Fire Door Inspections

Regulations made under Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

What are we going to do?
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.

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Why are we doing this?
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the Phase 1 report noted that “Fire doors play an essential role in
preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and in preserving the effective
compartmentation of buildings.”
The Inquiry noted that the fire doors in Grenfell Tower did not, through damage and/or disrepair, act in
the way that they should so that they prevent smoke and gases from spreading.
The Inquiry recommended (Recommendations 33.29 (a) and (b)) that the owner and manager of every
residential building containing separate dwellings carry out an urgent inspection of all fire doors to ensure
compliance with current legislative standards and that regular (no less than every three months) checks
be carried out to ensure all fire doors are fitted with an effective self-closing device which is in working
order.
In addition, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.30) that all those who have responsibility for
the condition of the entrance doors to individual flats in high-rise residential buildings (with unsafe
cladding) be required by law to ensure these doors comply with current standards.
Prior to the Fire Safety Act 2021, flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings may not have
been routinely considered as part of the fire risk assessment process. The Fire Safety Act 2021 has
removed the legal ambiguity and confirms that flat entrance doors are in scope of the Fire Safety Order.
The regulations will require responsible persons to undertake best endeavour annual checks of flat
entrance doors and quarterly checks of communal doors in multi-occupied residential buildings above
11m.

Information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety will help to deepen residents’
understanding of their role in keeping their building safe and encourage them to allow responsible
persons access to check their flat entrance doors.

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Current situation
The checks required under the regulations do not replace the existing duty under the Fire Safety Order
for the responsible person to put in place general fire precautions and their duties under Article 17 of the
Fire Safety Order in all buildings which are in scope of the Fire Safety Order, regardless of height (see
below).

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What does “best endeavours” mean?
It will be for responsible persons to determine the best approach to engage with residents in order to get
access to undertake the annual checks of flat entrance doors. This could include the responsible person
agreeing with residents a date, so access can be granted.

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Minimum requirements for inspections of fire doors
The minimum requirement is for the responsible person to undertake an inspection of the doors to
identify any obvious damage or issues. It should not be necessary to engage a specialist for these
checks as the responsible person should be able to carry out these checks themselves. There are
several useful guides available online which can support a responsible person in undertaking checks.
 

A responsible person should consider:

if there has been any alterations or damage to a door’s glazing apertures or air transfer grille
if there are any gaps around the door frame and that seals and hinges are fitted correctly
that the door closer shuts the door
that the door closes correctly around the whole frame
that there is no visible damage (either deliberate or from wear and tear) to the door or door closer
If any issues are identified from these checks, it might be appropriate to undertake more detailed checks
of doors (or the self-closing device) if any damage is identified from the initial inspection. This could
include engaging a specialist.