
Door Gaps: The surveyor will use a calibrated gauge to check the gaps around the door leaf and frame. Gaps larger than the 3mm standard can allow fire and smoke to pass through and must be noted as a defect.
Hinges & Hardware: They will inspect the hinges to ensure they are the correct type, are securely fixed, and have no missing screws. They will also check the lock, latch, and any other hardware to ensure they are functional and properly fitted.
Intumescent & Smoke Seals: A crucial part of the inspection is verifying that these seals are present, in good condition, and correctly fitted. These seals are designed to expand in a fire to prevent the passage of smoke and flames.
Door Closers: The surveyor will test that the door closer is working correctly, ensuring the door closes fully and securely into the frame on its own from any position. A fire door that is not self-closing is a critical defect.
Fire-Stopping: The surveyor will also check the integrity of the fire-stopping around the door frame to ensure the fire-rated barrier remains intact.

Step 4: Final Reporting and Recommendations

Following the on-site inspection, the surveyor will compile a detailed report. This is the most valuable output of the process. The report will typically include:

A door-by-door breakdown of findings, often with photographic evidence of defects.
A clear assessment of the condition of each fire door.
A prioritized list of recommendations for remedial work, with a distinction between urgent and non-urgent fixes.

This report serves as your definitive record of due diligence and provides a clear action plan for maintaining your building’s safety and legal compliance.

How Professional Inspections Support Your Legal Compliance

A professional fire door inspection is a direct way to demonstrate compliance with UK fire safety legislation.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: The report serves as verifiable evidence that you have taken your duty to manage fire safety seriously.
Fire Safety Act 2021 & Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: The inspection report helps you meet the specific new duties for assessing and maintaining flat entrance doors and communal doors.

Take Action to Secure Your Building’s Safety

A professional fire door inspection demystifies the process and provides the detailed, expert-led guidance you need. It is a proactive investment that safeguards your building, your residents, and your professional reputation.

Don’t leave your building’s safety to chance. Request a Fire Door Inspection Quote today to secure your building’s fire safety and your peace of mind.

Start Your Fire Door Inspection Quote

This quick, easy form takes just a few minutes to complete. We’ll ask for your building’s key details and any existing plans or fire-related reports. The more information you provide, the faster our accredited fire engineers can prepare an accurate, fixed-scope Fire Strategy Report quote.

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Only Accredited Fire Door Inspectors. No Exceptions. We only work with professionals who are accredited by the industry’s most respected bodies. Every inspector we connect you with has been independently vetted and holds the specific qualifications required to assess your fire doors to the highest standards.

Our inspectors are not just knowledgeable; they have been certified by leading third-party schemes such as the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) and other UKAS-accredited certification bodies like BM TRADA. This ensures every inspection follows the correct British Standards (BS 8214:2016), with no shortcuts.

We provide a due diligence pack with every quote, so you can check each specialist’s credentials and professional memberships yourself. With us, you get the peace of mind that your inspection is being carried out by a professional who is verifiably competent, fully insured, and committed to industry best practices.

Fire Door Inspections: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Initial Enquiry & Planning

Step 2: On-site Inspection and Assessment

Step 3: What Surveyors Check

Step 4: Final Reporting and Recommendations

How Professional Inspections Support Your Legal Compliance

Take Action to Secure Your Building’s Safety

Start Your Fire Door Inspection Quote

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