Fire Door Inspections

 Fire doors are an important part of a building’s passive fire protection strategy. They section off different areas in a building and provide barriers to stop fire and smoke spreading. It is important to get an initial assessment of fire doors to identify any areas which are not compliant and then ongoing to make sure they are kept in good working order.

What do we check during a fire door inspection?

• Gaps - are the top and side gaps 4mm or less? Is the threshold gap 10mm or less. Larger gaps can allow smoke and fire to penetrate around the door and also impair the ability of the smoke seals to work efficiently.

• Closing - does the door close independently from any angle. A fire door is only effective if it is closed so it is important that they remain closed when not in use. It is vital that fire doors are already closed if a fire starts but also that any used doors in an emergency close automatically to maintain the protective barrier.

• Smoke seals - are intumescent smoke seals installed and in good condition. In the event of a fire these will swell up and seal the door enhancing the barrier.

• Door - is the door certified or able to be classed as a notional fire door? Is the door free from damage. The door should be able to protect against fire for 30 minutes in the event of a fire emergency.

• Letterbox - is the letterbox fire rated and ideally with brush seals? This ensures that the letterbox is not a weak point in the door that could allow smoke and fire to penetrate.

• Hinges - are there 3 fire rated hinges in good condition with all screws present? This ensure the hinges are not a weak point in the doors ability to provide adequate fire protection.

• Ironmongery - are locks & handles in good condition? For optimal protection fire and the ability for a keyless exit are advised and any deadbolts should be removed.

How long does a fire door inspection take?

The inspection itself only take a few minutes but we need access to both sides of the door to be able to assess it properly and its operation.

How often should I get my door checked?

For high rise residential buildings (over 11m, normally those more than 4 storeys) the regulations state that flat front doors need to be checked once a year and the communal doors (such as cupboards and hallway doors) every 3 months. 

For other buildings it is just important that regular inspections take place to ensure that the doors are maintained in good working order. A lot of the clients we work with and the responsible person ask us to conduct surveys once a year for lower rise residential and twice a year for commercial properties. But we will work to your instruction and what the responsible person or fire risk assessor advises.

Can you certify my door is compliant?

Yes, if the survey finds the door to be satisfactory we can issue a certificate of conformity. If there are non compliant areas found and we complete the remedial work then a certificate is included as part of the service. If remedial work is carried out by another contractor we can conduct another survey to sign off the door is compliant if required.