The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced specific duties relating to fire doors in residential buildings for the first time. These regulations place clear obligations on responsible persons to carry out checks on fire doors at defined intervals.
What the Regulations Require
Buildings with storeys above 11 metres: The responsible person must carry out checks of all fire doors in the common parts at least every three months. The responsible person must also make best efforts to carry out checks of all flat entrance doors at least every 12 months.
All residential buildings with two or more domestic premises: The responsible person must provide residents with information about the importance of fire doors.
What a Fire Door Check Should Cover
- Door leaf: Condition, integrity, certification labelling, signs of damage
- Frame: Condition, secure fixing, no gaps
- Intumescent strips: Present, continuous, undamaged
- Cold smoke seals: Present, continuous, flexible
- Self-closing device: Present, functional
- Hinges: Minimum three hinges on fire doors, secure, correctly rated
- Gap tolerances: Gaps should typically not exceed 3-4mm at head and closing stile
Quarterly Checks vs. Professional Surveys
Quarterly checks can be carried out by trained building management staff. A professional fire door survey is a more detailed assessment by a competent person with knowledge of fire door performance requirements and relevant standards. Both have a role in an effective fire door management programme.
Our Approach
Apex Fire Engineering conducts professional fire door surveys that provide the detailed baseline assessment needed to underpin an ongoing management programme. Our surveys assess each fire door set individually and compile findings into portfolio-level reports.