Fire Door Inspector checks on Apartment doors

Fire door regulations apply to both new and existing buildings throughout the UK and mandate a fire door inspection regime. Third-party certification is necessary to ensure that fire doors perform as intended and comply with legislative standards. Fire door inspection requirements date back to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requirements, also known as the FSO, apply to existing buildings, excluding domestic properties. Blocks of flats - due to their communal areas being public are not excluded.

The Fire Safety Act 2021 emphasises that responsible persons are accountable for fire door inspections of flat entrance doors. In buildings over eleven meters in height, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 stipulate that the responsible person must make best efforts to conduct checks on fire doors at the entrances of individual domestic premises at least once every twelve months. Additionally, fire door inspections and up to 40 checks on any fire doors in communal areas of the building must be carried out at least every three months, including ensuring the proper functioning of self-closing devices.

When it comes to fire door regulations in new buildings, the Building Regulations govern them. The approved documents provide compliance guidance. These documents outline the minimum construction standards required in the UK. In the case of new or existing buildings undergoing alterations, extensions, or change of use, the appropriate Building Regulations apply.

More about why Fire Doors are so important 

Fire doors serve functional purposes and are essential in many buildings and structures. In other words, when shut, they seal a compartment to stop and slow down smoke spreading through a building. This is because smoke kills long before the actual fire will. There are different types of fire doors each certified to the number of minutes they will provide protection from a fire. For example, an FD30 provides 30 minutes of protection whereas an FD60 provides minutes of protection. Consequently, fire doors must adhere to various regulations related to sound, accessibility, ventilation, thermal efficiency, safety glazing, and fire safety. During a fire door inspection, the Fire Door Inspector will run a detailed check on the fire door. Typical checks performed include:

• Does the Fire Door have a "Third Party Certified Fire Door" label or coding?
• What is the Fire Resistance/Fire Rating (in minutes, i.e., FD30, FD60)?
• Are the Fire Doors in good condition (if lipped, are they glued, are there cracks or holes)?
• Are the Fire Door Frames in good condition (firmly attached to walls, gaps or failing seals, cracks, and holes)?
• What materials are the Fire Door and frame made from?
• What type of Smoke Seals are in place?
• Are Smoke Seals/Intumescent Strips free from damage, paint, and varnish?
• Does the door leaf have 3 or more hinges?
• Are there any loose or missing screws on the hinges?
• Are hinges free of metal fragments, oil leakage, and wear?
• Are all other Ironmongery screws secure?
• Other Ironmongery marked with CE stamp, BSEN 1935 grade 13?
• Is other ironmongery free from damage and operating correctly?
• Is a Door Closer Fitted?
• Is the Door Closer attached to the door frame? Is there any oil leakage?
• Does the Fire Door fully close and shut tight by the use of its own Self Closing Device?
• Top: Gaps compliant (2 - 4 mm)
• Hinge Side: Gaps compliant (2 - 4 mm)
• Opening Side: Gaps compliant (2 - 4 mm)
• Bottom: Gaps compliant (3 - 8 mm)
• Is there glazing in the Fire Door and/or surrounding Frame?
• Is the glazing Fire Rated?
• Is the glazing in good condition in the Fire Door and/or Frame (loose, damaged, and cracked)?
• Is the seal continuous around the beading?

Note: Apart from building regulations, fire doors might need to adhere to other codes and standards to fulfill specific criteria.

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