Different evidence
Product, installation and maintenance certification
Product certification concerns a product or doorset within an approved field of application. Installer certification concerns the organisation and work carried out under a scheme. Inspection or maintenance certification may relate only to the visit and scope recorded.
Ask what was certified, by whom, to which scheme or standard, at what address and on what date. A company logo or generic declaration without traceability is weak evidence.
| Evidence | What it may support | What it does not prove by itself |
|---|---|---|
| Product certificate or data sheet | Permitted product configuration and performance | That this opening was installed correctly |
| Installer scheme record | Controlled installation within scheme scope | That later alterations or damage have not occurred |
| Door schedule and label | Identity and connection to project records | Current operational condition |
| Inspection report | Condition and evidence examined on the visit | Performance of concealed or excluded details |
Labels and plugs
How should a certification mark be used?
Labels, plugs, serial numbers and QR codes can help identify the manufacturer, certificate and production information. Record them without damaging or removing the mark, then verify them against the issuing organisation or certificate holder where possible.
Do not accept a loose label, unverified database screenshot or a mark that does not match the leaf as conclusive. Fraud, transfer, obsolete records and misunderstanding of certificate scope are possible.
- Record the complete identifier and location
- Identify the scheme and certificate holder
- Check status and field of application
- Match size, glazing, hardware and orientation
- Retain photographs and verification date
Older doors
What if an existing fire door has no label?
Absence of a modern certification mark does not automatically mean an existing door must be replaced. Government residential guidance says existing doors should be assessed according to the standards at installation and whether they remain adequate for the risk.
A competent inspector may examine construction clues, project records, condition and the building context. Where the performance cannot be established and the uncertainty matters, the report should recommend proportionate further investigation or replacement rather than claim certainty.